Air power Between Russia and the West

摘要

On December 21, 2001, the Air Force (VPS) and the Air Defence Forces (VSPA) of Belarus were merged into a unified air defence force -the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence (VPS i VSPA in Belarusian, or VVS i VPVO in Russian). Early the following year saw the creation of two operational tactical commands (OTC), the Western and the Northwestern, which paralleled the OTCs of the ground forces; each was apparently assigned one fighter aviation base. At the end of 2002, the 61st Fighter Aviation Base was under the Western OTC, while the 927th Fighter Aviation Base was under the Northwestern OTC. The HQ of the Western OTC was based at Baranovichi, which covered the western and southern parts of Belarus, and the HQ of the Northwestern OTC was at Machulishchy, covering the northern, central and eastern parts of the country. The remaining aviation bases were apparently directly subordinated to the VPS i VSPA Command.