Amid rising tensions with Russia, How strong is Ukrainian Air Force ?
Тhe western sources credit the Ukrainian Air Force
as being Europe’s seventh-largest air force
this amounts to approximately more than 300 aircraft of all types
Also according to the Global Firepower index for the year 2022
the Ukrainian Air Force is the world's 33rd largest air power
with a total of 318 aircraft, including 98 interceptor and attack aircraft
32 transport aircraft, 71 trainer aircraft, 5 special mission aircraft
112 helicopters and 34 attack helicopters
Around 37 MiG-29 fighters survive with the Povitryani Syly Ukrayiny or Ukrainian Air Force
and these are assigned to two regiments
the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade at Vasyl’kiv
and the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade at Ivano/Frankivs’k
Approximately 32 Su-27s survive with another two regiments
at the 831th Tactical Aviation Brigade at Myrhorod
and the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade at Ozerne
A single Ukrainian base, Starokostiantyniv
operates a dwindling number of Su-24, perhaps a dozen in all
assigned to the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade
That same base is now also operating
the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 armed unmanned aerial vehicles
which have seen recent combat in the east of the country
In common with Russia’s Air Force
the Povitryani Syly Ukrayiny also still operates the Su-25
with the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade at Kul’bakino airbase near Mykolayiv
Surviving aircraft have been upgraded with new navigation equipment
while chaff/flare launchers were added in the wake of the hostilities in Donbas
during which Su-25s were temporarily detached to Dnipropetrovsk International Airport
Five Su-25s were lost during the fighting in 2014
but they were replaced by returning to service aircraft from storage
Transport assets of the Ukrainian Air Forces
are concentrated with the 25th Transport Aviation Brigade at Melitopol
which includes examples of the Antonov An-26
as well as around seven Ilyushin Il-76MD Candid airlifters
which provide a significant airlift capability
including the ability to deliver paratroopers and airdropped cargoes
Unlike its Russian counterpart
Ukrainian Army Aviation is a separate branch and not part of the air force
It relies almost exclusively on older versions of the Mil Mi-8 and MIl Mi-24
with around 50 Hips, and 30 or more Mi-24s currently active