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The official data on the composition and
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number of aircraft in military transport
0:08
aviation in Russia is not published.
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Most of the available information comes
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from foreign sources which are often
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hard to verify and may be biased.
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This video examines the current state of
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Russian military transport aviation
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using open- source data.
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The Russian Aerospace Forces Military
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Transport Aviation, VKS, is not the sole
0:32
operator of domestic military transport
0:36
The naval aviation of the Russian Navy,
0:38
the border troops of Russia's FSB, and
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the aviation of the Russian National
0:42
Guard also employ comparable aircraft
0:46
It is crucial to acknowledge that the
0:49
figures contained in English and
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American reference texts and online
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sources as of early summer 2025 do not
0:56
accurately represent the current
1:00
However, they convey an overall
1:04
The IL76 is the most frequently used
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military transport aircraft by Russian
1:09
security agencies and it is available in
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various modifications including the
1:13
latest IL76 MD90A models.
1:17
The total number of IS6s in Russia is
1:20
higher but at least 130 units are
1:23
reportedly in service with security
1:27
The figures of 130 to 150 units in
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active service with military and
1:32
security agencies are frequently cited
1:34
by nonRussian sources.
1:37
The AN26 is another aircraft that is
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frequently used with foreign estimates
1:43
indicating that the total number of
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units is approximately 200.
1:48
The AN26 is no longer in production and
1:51
there is currently no direct replacement
1:53
in contrast to the L76.
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The majority of AN26s in service were
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manufactured during the Soviet era.
2:01
Production ceased in 1986 and are
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currently being maintained at repair
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facilities in Bellarus and Russia.
2:09
Furthermore, the operational status of
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the five AN32s and 1 to three AN24 RVs
2:17
The AN124 is the most potent and largest
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transport aircraft in the VKS fleet.
2:23
The last two aircraft were delivered to
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a civilian customer, Vulg Neper
2:27
Airlines, from Soviet era stock. Serial
2:30
production ceased in 2004.
2:34
According to reports, the military
2:36
maintains a total of approximately 25 to
2:38
26 aircraft with 12 to 13 N124s in
2:43
operation and a comparable number in
2:47
In 2024, the AN22 was retired from duty
2:50
in Russia after 50 years of service.
2:54
The aircraft has been decommissioned and
2:56
the final flight unit is currently being
2:59
prepared for exhibition in a museum.
3:02
The N12 is yet another veteran of
3:05
Russian military transport aviation.
3:08
According to foreign sources, the
3:10
military maintains up to 45 units with a
3:13
few additional units in the Naval
3:15
Aviation and National Guard, bringing
3:18
the total to nearly 50.
3:21
Nevertheless, the Russian registries
3:23
indicate that only six aircraft are
3:25
currently operational with approximately
3:27
20 aircraft in storage.
3:30
The AN72 is employed by the military and
3:33
other security agencies.
3:36
In 2025, approximately 50 units are
3:39
estimated to be in service by Western
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sources, while Russian internet
3:43
registries indicate that there are 69 to
3:46
75 operational aircraft and nearly 20 in
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Posts Soviet Antonov designs are
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represented by nine N140s and 16
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The Russian Ministry of Emergency
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Situations, AMRCOM, and the Special
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Flight Detachment, Rossia, operate
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nearly a dozen additional N14800s.
4:09
However, these aircraft are not
4:11
classified as military aircraft.
4:14
Transportation duties are also performed
4:16
using older Tupv models. Foreign sources
4:20
indicate that approximately 25 TU154s
4:23
and approximately 72134s
4:26
are in service with military and
4:30
Now for the light aircraft, around 30
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L410s are employed for transport
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purposes, although some sources indicate
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that the number may be as high as 60.
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Additionally, there are over 40 L410s in
4:46
The AN2 is still in limited use with
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approximately 50 aircraft in the VKS and
4:51
approximately 140 in the DOF. However,
4:54
these figures are primarily statistical.
4:58
Western sources anticipate that Russian
5:00
security agencies will employ no less
5:03
than 650 to 700 aircraft for transport
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purposes in 2025. With the exception of
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the smallest aircraft such as the L410
5:14
the sufficiency of this depends on the
5:16
specific duties and transportation
5:19
volumes that are necessary.
5:22
Nevertheless, the fleet's present
5:23
composition underscores the necessity
5:28
Currently, the L76 MD90A is the sole
5:32
model being manufactured in series. In
5:35
other segments, equipment reserves are
5:37
maintained in storage. However, it is
5:39
anticipated that no new aircraft will be
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introduced into service until at least
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In conclusion, Russia's substantial and
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varied fleet of military transport
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aircraft includes a significant portion
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of deteriorating Soviet era models.
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It is challenging to develop a
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comprehensive and precise understanding
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due to the absence of official data and
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the dependence on foreign estimates.
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However, it is evident that the
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modernization of Russian military
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transport aviation in the upcoming
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decade will continue to be a critical
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Now, do you think Russia uses Soviet era
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transport because it is reliable or
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because Russia has no money for
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Let us know in the comments. Please feel
6:28
free to like, share, and subscribe to
