On the picture: RTV air defense fighter valiantly imitates combat duty for the demobilization album.

“Two soldiers from the construction battalion replace the excavator. And one of the Airborne Forces will replace them doubly. And one of the air defenses replaces at least someone ”(wisdom of an unknown philosopher from the air defense forces).

Every second Sunday in April was celebrated in a special way in all parts of the radio technical troops air defense of the country. For. Why was the second Sunday of April given for this day? And the jester knows him. I don't know.

On this day, soldiers and officers dressed in dress uniforms. True, it was so only in the training in which I began my heroic path in the air defense forces. In combat units, they did not go in parades for lack of them. This, by the way, was very surprising. Since every soldier is entitled to a parade. But somehow it turned out that the parades were always evaporating and evaporating, and only grandfathers had them, carefully protecting them from evil looks, hiding them in distant bows and carefully sheathing them with galloons and other rubbish in anticipation of demobilization.

I ended up in the RTV PVO in exact accordance with my civilian specialty, which I should have received at the institute if I had graduated from it. But since it was difficult to graduate from the institute in one year of study, and the Ministry of Defense categorically refused to provide me with the second year of study, I left. For passing. And he got into training to receive the specialty "Automated Control System Operator". Neither more nor less.

Generally speaking, if I actually managed to serve in this specialty, it would be quite interesting. For, in theory, I should have served in the “computer cabin”, which is part of the control complex of the RTV air defense battalion. There was actually a computer in this cabin. Or rather, even two - one backup. True, they did not look at all like a home personal computer looks like. The computers in my cabin consisted of several metal cabinets with colored lights and buttons. In the warhead, the colored bulbs of the demobilization were unscrewed to be used in the manufacture of a model of a take-off fighter-interceptor. The fighter took off from a piece of runway made of transparent plexiglass. And the bulbs went on both sides of the runway, like on a real airfield. In general, beautiful. But it violated the defense capability of the state, because without these light bulbs (or rather, their colored transparent caps), it was difficult to determine what was happening with the computer. As a result, the commissar once made a statement that if all the bulbs are not in their places, then no one will leave for demobilization. It worked.

By the way, about light bulbs. Have you ever seen the night work of the airfield where fighter-interceptors are based? This, I will tell you, is very beautiful. During the day, this airfield is a rather dull picture of a combination of a concrete strip, next to which there are half-buried hangars and all this is surrounded by several rows of thorns. But on the other hand, at night ... At night, it's all lit up with multi-colored lights, and the interceptors themselves, either taking off or landing on the runway, are a rather futuristic picture. One glance, in short.

But there was one hitch. In the Chita radio engineering brigade, to which I was assigned for anti-Soviet activities, ACS was not used. There was a battalion complex itself, but how should I say it, it was more for the sake of form. All work was done the old fashioned way. That is, the complex turned on every morning, and turned off in the evening. And no one was on any combat duty on it. He was, so to speak, for the reserve. Only sometimes, on combat alerts, all the officers came running, sat down at the AWS and pretended to be. Combat alarms, however, were not so few. Since nearby - on the other side of the Soviet-Chinese border - was located the Chinese military airfield Qiqihar. And as soon as something took off there, we immediately turned on the combat alarm. To the credit of the Chinese, they did not fly very often, otherwise you could hang yourself. For combat anxiety is not a training one for you. Everything is real there.

Since the combat control complex of the RT battalion, in fact, did not perform any useful function in our battalion, the ACS operators in the battalion were not so much needed. But in the battalion there was an acute shortage of flatbed operators, radio operators and encoders. They did not try to make me a tablet operator, because in our battalion it was something like a family contract for Uzbeks. It was too late to make me a radio operator, since a radio operator had to be trained for several months. The specialty of the encoder remained. The encoder in RTV PVO had nothing to do with programming. An encoder at a command post is a soldier who sits next to the officer on duty at the command post and, using a special secret cipher pad, decrypts or encrypts all the information that passes through the officer on duty. For example, from a subordinate company they sent a message on the radio about a change in the course of the aircraft. This message comes in the form of a column of numbers. Which the radio operator receives, writes down on a piece of paper and brings it to the encoder at a trot. The encoder must take a cipher-notebook and use it to decipher this sequence of numbers into a meaningful text. Which is already going to the officer.

On the one hand, work - do not beat the lying. On the other hand, sitting for a whole day with the officer on duty, staring blankly at how tablet users rush about like monkeys in front of you, marking the courses of aircraft on transparent tablets, somehow not very. Being an ACS operator and sitting in a computer cabin covered with a concrete dome is much more free and pleasant.

By the way, according to the combat order, this very battalion control system provided for three calculations. In the case of the use of WMD. That is, the enemy threw nuclear bomb Everything around was radio-radiated to death. But this is not the reason why the work of RTV air defense should stop. For the interference from the explosion passes much faster than the lethal dose of radiation decreases. Therefore, the first calculation takes over on duty. Valiantly fights the allotted time, therefore he dies from radiation. Then comes the second calculation. Well, by the time of the third calculation, it seems like the radiation dose should already have dropped to an acceptable level in order to die already after six months or a year. Everything is thought out, in short.

In general, in RTV air defense everything is thought out to the smallest detail. For example, despite the modern types of rangefinders and altimeters, according to the combat order, in the event of a combat alarm, a special soldier was allocated to the post of audiovisual observation. The soldier was given a binocular. His task was to look into the sky through binoculars and listen to the sounds with his ears. And report. Well, like, you saw or heard a plane - report it. Very wise. For the valiant soldiers behind the "glasses" (emphasis on the first O) may miss. Probably this full-time position in the event of a combat alarm has remained since the Second World War. And since no one canceled it, such an observer was regularly exhibited.

Old-timers liked to joke about the young replenishment. This happens always and everywhere. In canteens, experienced cooks force recruits from the Kalinary Technical School to blow pasta, old sea wolves demand that they clean the sting of anchors with files, and young fighters were sent to RTV air defense to disperse interference. Like this? Well, this means you have to run in front of the locator and a mop or a broom mounted on a stick, “disperse interference” from the catching antenna. Such a cute joke. Especially when you consider that the near emitter is not the most useful thing for the body.

And of course the air defense of the country in general and their component- RTV - along with border guards, missilemen and submariners carried combat duty in peacetime. What imposed. However, it didn't really bother me. For example, during my service, one of our battalions missed an AN-24, which the villain co-pilot hijacked to China. Why he stole it there is a mystery. For the Chinese put the villain in their Chinese prison. Well, the personnel of the company and battalion were fucked in all the cracks. This, however, is no longer the Chinese, but our command. You ask: how can you miss an aircraft, the slightest change in the trajectory of which is visible on the radar screen? I'll try to explain. The diagram is not detailed, but gives an approximate idea.

As I said, in our brigade they worked according to the scheme developed under Tsar Peas. This scheme provides the following. Somewhere in the wilderness on an artificial elevation is a locator (radar). Nearby, on exactly the same elevation, there is an altimeter. These two devices provide information about the exact position of any target in the three-dimensional world. Locator gives X-Y coordinates, altimeter - Z (target height). Information about this is given out on special round (or rectangular) screens - "glasses". The soldiers who sit behind them take coordinates along the grid. So far everything is wonderful.

Further, these coordinates must be transferred to a higher point - to the battalion command post. This was usually done according to the so-called. radio relay communication channels or, simply, using a walkie-talkie. The radio operator of the company passed the coordinates of the target to the radio operator of the battalion. The radio operator of the battalion took the coordinates and (with the help of the encoder) reported them to the duty officer at the command post. The duty officer of the battalion transmitted these coordinates to the ZRV battalion, to the IA and to the higher command post (brigade). The diagram is beautiful. If something evaded somewhere, then within a very short time it should be known to both anti-aircraft gunners, interceptors, and the higher command - the command of the air defense corps. This command must already decide what to do next - shoot down the target, intercept, or simply follow it. Everything is wonderful.

But the question is: what if some radio operator transmits not the coordinates that are real, but some others? In this case, in some part of the chain, a false idea will arise about where the target is at the moment. Question: why would a radio operator transmit false coordinates if he is not a saboteur or a spy? I will try to answer this question as well.

Just imagine a battalion of RTV air defense. who served in ground forces, he understands by the word "battalion" a crowd of people, something like that, five thousand people in number. In training, by the way, in which I studied for the first six months of my service, the training battalion was just such a crowd. It was with great amazement that I learned that the real RTV battalion consisted of several dozen people. And a company, also known as a "point", is a dozen people and a couple of officers. These are the realities. For unknown reasons, children of sheep shepherds and similar romantic natures, who speak Russian with difficulty, are driven into the RTV troops in large numbers, and they categorically refuse to delve into the intricacies of radars and walkie-talkies, preferring to keep watch in the kitchen and pigsties. People are always missing. And you have to be on combat duty around the clock.

Here, put yourself in the place of a battalion commander who needs at least three radio operators at the command post (one for communication with each “point”), and there are only five people in the battalion of radio operators. They go on combat duty for a day. And sleep, generally speaking, is difficult at this time, except for a few hours at night (alternately). What to do? And you can’t do anything here, except to install radio operators (and, by the way, also tablet players with encoders), not for a day, but practically irremovable. This may seem like an absurdity. Well, how can you make a person sleep for a whole month no more than 2-3 hours a day? But the reality is that, it turns out, it is possible. The radio operators of our battalion could sleep in any position. The funniest thing was to look at them during the idiocy, under the name "Komsomol meeting." Only half an hour of free time, and the radio operators just sat down - they were already sleeping. They were placed - they leaned against the wall and sleep again.

Well, now put yourself in the place of a radio operator on combat duty. What do you think about all the time? About protecting the borders of your beloved homeland? Ha ha and hee hee. You only think about how to wrest yourself at least an extra 15 minutes of sleep. Constantly. Just a dream and nothing else. During the day, carving out extra minutes of sleep for yourself is unrealistic in principle - the air situation is too tense. But at night the tension subsides, the air is cleared. You can at least get some sleep. But there is an ambush - night civilian flights. That is, it seems that the radio operator should still not sleep and sit in headphones, waiting, all of a sudden, information will come from the company about a change in the course of the aircraft. What if you think well?

And if you think carefully, it turns out that the same flight always passes through the same points at the same time. Therefore, if at some night hour nothing but this flight flies in the area of ​​responsibility, you can, in principle, not expect information from the company, but simply, without listening to the air, at the same time bring the same coordinates as the day before. And after all, no one will know anything anyway, because, in theory, the coordinates transmitted from the company coincide with what was just assigned to the duty officer. And between these points you can sleep extra precious minutes.

But what if the plane deviated from the course? The radio operator for some time still wears the coordinates of the standard course to the duty officer, and the plane is already bye-bye - it is rushing towards the Chinese border.

It is clear that it is still detected relatively quickly. It's impossible to lose a plane just like that. But until they get their bearings up there, why did the plane suddenly make an unthinkable jump in space and turn out to be completely different from where it was expected, until they make a decision, until they raise the interceptors - this is all the time the plane flies and flies to the border. And then it already turns out to be so close to the border that even the interceptors do not really have time to do anything except shoot down. But how to shoot down your civilian plane? Yes, even near the very border - what if it falls on the other side? By the way, when the AN-24 had already flown to China, the local services behaved in such a way that it seems to me that the Chinese air defense was even more courageous in terms of service than ours.

In general, under such circumstances, on December 19, 1985, the AN-24 aircraft of the Yakut Civil Aviation Administration, tail number 42845, making flight 101/435 on the route Yakutsk-Takhtamygda-Chita-Irkutsk, flew to China.

Now, of course, there is a very different version, settled down over the long months of the investigation and subsequent "journalistic investigations". This version suits everyone. They say the commander of the AN-24 immediately reported to the ground that the co-pilot of the order to change course, they say, the valiant air defenses immediately reacted, and then, they say, when the AN-24 was already in China, both ours and Chinese airmen began to play with him with so that the plane used up all the fuel and crashed, burying the “terrible secret” of the hijacking under the remains. They say that both the USSR and China were interested in this. I have never heard a more idiotic version. However, there are many who believe in such a story. Well, it really doesn't matter to me. I told this story as it is, as the fighters of the valiant Chita air defense brigade, which in December 1985 was responsible for this flight, knew. But it is clear that what was known to every soldier and officer of our brigade categorically did not suit the authorities. For in case of publication real facts valiant defense of air lines, many important people wearing caps would have lost their jobs. So that…

However, Koldunov's grandfather (as we kindly called the air defense commander) was not much saved. Just a year and a half after the hijacking of the AN-24, he finally said goodbye to his position due to an incident with the flight of Matthias Rust.

In general, of course, one can recall a lot of things about the valiant RTV air defense. Both good and bad. But in general, I personally do not regret that I served in these troops in general and in their Trans-Baikal, so to speak, branch, in particular. So I congratulate everyone who served in the RTV PVO. After all, we, motherfucking matryona, still defended our Motherland not childishly. Maybe at times it turned out crooked. But we are wholeheartedly.

1. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CREATION AND FORMATION OF RADIO ENGINEERING TROOPS
Prerequisites for the formation of a system for observing the sky and identifying air targets in the Russian army (1913-1914)
In 1913, in Russia, when organizing air defense by the Russian aircraft designer A.A. The Porohovshchikovs proposed to create a special network of observation posts in order to organize the entry into battle of the forces of the air fleet, together with the available field and fortress artillery. To do this, it was proposed to create a network of so-called "air stations" along the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland along the line St. Petersburg - Riga, placing them in two lines: one - St. Petersburg - Vindava, the other - St. Petersburg - Suwalki. The purpose of these stations was to monitor the appearance of aircraft in the zone of responsibility of the station, the size of which was determined by the range of the airspace with the help of optical instruments, to single out aliens among them and to report the fact of their passage and its direction to interested commanders. The idea was also expressed about the possibility of assisting their pilots in finding violators of the airspace.
It was nothing more than a proposal to organize an aerial surveillance service in Russia that appeared a little later. At that time, the foundations for the combat use of future units and units of the VNOS and radio engineering troops were being born.
Thus, the proposed stations were to be removed at a distance of up to 150 versts from one another, equipped with means of ground communication and provided with transport. The guiding documents for combating aerial reconnaissance determine the personnel specially assigned to monitor the appearance of enemy aircraft and airships in units and subunits.
Observation in combat conditions had to be carried out everywhere and continuously, regardless of the weather and time of day. Having found an air object, the observer had to notify the command and all personnel about it.
The order of notification was developed in parts, available means of signaling were used for it. The very first observer who discovered the air reconnaissance was supposed to give an alarm.
Due to the fact that on January 1, 1913, the law on the sovereignty of the airspace of the Russian Empire came into force, there was an objective need to apply a sign of nationality to aircraft.
On the eve of the First World War, the Military Council approved an Instruction to indicate nationality and identify Russian aeronautical projectiles and airplanes, in accordance with which concentric circles of the colors of the national flag of Russia - white were applied on Russian aircraft on the sides of the fuselage or gondola, as well as on the rudders. , blue and red. These designations were used by observers to identify their aircraft.
The beginning of the creation of structural units of air defense for monitoring and warning of the air situation (1914-1918)
During the creation in the fall of 1914 of the air defense of Petrograd and the Imperial residence in Tsarskoye Selo, special attention was paid to the sky observation posts, which were formed in the units and subunits of the 6th Army, in accordance with the "Instructions for aeronautics", put into effect by order of the army commander in chief.
Long-range air observation posts were located along the western border of Finland and along the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea. The task of detecting an air enemy in Finland and notifying the Petrograd Air Defense Headquarters about it was assigned to the border guards.
The near air surveillance line was deployed on the basis of the artillery fortified area around the Russian capital and on ships Baltic Fleet.
To establish the speed of communication between air observation posts, to ensure the possibility of immediate transmission of reports from them to Petrograd, the head of the air defense of Petrograd was charged with the duty of organizing a direct connection between the posts and the central point chosen by him, as well as communication between the central point and artillery, airplanes and teams assigned to repel an enemy air attack.
On May 12, 1915, the Commander-in-Chief of the 6th Army issued a special Instruction No. 1 "Posts from the lower ranks to observe the sky." It determined: the composition of the formed posts; observation areas; official duties lower ranks of posts; the procedure for carrying out combat duty and warning in the event of the appearance of enemy aeronautical vehicles in the sky.
For the first time, for the efficiency of transmitting information about an air enemy over a communication line, the Instruction introduced the term "Air", which is still used in the course of combat duty of air defense units.
At the sky observation posts, the Instruction introduced special working logs, which became the prototype modern magazines carrying out combat duty.
By order of the troops of the 27th Army Corps dated January 23, 1915 No. 13, the air defense of the city of Warsaw was organized. To fight air fleet the enemy were
air detachments were formed, the general leadership of which was entrusted to the commander of the 2nd aviation company, lieutenant colonel Geneiko. At the same time, the first fighter aviation squadron of senior lieutenant N.A. was operating in this area. Yatsuka. For the timely notification of air defense units, a network of observation posts was established, interaction with the anti-aircraft artillery of the Warsaw fortress, which was at the disposal of the head of the Warsaw fortress artillery, Colonel P.N. Glazkov, was determined.
In the period of 1915-1917, for the organization of air defense of large military-political, administrative centers of the country: Mogilev, Dvinsk, Minsk, Pskov, Odessa, Nikolaev, etc. an air surveillance and warning structure is being formed, which is an integral part of the organization of defense against air attack by German and Austro-Hungarian aviation. So, in 1917, around Petrograd and Odessa, 60 observation posts were already set up, reduced to companies of observers and staffed by regular officers and soldiers. In the future, around Petrograd, the number of such posts increased to 83. To receive reports from posts 15 telephone and telegraph stations were also created around the Russian capital.
On March 20, 1917, by order of the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief No. 370, the creation of an air defense within the boundaries of the Odessa military district was determined. The air defense of the district was headed by Major General IAFedorov.
The same order introduced the staff and the Regulations on the Headquarters of the Air Defense of the Odessa Military District. Captain Pokrovsky (commander of the defense battalion) was appointed chief of the air defense headquarters. Subordinate to the chief of air defense are: ...artillery, machine-gun and aviation units for defense against air attack... Observation posts were formed by two companies observers. For night action, there were 4 searchlight teams. The telegraph and telephone team provided communication between the air defense units and the District Air Defense Headquarters.
By September 1917, air defense services were formed in Petrograd and the Odessa military district, uniting all the available forces and means of air defense, including the organizationally formed air monitoring service.
The air defense service was led by the commanders of the troops of the military districts through the chiefs of air defense, to whom all units of fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft artillery, and air surveillance were subordinate.
The general management of the air defense services was carried out by the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief (through the services of the quartermaster general and the general on duty).
The chiefs of staff of the air defense of Petrograd and the Odessa military district were at the same time commanders of air observer battalions. The constant combat readiness of the air defense units was supported by the daily appointment of duty units in all fighter squadrons and anti-aircraft batteries and the constant activity of observation posts.
Thus, the sky surveillance service was born and developed during the First World War and was an integral part of the emerging air defense systems of important military-political, administrative centers, military districts, groupings of troops and forces of the Russian fleet.
The main stages in the development of the monitoring, warning and communications system in the Red (Soviet) Army (1918-1945)
AT further development surveillance and warning systems as part of domestic air defense can be divided into the following stages:
The first stage (1918-1925) Formation of a surveillance and warning service only around the most important military-political and administrative centers of the country at the time of the immediate danger of an enemy air attack.
Despite the change political environment in the country, connected with the October events and the change of state power and system in Russia, the Air Defense Headquarters continued to function in Petrograd under the leadership of Major General V.G. .Votintseva (chief of staff 1917-1918). To ensure reliable cover for the capital of the state and timely notification of a possible enemy air raid around Petrograd, sky observation posts continued to perform their combat mission. This is also evidenced by the fact that the distribution of forces and means of the air defense of Petrograd, the organization of notification of the appearance of an air enemy was carried out by the Revolutionary Committee for the Defense of the City of Petrograd under the leadership of N.I. Podvoisky, who was in charge of the Air Defense Headquarters.
In April 1918, in connection with the relocation of the Soviet government to Moscow, in the order of the military head of the Moscow region No. 1 dated April 25, 1918, the air defense of the city of Moscow was formed. On the outskirts of the city, signal points are deployed - air surveillance posts.
In July of the same year, under the newly formed Directorate, the head of the formation of anti-aircraft batteries, training of junior command personnel for anti-aircraft batteries and specialists, incl. telephonist observers for air defense.
In the period February - May 1919, orders for the operational part determined the location of observation watches over the sky in Sestroretsk, Dibuny, Stanki, Toksovo, Osinovets, Oranienbaum, Strelna. In October-November of the same year, Instructions were developed and put into effect for the chief of communications on duty and the observation watch.
On September 1, 1922, in accordance with the order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic, the provisions and staff of a training electrotechnical battalion, the staff of a separate searchlight company and a separate electrical station (peacetime) were introduced.
The second stage (1926-1932) Formation in the border zone and around the main economic and administrative centers of the country of a permanent network of visual observation posts, staffed mainly by the forces of the local police.
On June 30, 1927, by order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, the Instruction on the Service of Air Communications and Observation Posts was put into effect. Posts were created in communication units (subdivisions) of corps, divisions, regiments, in units of air chemical defense and air fleets of the Air Force.
forces. The posts were subordinate in all respects to the communications chiefs of all levels of leadership.
On January 31, 1928, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR decided to legalize the terms "air defense" and "air surveillance, warning and communication service (VNOS)". These terms have been used in approved People's Commissar on military and naval affairs and the Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, fundamental documents on the organization of the country's air defense, namely, the Regulations on Air Defense of the USSR (peacetime) and the first Provisional Regulations on Air Defense of the USSR (on war time).
On July 11, 1928, by a resolution of the Administrative Meeting of the Council of Labor and Defense, the list of important points subject to air defense (total 48), the deployment of the VNOS service through civilian people's commissariats has been determined.
On January 28, 1930, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR discussed the issue of the Air Defense Plan and recognized the need to combine anti-aircraft artillery, machine gun, searchlight, aeronautical, chemical and observation air defense units of the rear into divisions, regiments, brigades and air defense divisions .
On December 11, 1930, the Decrees of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR "On the air defense of the army and objects of military importance" and "On the air defense of the rear" defined measures to strengthen anti-aircraft weapons, fighter aircraft, deploy posts of the VNOS service on the defense of objects air defense.
On February 7, 1931, a joint directive of the Headquarters of the Red Army and the Main Police Department was issued on the creation of the main and observation posts of VNOS under the police bodies. The locations of the main posts (GP) and the number of observation posts (OP) by oblasts (krai) and autonomous republics were determined by directives, and the staffs of the GP and NP VNOS were introduced.
The third stage (1932-1938) Transfer of all functions of the VNOS service to VNOS military units specially created in the Air Defense Forces. During this period, the first radar means for detecting air targets were created.
On April 11, 1932, by order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR No. 0019, the Regulations on the units: VNOS Air Defense of the country's territory were put into effect.
In June 1933, People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR K.E. Voroshilov was presented with a memorandum of design engineer P.K. Oshchepkov outlining the idea of ​​using radio waves to detect aircraft and the principles of using radio detection devices in an air defense system.
In January 1934, a group of employees of the Central Radio Laboratory headed by Yu.K. Korovin conducted the first experiment on detecting an air target using radio waves. The radio signals reflected from the aircraft were recorded at a distance of 70 kilometers. On January 14, 1934, a special meeting was held at the USSR Academy of Sciences, which approved the idea of ​​radar.
On July 10-11, 1934, near Leningrad, the world's first tests of radio detection equipment for Rapid aircraft (manufactured by the Leningrad Electrophysical Institute at the request of the Air Defense Directorate of the Red Army), which could detect aircraft at a distance of up to 3 km. On October 22, 1934, an agreement was concluded with industry for the manufacture of six such detection stations. The tested equipment served as a prototype for the development of the first radio detection system for aircraft "Rhubarb" (RUS-1).
July 11, 1934 is the birthday of domestic radar equipment for the VNOS service.
On June 20, 1937, by directive of the NPO of the USSR No. 34990ss, a closed border strip and specially protected zones were established on the territory of the country in relation to air defense. The entire VNOS service, with the exception of air defense points, was subordinated to the commander of the Air Force of the military districts.
Fourth stage (1938 - June 1941). The period of comprehensive strengthening of the VNOS troops, raising their combat readiness to a level that meets the requirements of the outbreak of World War II, the period of the first combat development of new radar equipment, the period of the formation of the first radar units.
Conducted research and experimental work in the field of radar allowed Soviet scientists to create by 1938 the world's first radar station "RUS-1" (aircraft radio catcher - the first), which received a baptism of fire in the war with Finland in 1939-1940 years. In the autumn of 1939, a more advanced RUS-2 station (code "Redut") was created, which was put into service in July 1940 and was widely used during the Great Patriotic War to detect enemy aircraft and aim Soviet fighters at them.
On December 4, 1938, the decision of the Main Military Council of the Red Army No. 10200ss determined the subordination of the VNOS service to the head of the Air Defense Directorate of the Red Army, and in military districts to assistant commanders of air defense forces.
On October 7, 1940, the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR "On the air defense of the SS SR" was issued, which determined changes in the management of local air defense. The People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR retained the functions of directing and organizing the air surveillance service, air defense of the territory and air defense points, and combating the air enemy.
On January 25, 1941, the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR No. 198-97ss "On the organization of air defense" was issued. The organization of air defense was envisaged in the zone threatened by air attacks to a depth of 1200 km from the state border. In accordance with this resolution, on February 14, the order of the NPO of the USSR No. 0015 "On the division of the territory of the country of the USSR into zones, regions and air defense points" was issued. The order determined the formation of air defense zones in the border and some internal military districts (13 in total), incl. as part of the VNOS units and subdivisions.
Fifth stage (June 1941 - September 1945). Active use of VNOS troops in combat operations, ensuring the combat operation of air defense fire weapons, organizing ground defense. The sharp quantitative growth of the VNOS troops and their qualitative improvement.
To the beginning of the Great Patriotic War(on June 21, 1941) the country's air defense, consisting of 13 air defense zones, included, among other things: 6 regiments, 35 separate battalions and 5 separate VNOS companies.
In the period of September 21 to 23, 1941, for the first time in the history of wars, with the help of the first domestic radars (RUS-2) and subsequent actions of fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft artillery and other air defense systems of Leningrad and the Baltic Fleet, the military plan was foiled. German command to destroy the USSR fleet in the Gulf of Finland by conducting a three-day air operation of their air force. Enemy aircraft raids were repelled by fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft batteries and naval anti-aircraft artillery. During the air operation of the enemy Air Force, 12 massed raids and several strikes by small groups were undertaken. total number up to 500 bombers.
All the raids were opened by the radar crews of the 72nd VNOS orb. The actions of fighters of the 7th Air Defense Air Corps, the Air Force of the Leningrad Front and the aviation of the Baltic Fleet, the fire of anti-aircraft artillery destroyed 25 enemy aircraft, a large number were damaged, the enemy’s plan to destroy the ships of the Baltic Fleet and the suppression of the naval base of Kronstadt was thwarted.
On May 21, 1943, in accordance with the order of the NPO of the USSR No. 0087 on the reorganization of the management of the Moscow air defense system, for the first time, the Red Army Air Defense Forces divisions were formed as part of the Moscow Air Defense Front (based on the corresponding regiments of the Air Defense Front). Such formations were carried out in the Air Defense Forces of the country for the first time.
Air Defense Radio Engineering Troops (1952-1954-1998)
Sixth stage (September 1945-1952-1954). Radical re-equipment of the VNOS troops with new equipment, including radar equipment, improvement of their organizational structure and comprehensive preparation for the creation of a new type of troops - the country's radio-technical air defense troops. This period was marked by the final transition from the VNOS troops to the creation of a new branch of the country's air defense forces.
On April 15, 1946, the service of the head of the VNOS of the country's air defense forces was created as part of the Headquarters of the country's air defense forces.
On July 10, 1946, the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted a detailed resolution "Issues of radar", which determined the work on the development of radar technology as the most important state task.
On August 27, 1947, the service of the chief of the VNOS troops of the country's air defense forces as part of the Headquarters of the country's air defense forces was reorganized into the department of the chief of the troops of the VNOS of the Main Headquarters of the Air Defense Forces of the country.
On December 15, 1951, by a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the Ministry of War was assigned the task of creating a reliable service for detection, warning and guidance, for which purpose to organize a unified radar system. The direct responsibility for the detection and destruction of enemy aircraft in the regions (border, seaside, air defense of the country) was assigned to the commanders of the troops of the regions.
On January 15, 1952, a directive of the Minister of War of the USSR was signed, which determined measures for the implementation of the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of December 15, 1951: to create an external detection and guidance band in the countries of people's democracy; to create a frontier detection and guidance strip along the state border of the USSR, as well as a strip in the areas of the country's Air Defense Forces. All ground-based radar detection and guidance systems that were in the units and formations of fighter aviation were combined with the means of the VNOS service, and radio engineering troops (RTV) VNOS were created on this basis.
June 30, 1954 - the post of chief of the VNOS radio-technical troops is introduced. This date completed the creation of the radio engineering troops (RTV) as a kind of air defense troops.
By the end of 1954, the visual observation posts available in the states of VNOS units along state border, were replaced by radar units.
Seventh stage (1954 - February 1998). Development and improvement of the country's radio-technical air defense forces.
On March 17, 1956, by a decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the Plan for the development and organizational restructuring of the existing air defense radar system of the country, developed by the Headquarters of the Air Defense Forces of the country, was approved.
On April 17, 1956, the USSR Minister of Defense approved the organization of the central apparatus of the country's Air Defense Forces. The post of chief of the country's radio-technical air defense troops was introduced.
On January 14, 1994, the Decree of the President was issued Russian Federation on the creation of the Federal System for Intelligence and Airspace Control (FSR and KVP). It provided for the integration of radar systems and means of the Air Defense Forces, the Department of Air Transport, the Air Force and the Navy through an automation system. The leadership of the Federal System of Intelligence and Control of Airspace was entrusted to the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces through the commanders of the air defense zones.
Radio Engineering Troops of the Air Force (1998 to present)
Eighth stage (since March 1998). Development and improvement of the Federal system of reconnaissance and airspace control as part of a new branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - the Air Force.
On July 16, 1997, the President of the Russian Federation signed the Decree "On priority measures to reform the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and improve their structure" (put into effect by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation of August 3, 1997), which determined the creation of - for the existing Air Defense Forces and the Air Force of a new type of Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - the Air Force.
On March 1, 1998, in accordance with the decree of the President of the Russian Federation, the Directorate of the Head of the Federal System of Intelligence, Use and airspace control (FSRIKVP) of the Air Force. In the fall of 1999, it was renamed into the Directorate of the Chief of the Radio Engineering Troops of the Air Force.

On December 15, the Russian Armed Forces celebrate the day of the formation of the radio engineering troops of the Air Force (Air Force). On this day in 1951, a service for the early detection of enemy aircraft was created by a decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR.

The Radio Engineering Troops (RTV) is a branch of the Russian Air Force, part of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation.

Radio engineering troops of radar information about the air situation. They conduct radar reconnaissance and provide radar information to combat crews of higher command posts (CPs) and CPs of formations, military units and aviation units, anti-aircraft missile troops and electronic warfare.

In peacetime, all deployed subunits and command posts of formations and units of the RTV are on combat duty for air defense, perform tasks of protecting the state border in the airspace.

The radio engineering troops are a relatively young branch of the military. They were formed in their current form in January 1952. However, the roots of RTV go much deeper into history. Already during the First World War, the question arose of timely warning the troops and the population about the approach of enemy aircraft. It was at that time that when organizing the air defense of Petrograd and Tsarskoye Selo, "observation posts for the sky" appeared, later united into the air surveillance, warning and communications service (VNOS).

Until the end of the 1930s, VNOS posts were equipped with the simplest optical instruments. In 1938, the world's first radar station "RUS-1" was created (the first radar detector for aircraft), which received a baptism of fire in the war with Finland in 1939-1940. In the autumn of 1939, the designers created a more advanced RUS-2 (Redut) station, which was widely used during the Great Patriotic War to detect enemy aircraft.

AT post-war years the need and importance of information about the air enemy, the beginning of his possible attack, control and prevention of reconnaissance activities in the airspace of the country has constantly increased. In this regard, on December 15, 1951, a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR "On the creation of a service for the early detection of airborne enemy aircraft" was issued, on the basis of which, on the basis of the VNOS units of the Air Defense (Air Defense) of the country and the radar service of the Air Defense Fighter Aviation, the Radio Engineering Troops were formed as a branch of service. .

The period from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s was characterized by the rapid development of the radio engineering troops. In those years, massive deliveries of radar equipment were carried out, groupings of troops were deployed. From the mid-1960s to the end of the 1970s, the development of dominant heights continued, the introduction of new equipment into the troops, primarily automated control systems.

The 1980s in the history of the development of RTV are characterized by qualitative changes in weapons and military equipment. The troops began to receive more powerful radar systems and radar stations, which incorporated the best achievements of Soviet scientists in the field of radio engineering and computer science. The massive arrival of automation equipment made it possible to create automated radar systems on the scale of formations and associations of the Air Defense Forces.

Radar field created on the territory Soviet Union, made it possible to carry out continuous tracking of aircraft at almost any point.

The process of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the events that followed it markedly weakened the Air Defense Forces. In connection with the disbandment of a large number of radio engineering units, a continuous radar field over the territory of the state disappeared. was significantly weakened and general system air defense of the country.

On January 14, 1994, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, the Federal System for Reconnaissance and Airspace Control (FSR and KVP) was created, which provided for the integration of radar systems and means of the Air Defense Forces, the Department of Air Transport, the Air Force (Air Force) and Navy(Navy) through the automation system.

In 1998, the Air Defense Forces and the Air Force merged into one branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - Air Force. Units that solved related tasks were united, and a single system of radar reconnaissance and radar support was formed on the basis of the radio engineering troops.

The radio engineering troops of the Air Force have a rich history of ensuring the landing of domestic spacecraft, including the landing of the first cosmonaut of the Earth - Yuri Gagarin, the Soviet spaceship reusable "Buran".

RTV servicemen performed their international duty in China and North Korea, Vietnam and Egypt, Syria and Angola, Cuba and Afghanistan and a number of other countries.

The Air Force RTV consists of radio engineering regiments (RTP), which are part of the Air Force formation, the Aerospace Defense Brigade (VKO), as well as other units and organizations directly subordinate to the Air Force Commander-in-Chief.

Radio-technical troops (RTV) are armed with radio-technical means (RTS) and complexes of automation equipment (KSA) designed to conduct radar reconnaissance of an air enemy and issue radar information about the air situation, within the radar field, to the air force control bodies and other types and branches of troops of the Armed Forces, to control points for combat means of aviation, anti-aircraft missiles and electronic warfare (EW) in solving peacetime and wartime tasks.

At present, the radio engineering troops of the Air Force are solving the tasks of controlling the sky of Russia, protecting its state border in the airspace. In 2014, the radio engineering troops of the Air Force controlled the flight of more than 380,000 aircraft over Russia.

The main directions for the development of the radio engineering troops of the Air Force are the improvement of the technical equipment of military units and subunits by carrying out measures to extend the service life and modernize existing equipment and weapons, and master the weapons of a new fleet.

RTV, within the framework of the state defense order, began to receive advanced radar equipment and automation systems, such as "Foundation", including in the mobile version, the "Nebo" radar of various modifications, "Approach", an all-altitude detector, which have no analogues in the world, have long detection ranges, having the ability to work, including on ballistic targets, with high detection accuracy of any type of targets.

Specialists of the radio engineering troops are being retrained for new types of equipment in training center training of RTV specialists, as well as being trained at equipment manufacturing plants.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Day of the decisive and courageous troops,
Today marks our people, country,
Russian Air Force Day - good and skillful guys,
Radio engineering - the right troops!

We wish you victories, good luck and success,
And on this day - more laughter,
Our children, you rest today,
We are proud of you, know it firmly!

There are professions in which you cannot make mistakes.
Each miss is the loss of human lives.
Day after day you must fight relentlessly
For peace on earth through peace in heaven.

This profession has a complicated name,
As well as long and difficult to pronounce.
Being a radio engineer is an honor,
And in the Air Force troops - a difficult task, but a favorite.

Congratulations on the day of the radio engineering troops of the Russian Air Force! I wish all those involved and striving to get into our ranks - dedication, excellent skills in work, both theoretical and practical! Let no difficulties and surprises scare you, because we are a huge force! Let the signal always be clear, free line, working equipment and understandable new equipment! Health, strength and energy!

Birthday is celebrated today
Russian radio engineering troops,
They will notice all violators,
Those near and those far away.

They keep the airspace
They know who flew where.
They have reliable equipment
So that the violator does not harm us.

We congratulate the valiant military,
Do your duty faithfully, as always.
Good luck in life, extraordinary,
And happiness in your personal life, gentlemen.

Your exact science saves us from the enemy.
Our peace is your merit, the country is grateful to you.
We wish you good luck, peaceful days and long years.
May hard work bring many victories.

Radars are always ready.
Our country is proud of young troops.
The latest technology and cool specialists,
Fighters guard the air borders.

Your holiday today! Service is not easy:
Luck and a firm hand are important here.
Easy exploration for you in clear skies,
New knowledge, strength, clarity in the eyes.

Radio technicians - glory and honor!
They are terrible for enemies.
They have a great way
Prevent war.

The guys are able to detect the enemy
On the way to us.
Enemy! Do not cross the right -
You won't hurt yourself.

Congratulations to these guys
That we are well protected.
Opponents, if they fly up,
They will run away at speed.

Attention, I wish you accuracy,
So that the signal is always clear.
We have a very strong detachment on guard -
Let any impudent person remember.

I congratulate you today
Glorious radio fighters.
And I wish that everyone
One of you has always been healthy.

To bring only good luck
your radio wave.
And all tasks were solved
What fate threw.

On guard of our peace
Do you explore every day
The enemy will not hide in the air,
Will not be able to cross the boundaries of the regions.

We congratulate you today
We wish you not to lose heart
And further, reliably guarding us,
We want to enjoy life to the fullest.

Let the service bring you only joy,
Work is always happy
Colleagues appreciate, respect,
The enemy will never break through your defenses.

Radar, systems and fields...
There are no flights without you!
You know where the air is, where the waters and the earth are...
And even how planes fly!

Don't let the radars fail you;
The work will be easy and short.
Let your sharpest eye be the most accurate,
And let your heart not be filled with anxiety!

Combat duty, not an empty interest,
You keepers of the world, RTV BBC!
Everyone who is in the flight crew, for protection from troubles,
Warm greetings are sent to you, air signalers.

Those who are peaceful and faithful are waiting home for dinner,
You, beloved men, will prepare cutlets,
And who, with secret malice, suddenly launches rockets
Sky scouts have a decent answer.

One of the holidays revered among military professionals is the Day of the Radio Engineering Troops of the Air Force of the Russian Federation. It is celebrated annually on December 15th.

The task of the radio engineering troops

Perhaps not all readers know that the radio engineering troops at one time separated from the Russian ones. Their main purpose is to conduct reconnaissance radar operations, thanks to which the Air Force command and control units receive timely information about the identified air enemy. In addition, data on the constant air situation are necessary for solving regular tasks not only in wartime, but also when nothing threatens the security of the state.

The strategic information that the Air Force headquarters receives from the reconnaissance radar troops is then sent, as necessary, to the aviation military units,

History of occurrence

It turns out that the radio engineering troops have rich history. This one is quite young, as it was formed a little more than half a century ago. In 1952, it already functioned in almost the same form in which it is presented today. Although the progenitors of military radio engineering are the so-called "observation posts". They were formed during the First World War in the process of organizing defensive measures around Petrograd. Then the task of the newly formed posts was to timely warn the army about the proximity of an air enemy. A few years later, the posts were combined into a military body, forming the VNOS service (air surveillance, warning and communications).

Radio technicians during World War II

In the coming years, the posts were equipped with the simplest optical equipment, and in 1940, the RUS-2 radar stations were made available to the VNOS. Over the course of two years, the radar stations were modernized, which made it possible to continue to use devices with improved enhanced performance. The radio engineering troops of the Great Patriotic War, using the first stations, were able to detect fascist aircraft at a distance of up to 40 kilometers.

In fact, the use of such radars was the only reconnaissance method in the airspace when searching for the enemy. Realizing the level of danger for fighters and bombers from the operation of radar devices, enemy pilots set themselves the obligatory task of destroying them. Thus, the timely detection of potential enemy aircraft has become the number one point in solving important tasks at the state level to ensure the country's security.

December 15 date approval

As a holiday, the Day of the Radio Engineering Troops of the Russian Federation began in 1951. Then, on December 15, the Council of Ministers of the USSR ordered the Military Ministry to form a new functional military body that would deal with the detection of the enemy in the border airspace and alert military headquarters and the civilian population.

Radio engineering troops of the Air Force passed an important stage of development in the middle of the twentieth century. The 60s were marked by large deliveries of radar equipment, military units of this type of troops were formed. In addition, the emphasis was on opening up new heights to help maintain control over the Soviet sky.

The development of the radio engineering military sphere at the end of the twentieth century

Modern military experts note that the 80s became the most significant for the history of the radio engineering troops. This period is distinguished by significant significant changes in the equipment of the troops. One after another, the most powerful complexes and radar detection stations were supplied.

In addition, many devices of the new generation have been partially or completely transferred to the automatic mode of operation. To this stage development, radio engineering troops had systems for combining with air defense forces. scale and high level automated processes for managing, processing and providing information data allowed the radio engineering troops to take the lead among the Armed Forces.

The importance of radio engineering troops in ensuring the defense capability of Russia

The radar field on the territory of the former, created at that time, allows to this day to implement a program of continuous tracking and tracking of aircraft, helicopters and other aircraft.

It turns out that the radio engineering troops contributed to the unique history of the space industry, namely, they participated in the organization and contributed to the safe landing of domestic ships. By the way, the landing of the first Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin did not pass without the help of radio engineers. It is also known that the servicemen of this type of troops participated in peacekeeping missions of the countries of Central Asia (China, North Korea, Vietnam), Angola, Egypt, Syria, Afghanistan, Cuba and many other states.

The radio engineering troops of Russia, which include regiments of the same name, are subordinate to the main command of the Air Force. In the absence of hostilities, all units and strongholds of this type of troops do not leave their places of deployment and continue to protect the state border zone, or rather its airspace, from illegal intrusion.

Educational radio engineering institution in Vladimir

It is also important that the radio engineering troops of the Russian Air Force need an adequate level of material support, since radar reconnaissance activities require the provision of expensive modern equipment and highly qualified training of military specialists for the further operation of such equipment.

On the territory of Russia there is a specialized preparatory institution in the city of Vladimir, called the Center for the Training of Specialists of the Radio Engineering Troops of the Air Force. Graduates this institution, having received diplomas in the specialties "radar technician", "technician of a separate radar company", etc., they can enter the service precisely in the radio engineering troops.

Industry development

At the moment the budget Russian state Every year, the necessity of equipping and purchasing high-quality advanced radio equipment for this branch of the Air Force troops is foreseen. Also, in order to maintain a satisfactory state of military radio electronics, the leadership of the units organizes its periodic repairs. By the way, thanks to the constant modernization of equipment in this area, in 2015, about a third of all weapons are innovative radio devices. But, according to the leaders of the Air Force, this is far from the limit. This figure is expected to double by 2020.

There is nothing surprising in the fact that on December 15, congratulations on the Day of the Radio Engineering Troops are heard from everywhere in Russia. All the best is wished to workers in this area, because representatives of military affairs deserve recognition and respect, no less than military personnel. airborne troops, air defense or border guards.