Belarusian Air Force
The Belarus Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Armed Forces of Belarus. Established in the early 1990s following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, it inherited a significant portion of the Soviet Air Force. Currently, the Belarus Air Force operates under the command of the Ministry of Defense. It primarily consists of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The aviation fleet comprises fighter jets such as the MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27, as well as bombers like the Su-24. The Air Force also possesses transport aircraft, including the Antonov An-26 and the Ilyushin Il-76. Furthermore, it operates various types of helicopters, including transport and attack variants. The Belarus Air Force is primarily focused on air defense and maintaining national airspace sovereignty. As part of its defensive capabilities, it also possesses surface-to-air missile systems and radar stations. The Air Force regularly participates in joint military exercises with Russia and other regional partners.
Key facts
| Official Name | Belarusian Air Force |
| Local Name | Ваенна-паветраныя сілы і войскі супрацьпаветранай абароны (Vaenna-pavetrannya síly í voyskí supracpavetrannay abarony) |
| Country | 🇧🇾 Belarus |
| World rank | #50 |
| Active aircrafts | 191 (as of 2024) |
| Aircrafts on order | 12 |
| Roundel |
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Number of active aircrafts by type
| Aircraft type | Active | |
|---|---|---|
| Combat aircrafts | 105 | |
| Helicopters | 60 | |
| Training | 22 | |
| Transport | 4 | |
Aircrafts most used by Belarusian air forces
| Aircraft | Active | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Su-25 Frogfoot | 67 | Soviet close air support aircraft, prominent during Afghan War, designed for ground targets engagement under heavy fire conditions. | |
| Mi-8 Hip | 36 | Soviet multipurpose helicopter, prevalent during the Cold War, extensively utilized for transport, combat and humanitarian operations globally. | |
| MiG-29 Fulcrum | 34 | Soviet twin-engine fighter jet, notable in late Cold War clashes, widely exported and integral to various aerial engagements globally. | |
| Mi-24 Hind | 21 | Soviet attack helicopter, renowned for Cold War use, predominantly deployed for airborne assault, close combat, and anti-armour roles. | |
| Yak-130 Mitten | 11 | Russian advanced trainer and combat aircraft, widely deployed in various countries and known for its aerobatic capabilities. | |
| L-39 Albatros | 10 | Czech training jet, operational since the Cold War, deployed worldwide for various military aviation roles. | |
| Su-30 Flanker-C | 4 | Russian multirole fighter, renowned for deployments since the 1990s, widely used in diverse combat operations worldwide. | |
| Mi-26 Halo | 3 | Soviet heavy transport helicopter, frequently utilized for cargo and troop transport, infamous for Chernobyl disaster relief mission. | |
| An-26 Curl | 2 | Soviet twin-engined transport aircraft, widely utilized in both civilian and military roles since the 1960s. | |
| Il-76 Candid | 2 | Soviet strategic airlifter, prominently deployed for both military transport and humanitarian aid operations since the Cold War era. | |
Full inventory in 2024
Belarus Air Force
| Aircraft Type | Model | Active | Ordered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat aircrafts | Su-25 | 67 | |
| MiG-29 | 34 | ||
| Su-30 | 4 | 8 | |
| Helicopters | Mi-8 | 36 | |
| Mi-24/35 | 21 | 4 | |
| Mi-26 | 3 | ||
| Training | Yak-130 | 11 | |
| L-39 | 10 | ||
| Su-27 | 1 | ||
| Transport | An-26 | 2 | |
| Il-76 | 2 |