RUSSIAN NAVAL AVIATION PARADE 2017 MILITARY
Sevastopol in Crimea. No fewer than six
aircraft, previously held in storage for many
years, were cycled through an overhaul
at TANTK Beriev in Taganrog and the
EARZ aviation repair plant at Yevpatoria in
Crimea between 2012 and 2017 to extend
their service life. This has rendered the
refurbished amphibian aircraft good for front-
line service until the early 2020s.
Fast-jet zoo
The Russian Naval Aviation’s fleet of
shipborne and land-based fighters and
strike jets has undergone considerable
growth since 2013. Rapid expansion
has been achieved by establishing a
new combat unit, the 100th OKIAP, an
independent shipborne fighter aviation
regiment, and transfer of several former
Russian Air and Space Forces regiments
and squadrons to Russian Naval Aviation
control. Currently, Russian Naval Aviation
has six different fast jet types in service.
Some of the newest additions to the
fleet were on show in the parade. These
included MiG-29KRs assigned to the
100th OKIAP, stationed at Severomorsk-3,
part of the Northern Fleet, and Su-30SM
multi-role fighters from the 43rd OMShAP,
an independent naval attack aviation
regiment in the Black Sea Fleet, stationed
at Saki in Crimea.
Older jets involved were assigned to the
98th SAP, home-based at Monchegorsk,
assigned to the Northern Fleet; one
squadron flying upgraded MiG-31BMs
and another, equipped with a mixture of
Su-24M bombers and Su-24MR
reconnaissance aircraft.Il-38N, side number 78, carries artwork
themed on anti-submarine warfare and serves
with the 7062nd Air Base at Nikolaevka near
Vladivostok. Russian Naval Aviation’s ultimate
intention is to upgrade and extend the service
life of its entire 28-aircraft fleet until 2020.
Due to a programme delay, completion is not
expected before the mid-2020s.Tu-142MK, side number 95, belongs to the resident squadron assigned to the Kipelovo-based aviation
group with the 7050th Air Base headquartered at Severomorsk-1 near Murmansk. Each aircraft in the
squadron has its own name, a rare thing in the Russian Naval Aviation. The Bear-F fleet is slated for a
major upgrade of its mission suite, including integration of a powerful surface search radar supplied by
AO Zaslon, based on the model originally developed for the upgraded Il-38N.Kacha-based Be-12, RF-12012, is operated in the maritime patrol role over the Black Sea and is also used for a variety of secondary
tasks involving the combat training of ship companies. The main mission equipment of the Be-12 is the Initsiativa-2B analogue search
radar used for long-range maritime surveillance and offshore navigation. Against large surface ships its detection range is 136 nauti-
cal miles, and for detection of a submarine periscope or life raft it offers a detection range of 9 nautical miles. The handful of Be-12s
remaining in active service were built in the early 1970s and are expected to remain in the frontline role until the early 2020s.