Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Russian Space Forces. Aerospace Defense Forces

Aerospace Defense Forces

The Aerospace Defense Forces (ASD) are a fundamentally new branch of the military, which is designed to ensure the security of Russia in the aerospace sphere.

Aerospace defense troops solve a wide range of tasks, the main of which are:

Providing senior levels of management with reliable information about the detection of ballistic missile launches and warning of missile attacks;

Defeat the warheads of a potential enemy's ballistic missiles attacking important government facilities;

Protection of control points (CP) of the highest echelons of state and military command, groupings of troops (forces), the most important industrial and economic centers and other objects from attacks by enemy aerospace attack weapons (ASCA) within the affected zones;

Monitoring space objects and identifying threats to Russia in and from space, and, if necessary, countering such threats;

Launching spacecraft into orbit, controlling military and dual-purpose (military and civil) satellite systems in flight and using individual of them in the interests of providing the troops (forces) of the Russian Federation with the necessary information;

Maintaining the established composition and readiness for use of military and dual-use satellite systems, means of launching and controlling them, and a number of other tasks.

History of creation

In accordance with the decision of the President of the Russian Federation, from December 1, 2011, a new branch of the military was created in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - the Aerospace Defense Forces (VVKO).

The Aerospace Defense Forces are formed on the basis of formations and military units of the Space Forces, as well as troops of the operational strategic command of the aerospace defense of the Air Force.

The creation of the Aerospace Defense Forces was dictated by the objective need to combine forces and assets responsible for ensuring the security of Russia in and from space with military formations responsible for the country's air defense (air defense) in order to create a unified aerospace defense system.

The first units and institutions for launching and controlling spacecraft (SV) began to be created in our country in 1955 with the decision to build a test site for intercontinental ballistic missiles in Kazakhstan (now the Baikonur Cosmodrome).

In connection with preparations for the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite in 1957, a Command and Measurement Complex for spacecraft control was created. In the same year, construction began in the Arkhangelsk region of a test site intended for launches of R-7 intercontinental ballistic missiles (now the Plesetsk cosmodrome).

On October 4, 1957, the launch and control units of the spacecraft carried out the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite “PS-1”, and on April 12, 1961, the launch and control of the flight of the world’s first manned spacecraft “Vostok” with cosmonaut Yu.A. Gagarin. Subsequently, all domestic and international space programs were carried out with the participation of associations, formations and units of spacecraft launch and control.

To organize the management of space activities in 1960, the 3rd Directorate of the Main Directorate of Missile Weapons was formed in the USSR Ministry of Defense, which in 1964 was transformed into the Central Directorate of Space Facilities (TSUKOS) of the Ministry of Defense, and in 1970 - into the Main Directorate Directorate of Space Facilities (GUKOS) of the USSR Ministry of Defense. In 1982, GUKOS and the units subordinate to it were withdrawn from the Strategic Missile Forces and subordinated directly to the USSR Minister of Defense - the Directorate of the Chief of Space Facilities of the Ministry of Defense was created.

In August 1992, the Military Space Forces of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation were created, which included the Baikonur, Plesetsk cosmodromes and, since 1994, the Svobodny cosmodrome, as well as the Main Test Center for Testing and Control of Space Facilities (GITSIU KS), the Military Engineering Space Academy and 50th Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Since 1957, spacecraft launch and control units and institutions have provided the launch and flight control of more than 3,000 spacecraft, carry out tasks to ensure national security in the space sector, and take part in the implementation of all joint international manned projects and projects for fundamental research of deep space. In close cooperation with a wide cooperation of scientific and industrial organizations, flight tests of more than 250 types of spacecraft for military, socio-economic and scientific purposes were carried out.

Manned flights, exploration of the Moon, Mars, Venus, complex experiments in outer space, the launch of an unmanned spacecraft of the reusable orbital complex "Buran", the creation of an international space station - this is not a complete list of achievements of domestic cosmonautics, to which military formations for space purposes made a significant contribution.

Soyuz-2 launch vehicle on the launch pad

At the same time, the combat path of “space in uniform” was not limited to launches and control of spacecraft. With the beginning of the era of space exploration, the need arose to monitor the launches of potential enemy missiles and space objects, control their movement, assess their condition, and warn about possible emergency situations in space. There was a threat of the enemy using weapons from space. Therefore, in the early 1960s. The first samples of missile attack warning systems (MAW), space control systems (SSC), and missile defense systems (ABM) began to be created.

Optical-electronic space monitoring complex OEC "Window"

The most productive period in the history of domestic military space activity was the period of the 1970s–1980s, when scientific, technical and production groundwork was laid in rocket and space technology for decades to come, which is still being implemented today. Space warning, reconnaissance, communications, and navigation systems were created and put into service. The orbital group became permanently operational and began to be actively used in the interests of solving problems and ensuring the daily activities of the Armed Forces. PRN and missile defense systems were put on combat duty.

Radar station of high factory readiness "Voronezh-DM"

All these and many other domestic and international space programs have been carried out for more than 50 years with the direct participation of military units for launching and controlling spacecraft and military formations of missile and space defense (RKO), on the basis of which the Space Forces were created in 2001. At the same time, it was taken into account that space forces and means, forces and means of the RKO have a single sphere of problem solving - space, as well as close cooperation of industrial enterprises, ensuring the creation and development of weapons.

Over the 10-year period of active activity, the Space Forces conducted and ensured more than 230 launches of launch vehicles, which launched into orbit more than 300 spacecraft for military, dual, socio-economic and scientific purposes. Among them are communications, navigation, cartography, remote sensing, telecommunications, scientific apparatus, etc.

Space control equipment provided warnings of more than 900 dangerous approaches of space objects to the international space station.

The duty forces of the Main Test Center for Testing and Control of Spacecraft named after G.S. Titov conducted about 2.5 million sessions of spacecraft control.

The inclusion of air defense forces and means into the Aerospace Defense Forces, dating back to the period of the First World War, when, to cover the most important centers of the country, the to create air defense for the capital of Russia - Petrograd and its environs. Even then, it included anti-aircraft artillery batteries, air crews, and a network of air surveillance posts.

The organizational structure of the air defense forces (since 1928 - air defense) developed with the development of military aviation. Since 1924, the formation of anti-aircraft artillery regiments began for air defense.

On May 10, 1932, the Red Army Air Defense Directorate was created. Separate brigades, divisions, and air defense corps have been formed. On November 9, 1941, the air defense forces of the country acquired the status of an independent branch of the military. In January 1942, air defense aviation was organized within them. The branches of air defense troops, in addition to fighter aircraft, were anti-aircraft artillery and air surveillance, warning and communications troops.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Air Force and Air Defense Forces included operational-strategic formations: air armies, fronts and air defense armies. During the war years, the Air Defense Forces destroyed more than 64 thousand enemy aircraft in air battles, anti-aircraft fire and at airfields.

Currently, air defense formations and military units are units of constant combat readiness. They include anti-aircraft missile and radio engineering units. They are designed to protect command posts of the highest echelons of state and military command, groupings of troops (forces), the most important industrial and economic centers and other objects from attacks by enemy aerospace attacks within the affected zones.

Radio technical equipment and complexes of automation equipment for radar complexes and stations of medium, high and low altitudes are intended for conducting radar reconnaissance of enemy air and issuing radar information about the air situation within the radar field to higher command and control bodies and other branches of the Armed Forces and branches of the armed forces, to combat control points means of aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces and electronic warfare when they solve problems in peacetime and wartime.

Currently, the air defense forces are armed with anti-aircraft missile systems and systems, which constitute the main firepower in the air defense (aerospace) defense system. Modern Russian anti-aircraft missile systems S-300, S-400, and the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system are capable of destroying various air targets, including hitting ballistic missile warheads.

Air defense brigade personnel are on combat duty around the clock to protect the airspace over the capital region and the Central Industrial Region of the country. About 140 objects of government administration, industry and energy, transport communications, and nuclear power plants are protected by the forces and means of anti-aircraft missile and radio engineering units of the air defense forces.

The creation of the Aerospace Defense Forces was caused by the objective need to integrate, under unified leadership, all forces and assets capable of fighting in the aerospace sphere, based on modern global trends towards expanding the role of aerospace in ensuring the protection of vital state interests in the economic, military and social spheres.

On December 1, 2011, formations and military units of the Space Forces, together with military formations of the operational strategic command of the East Kazakhstan region, became part of a new branch of the military - the Aerospace Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Today, the Aerospace Defense Forces are a modern, dynamically developing, high-tech branch of the military that ensures the defense and security of the state in aerospace.

The objects of the Aerospace Defense Forces are located throughout Russia - from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka, as well as beyond its borders. Facilities of missile attack warning and space control systems are deployed in neighboring countries - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

On December 1, 2011, the Aerospace Defense Forces, in cooperation with the air defense forces and means of the military districts, took up combat duty with the task of protecting the country’s territory from attacks by aerospace attack weapons.

Troop Structure

Command of the Aerospace Defense Forces

Space Command (SC)

Main Test Space Center named after. G.S. Titova

Main missile attack warning center

Main space reconnaissance center

Air and Missile Defense Command (Air Defense and Missile Defense)

Air Defense Brigades

Missile Defense Joint

State Test Cosmodrome "Plesetsk" (GIC "Plesetsk")- Separate scientific research station (Kura testing ground)

Major milestones

Military Space Defense Forces:

1955

The first military units for space purposes were formed in connection with preparations for the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite (NIIP No. 5 - now the Baikonur State Test Cosmodrome, created on June 2, 1955, the annual holiday is June 2).

1957

A center for command and measurement complexes was formed (now the Main Test Center for Testing and Control of Spacecraft named after G.S. Titov, GITSIU KS, annual holiday - October 4) to ensure testing of launched and control of the first experimental spacecraft and cosmonaut flights.

On October 4, 1957, the world's first artificial Earth satellite (PS-1) was launched.

On July 15, the first ICBM compound “Angara facility” was created (now the State Test Cosmodrome “Plesetsk”, the annual holiday of the cosmodrome).

1960

To create favorable conditions for the implementation of a long-term military space program, the formation of the first management body within the Strategic Missile Forces - the third directorate of the GURVO. Kerim Alievich Kerimov was appointed the first head of the department.

Kerimov Kerim Alievich (born in 1919). In 1944, after graduating from the Artillery Academy. F.E. Dzerzhinsky served in the system of the Main Directorate of Armament of Guards Mortar Units. After the war, he participated as part of a group of Soviet specialists in the collection and study of German rocket technology. After returning, he worked in the 4th Directorate of the GAU: senior officer, head of department, deputy head of department. During this period, he made a great contribution to the organization of orders for the first serial rocketry.

In March 1965, he was appointed head of the Main Directorate for Space Issues of the USSR Ministry of General Engineering. Subsequently, he was appointed chairman of the State Commission for flight testing of manned spacecraft and cosmonaut launches. He was awarded the military rank of lieutenant general. For his active work in the field of cosmonautics development, he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of the Lenin and State Prizes, and was awarded a number of orders and medals of the USSR.

For reference: by the end of the 50s - the beginning of the 60s, the organizational structure of space units included a test department, separate engineering and testing units and a range measuring complex at the Baikonur test site, a Command and Measurement Complex Center and 12 separate scientific measuring points.

1961

On March 4, 1961, the B-1000 anti-missile with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, developed in an experimental design bureau under the leadership of Academician P.D. Grushin, for the first time in the world, the warhead of a domestic R-12 ballistic missile launched from the Kapustin Yar test site was destroyed in flight.

1964

To centralize work on the creation of new assets, as well as to quickly resolve issues of using space assets, the Central Directorate of Space Assets (TSUKOS) of the Ministry of Defense was created (stationed in Moscow). Its chief was Major General K.A. Kerimov.

1965

The Central Directorate of Space Facilities (TSUKOS) of the Ministry of Defense was headed by Major General A.G. Karas.

Karas Andrey Grigorievich (1918-1979). Colonel General, laureate of the USSR State Prize (1970), head of GUKOS (1970-1979).

In the Armed Forces since 1938. Graduated from the Odessa Artillery School. Participant of the Great Patriotic War. After the war he graduated from the Academy. F.E. Dzerzhinsky. In missile units since May 1951: head of the staff department, deputy chief, chief of staff of the Kapustin Yar test site, chief of staff of the Baikonur test site, scientific consultant of the 4th Central Research Institute of Defense, head of the command and measurement complex (1959). Since 1965 - head of TsUKOS (GUKOS).

1966

On March 17, the first launch of the Vostok-2 space rocket with the Cosmos-112 spacecraft was carried out from the NIIP MO (now the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome).

1967

In 1967, in accordance with the directives of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces dated January 31 and March 30, the Directorate of the Commander of the Anti-Missile Defense (BMD) and Anti-Space Defense Forces (PKO) was formed.

1968

In 1968, flight design tests of the PKO “IS” complex began and on November 1, 1968, for the first time in the world, the task of intercepting and destroying the I-2M target spacecraft using a two-orbit interception method was successfully completed.

1970

To develop space assets in the interests of all branches of the USSR Armed Forces, the national economy and scientific research, TsUKOS was reorganized into the Main Directorate of Space Assets (GUKOS) of the Ministry of Defense.

1979

GUKOS was headed by Major General A.A. Maksimov.

Maksimov Alexander Alexandrovich (1923-1990). Colonel General, Hero of Socialist Labor (1984), laureate of the Lenin (1979) and State Prize (1968) of the USSR, head of space assets (1986-1990).

Participant of the Great Patriotic War. After the war, he graduated from the F.E. Dzerzhinsky Artillery Academy in 1952. He served in the military representative office at the S.P. design bureau. Korolev, then in the 4th Directorate of the GAU. As work on space assets expanded, A.A. Maksimov received new appointments: deputy chief, first deputy, chief of GUKOS (1979). In 1986, he was appointed head of space assets of the USSR Ministry of Defense.

1982

GUKOS and the units subordinate to it were withdrawn from the Strategic Missile Forces and subordinated directly to the USSR Minister of Defense, since the volume of tasks being solved had increased significantly.

Branch 4 of the Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation was transformed into the 50th Central Research Institute of KS and is subordinate directly to the head of GUKOS.

On October 1, the directorate of the missile defense and anti-aircraft defense forces was reorganized into the command of the missile and space defense forces (RKO).

August 1992

A logical step was the creation of the Military Space Forces (VKS) of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, which included the Baikonur Cosmodrome, spacecraft launch units at the Plesetsk test site, and the GITSIU KS. Colonel General V.L. Ivanov was appointed the first commander of the Aerospace Forces (the Office of the Commander of the Aerospace Forces was stationed in Moscow).

Ivanov Vladimir Leontievich (born in 1936). Colonel General, Commander of the Military Space Forces (1992-1997), Doctor of Military Sciences (1992).

In 1958 he graduated from the Caspian Higher Naval School named after S.M. Kirov and was appointed to the missile unit (Plesetsk) as crew chief. After successfully graduating from the command department of the F.E. Dzerzhinsky Military Engineering Academy in 1971, he was appointed commander of a missile regiment, then deputy commander and commander of a missile division, deputy chief and chief of the Plesetsk cosmodrome.

On March 1, 1996, the State Test Cosmodrome “Svobodny” was created as part of the Aerospace Forces, the annual holiday of the cosmodrome.

1997

March 4 - the first launch of a space rocket (RKN "Start-1.2" with the "Zeya" spacecraft) from the State Test Cosmodrome "Svobodny".

The Aerospace Forces and RKO troops became part of the Strategic Missile Forces to increase the efficiency of military space activities. However, the integration goals were not achieved. In addition, a number of serious problems arose due to an attempt, in a purely mechanical way, to combine in one branch of the Armed Forces a strike group of ground-based strategic nuclear forces and military-space formations that provide space information to the highest levels of government of the country and the Armed Forces.

year 2001.

In connection with the negative results of integration and the increasing role of space assets in the military and national security system of Russia, the country's top political leadership decided to create, on the basis of associations, formations and spacecraft launch and control units allocated from the Strategic Missile Forces, as well as the RKO troops, a new type of force - Space troops (Office of the Commander of the Space Forces is stationed in Moscow)

By decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated March 28, Colonel General Anatoly Nikolaevich Perminov was appointed commander of the Space Forces.

On June 1, the Space Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were formed and began to carry out their assigned tasks.

2002

On October 3, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1115, Space Forces Day was introduced, celebrated annually on October 4.

2003

On April 12, President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin got acquainted with the activities of the A.F. Mozhaisky Military Space Academy (St. Petersburg), where in one of the laboratories of the main military educational institution of the Space Forces he held a communication session with the crew of the international space mission stations.

2004

On the basis of the branch of the Military Space Academy named after A.F. Mozhaisky, the Pushkin Military Institute of Radio Electronics of the Space Forces named after Air Marshal E.Ya. Savitsky was created (Pushkin, Leningrad Region).

On February 17, during a strategic command and staff training of the Russian Armed Forces, Russian President V.V. Putin arrived at the Plesetsk cosmodrome, where on February 18 he was present at the launch of the Molniya-M launch vehicle with a military spacecraft.

By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 337 of March 10, Lieutenant General Vladimir Aleksandrovich Popovkin was appointed commander of the Space Forces.

On March 15, the optical-electronic complex “Window”, part of the space control system, was put on combat duty.

On April 3, at the Main Test Center for Testing and Control of Space Facilities (GITSIU KS) named after G.S. Titov (Krasnoznamensk, Moscow Region), a meeting was held between the Presidents of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin and the French Republic J. Chirac. During a visit to the command post of the GITSIU KS, the commander of the Space Forces, Lieutenant General V.V. Popovkin, reported to the heads of both states on the composition of the Space Forces, the tasks they solve and the control system for the orbital constellation of Russian spacecraft, as well as on the directions of international cooperation in the field of space in regarding France.

On April 30, by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 125, the Flag of the Space Forces was approved.

On May 9, the combined battalion of the Moscow Military Institute of Radio Electronics of the Space Forces represented the Space Forces for the first time as part of a parade squad on Red Square.

Flag of the Aerospace Defense Forces

The flag of the Aerospace Defense Forces is a rectangular, double-sided blue panel. In the center of the cloth there is a small emblem of the Aerospace Defense Forces (a stylized contour image of a silver launching space rocket against the background of a stylized globe. The rocket is depicted in the form of a vertical acute triangle. The image of the globe is divided by four horizontal stripes: the first on top is dark blue, the second - white, the third - blue, the fourth - red. In the upper part of the ellipse there are two symmetrical triangular segments. In the lower part of the rocket image there is a red quadrilateral with an internal lower corner).

The ratio of the width of the flag to its length is 2:3. The ratio of the width of the emblem to the length of the flag is 1:2.

Large emblem of the Aerospace Defense Forces

The elements of the emblem symbolize: a stylized, contour image of a silver launching space rocket against the background of a stylized image of the globe - the achievements of the Russian Federation in the field of exploration and control of outer space in order to strengthen the country's defense capability and ensure the activities of the branches and branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the interests of preserving peace and maintaining general security;

The colors of the small emblem represent the spheres of activity of the Aerospace Defense Forces: dark blue – the universe, white – space, blue – air, red – Earth;

Two symmetrical triangular segments - a spacecraft control antenna and a space control antenna;

The red quadrangle at the bottom of the rocket image is the flame of the launching rocket;

Two “Perunov” arrows, clamped in the right paw of the eagle, pointing downwards, are the implementation of missile defense by the Aerospace Defense Forces;

A silver rod, topped with a stylized image of a rocket and an element of a spacecraft control antenna - spacecraft launches and control of the orbital group;

The emblem of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation means that the Aerospace Defense Forces belong to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation;

The pattern in the form of a wreath represents the courage and valor of the military personnel of the Aerospace Defense Forces.

Editor's response

On October 4, Russia celebrates Space Forces Day. The holiday is timed to coincide with the launch day of the first artificial Earth satellite PS-1 (Simple Satellite-1). It was launched into orbit on October 4, 1957 by an R-7 launch vehicle from the 5th research site of the USSR Ministry of Defense, which later became known as the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The spacecraft was a ball with a diameter of 58 centimeters, weighed 83.6 kilograms, and was equipped with four whip antennas 2.4 and 2.9 meters long. The successful launch of the world's first satellite became a revelation in the annals of astronautics, including military ones.

Emblem of the Aerospace Defense Forces. Photo: ommons.wikimedia.org

AiF.ru talks about what the space forces do, their composition and the history of their origin.

Tasks

Space Forces are a branch of the military within the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation. Their main tasks are:

a warning to the country's top military-political leadership about a missile attack;
missile defense of the city of Moscow;
control of outer space;
creation, deployment, maintenance of the domestic orbital constellation and control of spacecraft for military, dual, socio-economic and scientific purposes.

Composition of the space forces:

Space Forces Command;
Main missile attack warning center;
Main center for space reconnaissance;
Directorate for the Introduction of New Systems and Complexes of the Space Forces;
Missile defense formations;
Main Test Center named after German Titov;
State test cosmodrome Plesetsk.

The number of personnel of the Aerospace Defense Forces of the Russian Federation is 165,000 people.

Orbital constellation

As of September 2015, the Russian orbital satellite constellation is the second in the world and consists of 149 devices. Together with orbital constellations of the CIS countries - 167 devices.

For comparison, the largest orbital constellation is owned by the United States, which owns 446 artificial satellites. In third place is China with 120+ satellites. India maintains 40+ operational Earth imaging satellites in polar orbits.

Pilots during an exercise to test the combat readiness of the Aerospace Defense Forces, the 1st Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Western Military District at the Baltimore airfield in Voronezh. Photo: RIA Novosti / Alexander Utkin

Names

Central Directorate of Space Facilities (TSUKOS) of the Strategic Missile Forces (Strategic Missile Forces) (1964-1970),
Main Directorate of Space Facilities (GUKOS) of the Strategic Missile Forces (Strategic Missile Forces) (1970-1981),
Main Directorate of Space Facilities (GUKOS) of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (1981-1986),
Office of the Chief of Space Facilities (UNKS) of the USSR Ministry of Defense (1986-1992),
Military Space Forces (VKS) (1992-1997),
as part of the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) (1997-2001),
Space Forces (SF) (2001-2011),
Aerospace Defense Forces (VVKO) (from December 1, 2011 - August 1, 2015),
Space Forces (HF) of the Aerospace Forces (since August 1, 2015).

Major General, Commander of the Aerospace Defense Forces (VKO) Alexander Golovko. Photo: RIA Novosti / Mikhail Klimentyev

Commanders

1964-1965 — K.A.-A. Kerimov
1965-1979 — A. G. Karas
1979-1989 — A. A. Maksimov
1989-1996 — V. L. Ivanov
2001-2004 — A. N. Perminov
2004-2008 — V. A. Popovkin
2008-2011 — O. N. Ostapenko
2012 — V. M. Ivanov- acting temporarily
from December 2012 — A. V. Golovko

Educational establishments

The training of officers for the space forces is carried out by:

Military Space Academy named after A.F. Mozhaisky,
Military Academy of Aerospace Defense named after Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov.

Story

The first space units were formed in 1955 as part of the artillery of the Reserve of the Supreme High Command (RVGK), when by decree of the USSR Government it was decided to build a research site.

In 1964, to centralize work on the creation of new assets, as well as to quickly resolve issues of using space assets, the Central Directorate of Space Assets (TSUKOS) of the Strategic Missile Forces (Strategic Missile Forces) was created. In 1970, it was reorganized into the Main Directorate of Space Facilities (GUKOS) of the Strategic Missile Forces.

In 1986, GUKOS was transformed into the Office of the Chief of Space Facilities of the USSR Ministry of Defense.

Military personnel of the Aerospace Defense Forces greet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during the parade dedicated to the 68th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War on Red Square. Photo: RIA Novosti / Vladimir Ostapkovich

In 1992, the Office of the Chief of Space Facilities was transformed into a branch of centrally subordinate forces - the Military Space Forces (VKS).

In 1997, the Military Space Forces, in order to increase the efficiency of command and control and save the defense budget, were included in the Strategic Missile Forces.

In connection with the increasing role of space assets in the system of military and national security of Russia, a presidential decree in 2001 created an independent branch of the force - the Space Forces - on the basis of formations, formations and launch and missile launch units allocated from the Strategic Missile Forces. At the same time, it was taken into account that space forces and means, forces and means of the RKO have a single sphere of problem solving - space, as well as close cooperation of industrial enterprises, ensuring the creation and development of weapons.

Aerospace Defense Forces

The Aerospace Defense Forces (ASD) are a fundamentally new branch of the military, which is designed to ensure the security of Russia in the aerospace sphere.

Middle emblem of the Aerospace Defense Forces

Aerospace defense troops solve a wide range of tasks, the main of which are:

Providing senior levels of management with reliable information about the detection of ballistic missile launches and warning of missile attacks;

Defeat the warheads of a potential enemy's ballistic missiles attacking important government facilities;

Monitoring space objects and identifying threats to Russia in and from space, and, if necessary, countering such threats;

Maintaining the established composition and readiness for use of military and dual-use satellite systems, means of launching and controlling them, and a number of other tasks.

HISTORY OF CREATION

Aerospace Defense Forces

Soyuz-2 launch vehicle on the launch pad

Optical-electronic space monitoring complex OEC "Window"

Radar station of high factory readiness "Voronezh-DM"

Space control equipment provided warnings of more than 900 dangerous approaches of space objects to the international space station.

The duty forces of the Main Test Center for Testing and Control of Spacecraft named after G.S. Titov conducted about 2.5 million sessions of spacecraft control.

Aerospace Defense Forces perform tasks to protect Russian aerospace space

Today, the Aerospace Defense Forces are a modern, dynamically developing, high-tech branch of the military that ensures the defense and security of the state in aerospace.

Structure of the Aerospace Defense Forces:

Command of the Aerospace Defense Forces

Space Command (SC)

Main Test Space Center named after. G.S. Titova

Main missile attack warning center

Main space reconnaissance center

Air and Missile Defense Command (Air Defense and Missile Defense)

– Air Defense Brigades

– Missile Defense Joint

State Test Cosmodrome "Plesetsk" (GIC "Plesetsk")

Separate scientific research station (Kura test site)

Arsenal

Major milestones

Military Space Defense Forces:

1955

1957

On October 4, 1957, the world's first artificial Earth satellite (PS-1) was launched.

On July 15, the first ICBM compound “Angara facility” was created (now the State Test Cosmodrome “Plesetsk”, the annual holiday of the cosmodrome).

1960

1961

1964

1965

The Central Directorate of Space Facilities (TSUKOS) of the Ministry of Defense was headed by Major General A.G. Karas.

Karas Andrey Grigorievich (1918-1979). Colonel General, laureate of the USSR State Prize (1970), head of GUKOS (1970-1979).

1966

On March 17, the first launch of the Vostok-2 space rocket with the Cosmos-112 spacecraft was carried out from the NIIP MO (now the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome).

1967

1968

1970

1979

GUKOS was headed by Major General A.A. Maksimov.

Maksimov Alexander Alexandrovich (1923-1990). Colonel General, Hero of Socialist Labor (1984), laureate of the Lenin (1979) and State Prize (1968) of the USSR, head of space assets (1986-1990).

1982

On October 1, the directorate of the missile defense and anti-aircraft defense forces was reorganized into the command of the missile and space defense forces (RKO).

August 1992

Ivanov Vladimir Leontievich (born in 1936). Colonel General, Commander of the Military Space Forces (1992-1997), Doctor of Military Sciences (1992).

On March 1, 1996, the State Test Cosmodrome “Svobodny” was created as part of the Aerospace Forces, the annual holiday of the cosmodrome.

1997

March 4 - the first launch of a space rocket (RKN "Start-1.2" with the "Zeya" spacecraft) from the State Test Cosmodrome "Svobodny".

year 2001.

By decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated March 28, Colonel General Anatoly Nikolaevich Perminov was appointed commander of the Space Forces.

On June 1, the Space Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were formed and began to carry out their assigned tasks.

2002

On March 26, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation presented a personal standard to the commander of the Space Forces.

On October 3, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1115, Space Forces Day was introduced, celebrated annually on October 4.

2003

On April 5, President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin visited the headquarters of the Space Forces.

2004

By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 337 of March 10, Lieutenant General Vladimir Aleksandrovich Popovkin was appointed commander of the Space Forces.

On March 15, the optical-electronic complex “Window”, part of the space control system, was put on combat duty.

On April 30, by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 125, the Flag of the Space Forces was approved.

On May 9, the combined battalion of the Moscow Military Institute of Radio Electronics of the Space Forces represented the Space Forces for the first time as part of a parade squad on Red Square.

Flag of the Aerospace Defense Forces

The ratio of the width of the flag to its length is 2:3. The ratio of the width of the emblem to the length of the flag is 1:2.

Large emblem of the Aerospace Defense Forces

The elements of the emblem symbolize:

a stylized, contour image of a silver launching space rocket against the background of a stylized image of the globe - the achievements of the Russian Federation in the field of exploration and control of outer space in order to strengthen the country's defense capability and ensure the activities of the branches and branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the interests of preserving peace and maintaining general security;

the colors of the small emblem - the spheres of activity of the Aerospace Defense Forces: dark blue - the universe, white - space, blue - air, red - Earth;

two symmetrical triangular segments - a spacecraft control antenna and a space control antenna;

the red quadrangle at the bottom of the rocket image is the flame of the launching rocket;

two “Perunov” arrows, clamped in the eagle’s right paw, pointing downwards – the implementation of missile defense by the Aerospace Defense Forces;

a silver rod topped with a stylized image of a rocket and an element of a spacecraft control antenna - spacecraft launches and control of the orbital group;

emblem of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - the Aerospace Defense Forces belong to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation;

a pattern in the form of a wreath - the courage and valor of the military personnel of the Aerospace Defense Forces.

Every year on October 4, Russia celebrates the Day of the Space Forces, which became part of the Aerospace Defense Forces of the Russian Federation on December 1, 2011.

The Aerospace Defense Forces are the youngest and most dynamically developing branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The aerospace defense troops are intended to: – detect the beginning of a missile attack and notify state and military authorities about it; – repelling aggression in the aerospace sphere and protecting administrative and political centers, industrial and economic regions, important facilities of the country and groupings of troops (forces) from attacks from space and from the air; – launch of spacecraft; – control of spacecraft in orbital flight. The successful solution of the tasks assigned to the Aerospace Defense Forces allows them, already in peacetime, to be one of the main elements of the system of strategic deterrence against nuclear missile and aerospace attacks.

To solve the assigned tasks, today the Aerospace Defense Forces include: – the command of the Aerospace Defense Forces; – space command; – command of air defense and missile defense troops; – State Test Cosmodrome Plesetsk; – units of special troops and logistics, universities of the Aerospace Defense Forces. In 2013, the A.F. Military Space Academy was included in the troops. Mozhaisky and the Military Academy of Aerospace Defense named after G.K. Zhukova,

as well as the Tver Suvorov Military School. In the same year, the formation of the Central Research Institute of the Aerospace Defense Forces began. The Command of the Aerospace Defense Forces: – directly manages the construction, organization and preparation for the use and use of associations, formations, military units of the Aerospace Defense Forces; – manages the organization and improvement of the aerospace defense system; – organizes, in cooperation with military districts, the protection of the state border of the Russian Federation in the airspace;

implements state policy in the field of space activities in the interests of defense and security of Russia. To implement the tasks assigned to the Aerospace Defense Forces, it includes a space command, which includes the Main Missile Attack Warning Center, the Main Space Situation Intelligence Center, the Main Test Space Center named after G.S. Titova.

Space Command is intended to:– to detect a missile attack on the Russian Federation and notify the highest authorities of state and military administration about it; – control of activities in near-Earth space and reconnaissance of the space situation;

ensuring the deployment, expansion of the orbital constellation of spacecraft, maintaining them in combat-ready condition, as well as the use of individual orbital constellations of spacecraft for their intended purpose. To solve the problems of reconnaissance of the aerospace enemy; alerting troops, agencies and control points about the air situation; missile defense of Moscow; repelling enemy missile and air strikes; covering state and military control points, the most important military-economic and infrastructure facilities of the state, as well as groupings of troops (forces) from attacks from aerospace; covering aircraft of long-range and military transport aviation associations at their bases and on flight routes; control over the use of airspace, the air defense and missile defense forces command is included in the aerospace defense forces. To solve the problems of preparing and carrying out launches of spacecraft on time for the deployment, expansion and replenishment of orbital constellations of space systems for military, dual and socio-economic purposes; carrying out measurements on the active flight phase of space rockets and ICBMs, their processing and analysis; receiving, storing and maintaining in established technical readiness for use a stock of space rocket components and rocket fuel components; testing and testing of promising space systems; preparation and conduct of combat training test launches of ICBMs; carrying out trajectory, telemetry and signal measurements during launches of ICBMs and SLBMs; collection and presentation of measurement information to the launch site (cosmodrome); organizing and conducting searches, geodetic reference of impact sites, evacuation (destruction) of the remnants of separating parts of the rocket and warheads; selection and coordination with testing grounds and enterprise developers of impact areas and aiming points for warheads; ensuring safety during testing in impact areas on the Kamchatka Peninsula; improvement of measurement methods, collection, processing and presentation of measurement information, the GIK Plesetsk is part of the Aerospace Defense Forces

The creation of the Aerospace Defense Forces is the first stage in the formation of the country's aerospace defense system. Further development of the aerospace defense system is planned in three main directions: – creation of a reconnaissance and warning system for aerospace attacks; – development of a system for defeating and suppressing enemy aerospace attack weapons; – creation of a unified information and control space for the aerospace defense system.

The development of an aerospace attack reconnaissance and warning system involves increasing its capabilities through: – deployment of a unified space system; – commissioning of new radar stations created using high factory readiness technology, which will ensure the elimination of existing gaps in the radar field of the ground echelon of the PRN system; – adoption of promising radar stations and modernization of existing ones while reducing the type of radar reconnaissance equipment;

creation and modernization of a whole range of specialized space control means. The implementation of measures to develop the Aerospace Defense Forces will make it possible to solve the problems of monitoring the military space activities of foreign states, as well as information support for the security of space activities of the Russian Federation.

Currently, the creation of a missile attack warning radar system of the Voronezh model range is being completed in the cities. Irkutsk and Kaliningrad, the creation of new stations has begun in the cities. Yeniseisk, Orsk, Barnaul, Vorkuta. The implementation of these works will ensure: – the creation of a radar field based on radars stationed only on the territory of Russia; – creation of a completely closed radar field, ensuring control of all missile-hazardous directions and the formation of target designations for anti-missile systems;

100% control of missile-hazardous areas in the United States, China, in the waters of North America and the Pacific Ocean using space-based early warning systems. Radio technical units and subdivisions of the Aerospace Defense Forces are equipped with modern radar complexes and stations (radar and radar), which allow at any time of the year and day, regardless of meteorological conditions and electronic warfare, to detect air attack weapons at long distances and at all altitudes, to determine their exact coordinates , as well as provide target designation for anti-aircraft missile systems.

Currently, work continues to re-equip the fleet of analog radars with radars with digital signal processing. This will not only increase their capabilities, but will also allow these stations to be included in the automated control system, which is created on the principles of modern local area networks using the latest PCs. When equipping troops with electronic equipment, much attention today is paid to increasing the maneuverability of units and subunits and their ability to provide combat operational information in any positional area in the shortest possible time.

The main directions of development of radio engineering units and units are the improvement of their technical equipment through measures to extend the service life and modernization of existing equipment and weapons, as well as the development of weapons of a new fleet: medium and high altitude radar "Sky-M", medium and high altitude radar " Opponent-G1M", "Sopka-2", low-altitude radar "Podlet-K1", "Podlet-M", low-altitude radar "Kasta-2-2". In addition, all-altitude detection radars are being supplied to units of the Aerospace Defense Forces. The development of forward-based mobile radars on sea, road and rail platforms has begun. One of the directions in the development of the reconnaissance and warning system for aerospace attacks is the improvement of the means of the space control system (SCCS). Efforts in this direction are planned to be directed at increasing the capabilities of the system’s means for processing information about the state of the situation in near-Earth space.

In the near future, the Aerospace Defense Forces will receive new radar systems, optical-electronic equipment, and the latest electronic monitoring equipment, which will significantly expand the capabilities of the national space control forces. The implementation of these measures for the development of the SKKP will make it possible by 2020 to ensure control of outer space in the entire range of orbital inclinations up to altitudes of more than 30 thousand km. An important direction in the development of the Aerospace Defense Forces is the expansion of the radar field in the northern direction, which is due to the need for Russia’s presence in the Arctic. With the development of a system for defeating and suppressing enemy air defense systems, it is planned to increase the capabilities of the Moscow missile defense system, equipping the Aerospace Defense Forces with long-range anti-aircraft missile systems (ZRS) S-400, short-range anti-aircraft missile and gun systems (ZRPK) "Pantsir-S1".

Today, the brigades of the Aerospace Defense Forces are armed with regimental sets of S-400 Triumph, S-300 Favorit, and Pantsir-S1 air defense systems. Work continues on the creation of: – new generation weapons; – Vityaz interspecific medium-range air defense system to replace the outdated and outdated S-300PS air defense system. It should be noted that all these products correspond to the best world analogues. The task of developing space assets is closely linked to the activities of the Aerospace Defense Forces in the direction of creating a unified information and control space for the aerospace defense system and provides for the continuation of work to create conditions for the deployment of orbital constellations of promising space complexes and systems for reconnaissance, communications, navigation, mapping, geodetic and meteorological support. At a meeting on the development of the orbital constellation of spacecraft (OGSC) on November 29, 2013, President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin said that “...modern... Russian armed forces must be high-tech, must meet all the requirements of today and tomorrow's methods of conducting armed struggle. It is absolutely obvious that without strengthening the orbital constellation of spacecraft, this problem cannot be solved.” In 2013, the planned replacement of morally and physically obsolete spacecraft of the orbital constellation of the Russian Federation continued with fundamentally new products with extended warranty periods for active life and improved performance characteristics. The ground-based automated control complex of the Aerospace Defense Forces controls 100% of military and dual-use spacecraft. Within the framework of the State Program, measures have been planned to create modern and modernize existing facilities for the ground-based automated spacecraft control complex (NAKU KA), reduce their range of products, and transfer them to modern communications and computing systems.

The implementation of these measures will allow optimizing the composition and structure of spacecraft NAKU facilities, reducing their range by 2.5 times, reducing operating costs for maintaining spacecraft NAKU facilities, increasing the reliability of spacecraft exhaust gas control and ensuring launches of spacecraft for various purposes. The development of spacecraft launch vehicles is carried out within the framework of the Federal Target Program “Development of Russian Cosmodromes for 2006–2015”. Main directions of development: – construction and deployment of ground infrastructure at the Plesetsk cosmodrome for the start of flight tests of the Angara space rocket complex; – acceptance into operation of the Soyuz-2 space rocket complex; – modernization of the cosmodrome infrastructure facilities necessary for the preparation and launch of promising spacecraft. These measures will make it possible to create a family of launch vehicles based on a single universal module and launch spacecraft from the territory of the Russian Federation. In general, by 2020, the implementation of measures to equip (re-equip) aerospace defense units with new (modernized) types of weapons, military and special equipment will increase the provision of aerospace defense forces with modern weapons to a level close to 90%. In conclusion, it should be noted that the implementation of measures for the construction and development of the Aerospace Defense Forces will make it possible to counter both existing and future threats to the Russian Federation in the aerospace sphere

On December 1 of this year, a new branch of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces was born. This day will also be remembered for the complete winding down of such troops as the space forces.

The new branch of troops has already begun to control the orbit and airspace, the first duty shift of three thousand people solemnly took up combat duty.

creation of East Kazakhstan region
The first attempts to create a system for monitoring air and empty space were made back in 2001. But due to a lack of funds and other political priorities, the implementation of the program to create the East Kazakhstan region was constantly postponed. And only the threat of Western missile defense systems approaching Russian borders forced the Russian leadership to remember about adequately countering emerging threats.

East Kazakhstan region management
The former commander of the space forces, Lieutenant General O. Ostapenko, was appointed head of the East Kazakhstan region.
General V. Ivanov was appointed first deputy.
The space department is commanded by Major General O. Maidanovich.
The air direction is commanded by Major General S. Popov.

Tasks of East Kazakhstan region
The main purpose of the new type of troops is to warn of a missile attack and repel a missile and aviation attack from the aerospace environment on the territory of the Russian Federation. After detecting an attack and reporting to senior management, use all measures to destroy the threat, suppress attack control centers and cover important facilities on Russian territory.
-instantly informing the military-political leadership of the country about the detection of a missile launch from territory controlled by the aerospace defense forces;
- destruction of detected missiles and warheads fired into the territory of the Russian Federation;
- ensuring the protection of the main control points of the country and the Armed Forces, the protection of strategic objects of the fatherland;
- constant monitoring of all spacecraft, preventing threats from space, creating parity of forces;
- launching new space objects into orbit, constant control of satellites and orbital and space vehicles, control of civilian satellites to collect the necessary information.

Composition of East Kazakhstan region

The space divisions include:
- a missile attack warning system, consisting of an orbital constellation of three satellites, one US-KMO and 2 US-KS;
- the main center for testing and control of the orbital constellation;
- Plesetsk cosmodrome;
- space control system, consisting of:
Command post of PKO and RCMP;
Complex "Krona", located in the North Caucasus;
The Window complex, located in Tajikistan;
Complex "Moment", located in the Moscow region;
Complex "Krona-N", located in the Far East;
Spetsko flight warning system;
All Dnepr radars;
All Daryal radars;
Volga station, located in Baranovichi;
Station "Danube-ZU", missile defense station "Don-2N", located in the Moscow region;
Azov station, located in Kamchatka;
Stations "Sazhen-T and -S";
Stations "Voronezh-M and -DM";
The control system can use the NSOS network in the CIS, and the system also takes data from COSPAR, OOH and NASA.
The anti-missile and anti-aircraft units include:
- missile defense division located in the Moscow region;
- 3 anti-aircraft missile brigades "S-400", located in the Moscow region;
- several S-500 anti-aircraft missile brigades are expected by 2020;
In addition to these areas, radio engineering troops will support aerospace defense.

Subordination
The aerospace defense forces will be directly linked to the General Staff, and the structure will also be controlled by the General Staff.

The air defense control system has not yet been fully calibrated. And what is possible, because the new branch of the army is not even a month old. Almost all stations consist of old equipment, many open uncontrolled areas and outdated weapons. But let’s hope that everything will settle down and the aerospace defense region will acquire the latest complexes, stations and weapons. In the meantime, the technology is working on two fronts: in East Kazakhstan region and in our own districts.

Additional Information
Judging by the reaction of Western countries to the creation of the Aerospace Defense Forces, they reliably know the capabilities of these troops, they will learn any information on domestic defense capabilities faster than some commanders of our military units. And they can start to worry no earlier than the S-500 is put into operation.
It’s a pity that the time was lost on the creation of the Aerospace Defense Region; in ten years, colossal opportunities were lost, for example, the commissioning of a military base in Cuba.