Atopian Air Force
Formation
Equipped with the latest-generation Soviet and Russian aircraft, bolstered by western and indigenous upgrades and support, the AAF is a formidable weapon of war. Deployed by Atopian Military Command in support of operations by other Atopian military arms, or on its own as a strategic strike force, the AAF has grown from humble beginnings to a significant power, second only to the Atopian Land Forces. Its fighter arm is equipped with uprated MiG-29s and Su-47s, while the strategic bomber force is comprised of Tupelov Tu-22M 'Backfire' and Tu-160 'Blackjack' bombers. Ground attack is taken care of by Frogfoot units, although the A-10 is coming into service with some squadrons. ELINT/AWACS craft are supplemented by air-to-air refuelling aeroplanes and close air support is provided by specialist gunships converted from transport aircraft.
In addition, the AAF provides its own mechanics, cooks, airfield security units, and so on and so forth. In total, there are some two million personnel who wear the uniform of the AAF. They are engaged in keeping its thousands of aircraft aloft and in top fighting condition.
Air Armadas
1st Armada:
First (Air Superiority) Air Fleet
Second (Air Superiority) Air Fleet
Third (Air Superiority) Air Fleet
2nd Armada:
Fourth (Air Superiority) Air Fleet
Fifth (Air Superiority) Air Fleet
Sixth (Air Superiority) Air Fleet
3rd Armada:
Seventh (Air Superiority) Air Fleet
Eighth (Air Superiority) Air Fleet
Ninth (Air Superiority) Air Fleet
4th Armada:
Tenth (Air Superiority) Air Fleet
Eleventh (Air Superiority) Air Fleet
Twelfth (Air Superiority) Air Fleet
5th Armada:
Thirteenth (Strategic) Air Fleet
Fourteenth (Strategic) Air Fleet
Fifteenth (Strategic) Air Fleet
6th Armada:
Sixteenth (Strategic) Air Fleet
Seventeeth (Strategic) Air Fleet
Eighteenth (Strategic) Air Fleet
7th Armada:
Nineteeth (Ground Attack) Air Fleet
Twentieth (Ground Attack) Air Fleet
Twenty-First (Ground Attack) Air Fleet
8th Armada:
Twenty-Second (Ground Attack) Air Fleet
Twenty-Third (Ground Attack) Air Fleet
Twenty-Fourth (Ground Attack) Air Fleet
9th Armada:
1st Home Defence Air Fleet
2nd Home Defence Air Fleet
3rd Home Defence Air Fleet
4th Home Defence Air Fleet
5th Home Defence Air Fleet
10th Armada:
6th Home Defence Air Fleet
7th Home Defence Air Fleet
8th Home Defence Air Fleet
9th Home Defence Air Fleet
10th Home Defence Air Fleet
Air Fleet Breakdown
A typical Air Fleet would be laid out as follows:
Sixth Air Fleet:
Fleet HQ:
3x Fighter Wings (144 MiG-29) -> Wing HQ; 3x Squadrons (48 MiG-29) -> Squadron HQ; 16x MiG-29 (in three flights of four with four reserve aircraft)
1x AWACS Wing (48 ELINT, ECM/EW and AWACS aircraft)
1x Ground Attack Wing (16 Ka-50 gunships, 32 Su-25KM Frogfoot)
1x Support Wing (48 air-to-air refuelling craft)
Each Wing of three Squadrons also includes integral air-defence units and infantry to provide airbase security. In total, each Air Fleet numbers some 288 aircraft. Bomber and Ground Attack fleets replace the Ground Attack Wing with a Fighter Wing to provide integral cover.