Ukrainian Naval Aviation

The Ukrainian Naval Aviation (Ukrainian: Морська Авіація, Morska Aviatsiya) is a component of the Ukrainian Navy.

Ukrainian Naval Aviation
Морська Авіація
Sleeve patch of the UNA
FoundedApril 5, 1992
CountryUkraine
BranchNavy
TypeAviation
RoleFleet reconnaissance, patrolling coasts for enemy ships and submarines
Size2,500
Garrison/HQOchakiv Mykolaiv Oblast Ukraine
Commanders
ColonelOleh Zahurskyi
Insignia
Ukrainian Navy Ensign
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
PatrolKa-27, Be-12
TrainerAn-2
TransportAn-12, An-24, An-26, Mi-8, Mi-14PL, Ka-226

During the breakup of the Soviet Union, significant portions of the Soviet Naval Aviation were based in Ukraine, which were intended to support the Black Sea Fleet. These forces included the 2nd Guards Maritime Missile Aviation Division (Gvardeyskoye, Crimean Oblast), with three regiments of maritime attack Tu-22M2s (5th, 124th at Gvardeskoye, Crimean Oblast and the 943rd at Oktyabrskoye?), and the 30th independent Maritime Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment (Saki-Novofedorovka, Crimean Oblast) of Tu-22Ps.[1]

In the second half of 1997, when Ukraine and Russia agreed on how to split the Black Sea Fleet, Ukraine received 12 planes and 30 helicopters.[2]

History
Ukrainian Navy Mi-14

Ukraine inherited large naval aviation units from the Soviet Union. These included large aircraft such as the Tupolev Tu-142 and Tupolev Tu-22M, however these were scrapped under the Budapest Memorandum. Fighters such as the Mig-29 were either decommissioned due to budgetary reasons or transferred to the air force. The remaining inventory included transport, attack, and anti-submarine warfare helicopters, as well as numerous transport aircraft. Ukraine's naval units, along with some aviation units participated in several deployments such as Operation Atlanta and Operation Ocean Shield.[3]

2014 Crimean crisis

During the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, Ukrainian naval aviation managed to get a number of its aircraft and helicopters airborne from its Novofedorivka airbase to fly to bases in mainland Ukraine on 5 March. This included one Kamov Ka-27PL and three Mil Mi-14PL maritime helicopters, and one Beriev Be-12 amphibian and two Antonov An-26 transports. More than a dozen aircraft and helicopters, which were undergoing maintenance, had to be left behind. The long-term sustainability of the Ukrainian Navy's surviving helicopters is uncertain after the pro-Russian administration in Crimea nationalised all state owned enterprises, including the Sevastopol Aviation Enterprise, which had provided long-term maintenance and overhaul of the service's helicopters.[4]

Organization

10th Naval Aviation Brigade

All naval aircraft in service are controlled by the 10th Naval Aviation Brigade in Mykolaiv.

  • 10th Naval Aviation Brigade, Mykolaiv
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
    • Air Squadron
    • Helicopter Squadron
    • Signal & Radio-technical Support Battalion
    • Airfield & Technical Support Battalion
    • Aviation Technical & Operational Engineering
    • Helicopter Technical & Operational Engineering
    • CSAR Company
    • Logistic Company
    • Meteorological Company
    • Engineer Platoon
    • Security Platoon

One Kamov Ka-27 helicopter is stationed on the Hetman Sahaidachnyi (a Krivak III-class frigate). The frigate can however carry a maximum of two helicopters.

Inventory
A Ukrainian Ka-27 lands aboard the USS Donald Cook during exercise Sea Breeze 2015
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
Antonov An-26 Soviet Union/Ukraine transport 2[5]
Antonov An-2 Soviet Union transport 2[6]
Beriev Be-12 Soviet Union transport / SAR 2[5] amphibian aircraft
Helicopters
Mil Mi-14 Soviet Union SAR / ASW 4[5]
Mil Mi-8 Ukraine utility Mi-8MSB 2 modernized by Motor Sich
Kamov Ka-27 Soviet Union ASW 27/29 4[5]
Kamov Ka-226 Russia utility 1[5]

References
  1. «Aviation and Time". 1996, № 5, page 35, and Michael Holm, Red Banner Black Sea Fleet, accessed December 2012.
  2. Новини Управління Прес-служби МО Archived 2012-08-04 at Archive.today
  3. "Frigate "Hetman Sahaydachniy" joins EU's operation "Atlanta"". Eu.for. 3 Jan 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014.
  4. Ripley, Tim. "Ukrainian navy decimated by Russian move into Crimea". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. IHS Jane's. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  5. "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  6. "Меценат подарував авіаційній бригаді ВМСУ літак Ан-2". Retrieved 2020-09-27.
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