Russia’s 75th Victory Day Parade To Only Feature Air Show

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On the morning of May 9^th, 75 helicopters and aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces will take off from 8 airfields scattered around Russia to commemorate the 75^th anniversary Victory Day parade.

Then they, at exactly the appointed time, will gather in a given air district of the near Moscow region in order to pass over the Red Square in a single formation. The first combat vehicle should appear at 10 in the morning.

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The air parade will be opened by a group of the world’s largest transport helicopter Mi-26 and four helicopters Mi-8.

The leader of the group is Lieutenant Colonel Sergey Polyakov, “Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation”, a sniper pilot, a war veteran, has a total flying time of 5700 hours, and was awarded the Nesterov and “For Courage” medals.

The group of five strike transport helicopters Mi-35m will continue the parade formation.

The leader of the group is Lieutenant Colonel Gennady Golyakov, a sniper pilot, a war veteran, has a total flying time of 3,500 hours, was awarded the Order of Courage.

Then the Ka-52 Alligator helicopters will appear in the sky.

The leader of the group is Colonel Vasily Kleschenko, a sniper pilot, a war veteran, has a total flying time of more than 2000 hours, was awarded the medal of the Order for Merit to the Fatherland, II degree with swords.

The next in the air formation will be the “Golden Eagles” aerobatic team on Mi-28n “Night Hunter” helicopters.

The leader of the group is Colonel Andrei Popov, “Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation”, a sniper pilot, a war veteran, has a total flying time of 3600 hours, and was awarded the Order of Courage.

Then over Moscow will appear the radar patrol and guidance complex – A-50u, capable of simultaneously tracking more than 50 enemy targets.

At the helm of the aircraft is Lieutenant Colonel Vyacheslav Levchenko, a 2nd class pilot, a war veteran, has a total flying time of 2,300 hours.

Following is a link of three heavy long-range military transport aircraft – IL-76md, capable of delivering more than 40 tons of cargo to anywhere in the world.

Major Sergey Melnikov, 1st class pilot, a war veteran, leads the group, has a total flying time of more than 3,000 hours, and is awarded the Nesterov Medal.

Following that are three Tu-95MS strategic bombers. The aircraft is an integral part of nuclear deterrence forces. The leader of the group is Lieutenant Colonel Sergey Ilyin, a 1st-class pilot, has a total flight time of 3100 hours, and was awarded the Nesterov Medal.

Following that are the Tu-160 strategic missile bomber, as well as the Tu-22m3 long-range bomber. The group will be headed by Major Alexei Volyansky, a 2nd-class pilot, with a total flying time of more than 800 hours.

Pilots of the Aerospace Forces will show in the sky over Moscow the fulfillment of the most difficult piloting “trick” – refueling the Tu-160 strategic missile carrier in the air.

Following that, four modernized MiG-29smt fighter jets will pass above Moscow.

The group is headed by Lieutenant Colonel George Dedio, a 1st-class pilot, a war veteran, has a total flying time of more than one thousand hours, and was awarded the medal “For Military Distinctions”.

The next group of aircraft – four front-line bombers – Su-24m.

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The leader of the group is Lieutenant Colonel German Anakhov, a sniper pilot, a war veteran, has a total flying time of 1860 hours, was awarded the Order of Courage, a medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree with swords, medals “For Courage” and Nesterov.

Following that comes the turn of a group of MiG-31K fighter-interceptors. They also carry the Kinzhal hypersonic missile.

The leader of the group is Major Yevgeny Shalagin, a 1st-class pilot, test pilot, participant in the testing of advanced aircraft and weapons, has a total flight time of more than 1000 hours.

Then, the newer aircraft’s turn will come – Su-57 fighter jets.

The leader of the group is Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Volotskov, a test pilot of the 1st class, a war veteran, mastered the latest aviation equipment and new methods of warfare, has a total flying time of 1900 hours, and was awarded the medals “For Military Valor” and “For Strengthening the Military Commonwealth”.

The tactical aviation follows the fighter jets – it consists of Su-34 bombers, Su-30cm and Su-35s fighters.

The leader of the group is Colonel Yuri Gritsaenko, “Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation”, a sniper pilot with experience in combat operations with a total flying time of more than 2000 hours, awarded the Order of Merit to the Fatherland Medal of the II degree, with swords, Nesterov’s medal.

Then, unique aerobatic teams “Russian Knights” and “Swifts” will appear in the sky on Su-30cm and MiG-29 fighters.

The group is headed by Colonel Andrei Alekseev, “Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation”, a sniper pilot, a war veteran, has a total flying time of 2810 hours, was awarded the Order for Military Merit, and the Nesterov Medal.

By tradition, the parade system of the Russian Aerospace Forces will be closed by six Su-25cm attack aircraft, coloring the sky of the capital with the colors of the State Flag of the Russian Federation.

The group is headed by Colonel Alexander Kotov, “Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation”, a sniper pilot, a war veteran, has a total flying time of more than 2000 hours, was awarded the Order for Military Merit, the medal of the Order for Merit to the Fatherland, II degree, with swords.