Military Transport Aviation
Military Transport Aviation (VTA) — Organizational Overview
The Military Transport Aviation (Voyenno-Transportnaya Aviatsiya, VTA) is a core component of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) responsible for strategic and operational airlift of personnel, equipment, and cargo; airdrop of airborne units and materiel; medical evacuation; humanitarian relief; and special transport tasks. VTA manages fixed-wing transport fleets and coordinates closely with the Airborne Troops (VDV) and other branches to provide rapid mobility and sustainment. The Il-76 family forms the backbone of the fleet, supplemented by heavy transports such as the An-124 and medium transports including the An-12, An-26, and An-72/74 that remain in service across various units.
Command and Headquarters (Military Unit 25969)
The Military Transport Aviation Headquarters, designated as military unit 25969, is located in Moscow. As publicly reported in 2023–2024, the VTA is commanded by Lieutenant General Vladimir Benediktov. The headquarters provides command and control of VTA formations and units, plans and tasks airlift operations, sets training and readiness standards, oversees safety and standardization, and manages fleet sustainment and modernization in coordination with the VKS High Command.
610th Combat Use and Retraining Center (Military Unit 41520)
The 610th Center for Combat Use and Retraining of Flight Personnel of Military Transport Aviation (military unit 41520) is the principal VTA institution for tactics development, conversion training, and recurrent qualification of aircrews and instructors. The center conducts trial evaluation of procedures for personnel and cargo airdrop, assault landings, and operations from austere airfields, and standardizes TTPs across VTA units. It is based at Ivanovo-Severny Air Base (Ivanovo Oblast), a location that facilitates routine integration with airborne units stationed in the region, including the 98th Guards Airborne Division.
Aircraft Focus — Il-76M/MD Technical Summary
The Ilyushin Il-76M/MD (NATO reporting name Candid) is a four‑engine turbofan strategic transport. The Il-76MD variant features increased fuel and range relative to earlier models, with four Soloviev D‑30KP‑2 engines (about 117.7 kN thrust each). Representative figures for the Il-76MD include: maximum payload up to approximately 48 tonnes; maximum takeoff weight around 190 tonnes; cruise speed roughly 750–800 km/h; typical range on a 40‑tonne payload about 4,000–4,200 km; ferry range approximately 9,000+ km. The aircraft can carry up to about 126 fully equipped paratroopers or around 145 troops on palletized seating and is configured for heavy cargo, including vehicles, via a rear loading ramp and overhead handling gear. The cargo hold is roughly 20 m long by 3.4 m wide by 3.4 m high (variant-dependent). The Il-76 family is designed for operations from semi‑prepared runways and supports airdrop of personnel and platforms; exact performance depends on load, airfield condition, and environmental factors.
Infrastructure and Basing Supporting Il-76 Operations
VTA Il-76 operations are supported by a network of airfields with long runways, heavy-duty aprons, and established cargo and fuel infrastructure. Key hubs historically associated with Il-76 activity include Tver (Migalovo), Pskov (Kresty), Ivanovo (Severny), and Seshcha (Bryansk Oblast). Ulyanovsk (Vostochny) is a major heavy-lift hub used by Ministry of Defence operators, including the 224th Flight Unit, that frequently support VTA tasks. These aerodromes enable routine strategic airlift, airborne exercise support, and rapid staging for deployments.
Training Syllabus and Activities at the 610th Center
The 610th Center conducts conversion to type and recurrent training for Il-76 crews, instructor standardization, and evaluation of combat employment procedures. Core syllabus elements include instrument flight rules proficiency; formation and night flying; low-level navigation; personnel and cargo airdrop procedures; short and semi-prepared field assault landings; emergency procedures; and periodic checks. Training employs a combination of classroom instruction, simulators or procedural trainers where available, and live-flight sorties on Il-76M/MD aircraft. The center also validates updated tactics and procedures before dissemination across VTA units.
Operational Employment Examples (2015–2024)
VTA has been employed extensively in recent operations. Since 2015, Il-76 and An-124 aircraft have sustained Russian forces at Khmeimim Air Base (Latakia, Syria) via regular airbridge flights, typically staging through Russian territory, including Mozdok. In November 2020, VTA airlifted Russian peacekeeping forces and equipment to Armenia as part of the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire implementation, using Il-76 and An-124 aircraft. In January 2022, during the CSTO deployment to Kazakhstan, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that more than 70 transport aircraft (Il-76 and An-124) were involved in moving contingents and equipment to multiple airports. These examples illustrate the scale and responsiveness of VTA for rapid strategic mobility.
Unit Identifiers and Administrative Notes
The Military Transport Aviation Headquarters is designated as military unit 25969, and the 610th Center for Combat Use and Retraining of Flight Personnel is designated as military unit 41520. Such numbers (voyennaya chast, v/ch) are formal administrative identifiers used in Russian military documentation, correspondence, and contracting. Specific addresses, personnel strengths, and detailed secure communications data are not publicly released or are classified and are therefore not provided here.