Day of Air Defense Forces of the Russian Ground Forces

The need for the formation of air defense troops arose during the First World War due to the emergence of new types of weapons Since then, air defense has been protecting soldiers and army equipment from enemy missiles and aircraft for more than a hundred years And if earlier these were controlled balloons and hot air balloons, today they are fighter-bombers and stealth aircraft Every year on December 26, Russia celebrates the Day of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces The choice of date for the identity is not accidental It was on December 26, 1915 that the chief of staff under Nicholas I, General M Alekseev, issued order No 368 on the formation of batteries to conduct artillery fire on enemy aircraft Air defense units made a huge contribution both to the defense of the army of the Russian Empire in the First World War and to the defeat of fascist troops The troops especially distinguished themselves during the defense of Moscow from the raids of the German invaders In peacetime, the USSR air defense was entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the state border Since 1975, Soviet military personnel have celebrated their professional holiday annually on April 11 After the release of a new decree of the Supreme Council in 1980, Air Defense Forces Day began to be celebrated on the second Sunday in April And even the collapse of the USSR did not prevent the continuation of the glorious tradition In modern Russia, there are two types of air defense troops: the first belongs to the military-space complex, protecting the borders of our Motherland, the second is part of the Ground Forces The Russian Aerospace Forces holiday falls on October 4th On December 26, according to a long-standing tradition, veterans and serving military personnel celebrate the Day of the Air Defense Forces In 1915, the artillery batteries of the tsarist army were armed with only light cannons They were installed on “anti-aircraft rotating frames for firing at air targets” Three-inch mountain and rapid-fire guns, as well as a 48-line howitzer, repelled attacks by German and Austria-Hungarian airplanes Experimental shooting was carried out at aerial schooners and balloons that moved on horses By the end of World War I, the army of the Russian Empire already had 25 batteries, which were armed with anti-aircraft guns on automobile chassis and railway platforms Air defense units of the Army today are equipped with modern missile and gun systems, self-propelled guns and anti-aircraft systems With the help of this technique, groups of the Russian Ground Forces and rear facilities are reliably protected from air attacks Air defense systems hit enemy targets located at extremely low altitudes, medium altitudes and in the stratosphere Thus, the RKS S-300VM Antey-2500 can intercept both stealth aircraft and short- and medium-range missiles The systems and complexes "TOR-M2", "Igla-S", "Shilka", "Strela-10M3", "Triumph" have excellent characteristics Modern air defense troops are an example of the highest maneuverability, fire performance, viability, degree of automation and computerization Soldiers and officers serve their Motherland with honor Therefore, on December 26, they are heartily congratulated on the Day of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces