View source for Ukrainian Air Force

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{{Short description|Aerial warfare of Ukraine}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Ukrainian Air Force
| native_name                   = {{lang|uk|Повітряні сили Збройних сил України}}
| image                         = Emblem of the Ukrainian Air Force.svg
| image_size                    = 150px
| caption                       = Emblem of the Ukrainian Air Force
| dates                         = 1917–1921<br>1992–present
| country                       = Ukraine
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = 
| type                          = [[Air force]]
| role                          = [[Aerial warfare]]
| size                          = 35,000 {{small|(2022)}}<ref name="The Military Balance2022">{{cite book | title = The Military Balance 2022 | date = February 2022 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vOFeEAAAQBAJ&dq=ukrainian+army+196600&pg=PA945 | publisher = [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]] | isbn = 9781000620030}}</ref><br>207 aircraft {{small|(2021)}}{{Sfn|Hoyle|2021|p=32}}
| command_structure             = [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]]
| garrison                      = [[Vinnytsia]]
| garrison_label                = Headquarters
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = 
| colours                       = 
| colours_label                 = 
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| anniversaries                 = [[Air Force Day#Ukraine|Air Force Day]]<br>(the first Sunday of August)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/5792007-6097 |title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №579/2007 Про День Повітряних Сил Збройних Сил України |work=Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України |trans-title=DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE No. 579/2007 About the Day of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine |language=uk |date=June 27, 2007 |access-date=August 4, 2024 |quote=[...] I decree: 1. To establish a holiday in Ukraine - the Day of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to be celebrated every year on the first Sunday of August.}}</ref>
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = * [[Soviet–Ukrainian War]]
* [[Polish–Ukrainian War]]
* [[Russo-Ukrainian War]]
** [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|War in Donbas]]<ref name=HA12714/>
** [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]]
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = 
| battle_honours_label          = 
| flying_hours                  = 
| website                       = <!-- Commanders -->
| commander1                    = [[Lieutenant General]] [[Anatolii Kryvonozhko]]
| commander1_label              = [[Commander of the Air Force (Ukraine)|Commander]]
| commander2                    = [[Chief Master Sergeant]] Kostiantyn Stanislavchuk
| commander2_label              = Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = [[File:Roundel of Ukraine.svg|80px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = [[Military aircraft insignia|Roundel]]
| identification_symbol_2       = [[File:Coat of arms of Ukraine.svg|80px]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = [[Fin flash]]
| identification_symbol_3       = [[File:Ensign of the Ukrainian Air Force.svg|150px]]
| identification_symbol_3_label = Flag
<!-- Aircraft -->| aircraft_attack               = [[Su-24#Variants|Su-24M]], [[Su-25]]
| aircraft_bomber               = 
| aircraft_electronic           = 
| aircraft_fighter              = [[MiG-29]], [[Su-27]], [[F-16]], [[Mirage 2000]]
| aircraft_helicopter           = [[Mil Mi-8T|Mi-8T]], [[Mil Mi-17|Mi-17]]
| aircraft_interceptor          = 
| aircraft_patrol               = 
| aircraft_recon                = [[An-30]], [[Su-24#Variants|Su-24MR]], [[Bayraktar TB2]], [[RQ-11]]
| aircraft_trainer              = [[Aero L-39]]
| aircraft_transport            = [[An-24]], [[An-26B]], [[An-30]], [[An-70]]
| aircraft_tanker               = 
| aircraft_general              = 
}}

The '''Ukrainian Air Force''' ({{langx|uk|Повітряні сили Збройних сил України|Povitryani syly Zbroynykh syl Ukrayiny|lit=Air Forces of the Armed Forces [of] Ukraine}}, '''PS ZSU''') is the [[air force]] of [[Ukraine]] and one of the eight [[Military branch|branches]] of the [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]] (ZSU).<ref name="MB Eurasia">{{Citation |title=Military Balance in Russia and Eurasia 2023 |date=14 February 2023 |journal=The Military Balance |volume=123 |pages=165–170, 201–205 |doi=10.1080/04597222.2023.2162717 |s2cid=256848656}}</ref><!-- Feb 2023 pub date didn't capture May 2023 creation of independent Marine Corps branch.--> Its current form was created in 2004 by merging the [[Ukrainian Air Defence Forces]] into the Air Force.

When the [[Soviet Union]] dissolved in 1991, many aircraft were left in Ukrainian territory. After [[Ukrainian independence]] in 1991, the air force suffered from chronic under-investment, leading to the bulk of its inventory becoming mothballed or otherwise inoperable.<ref name=MBSJC>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/38772/ukraine-returns-combat-aircraft-to-service|title=Ukraine returns combat aircraft to service|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030194602/http://www.janes.com/article/38772/ukraine-returns-combat-aircraft-to-service|archive-date=30 October 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> However its domestic defense industry [[Ukroboronprom]] and its [[Antonov]] subsidiary are able to maintain its older aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Military/Air-force/Combat-aircraft|publisher=Nationmaster|title=Combat Aircraft, Countries Compared|access-date=2014-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203000130/http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Military/Air-force/Combat-aircraft|archive-date=2014-12-03|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Ukrainian Air Force participated in the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]].<ref name=HA12714>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/ukrainian_air_force_put_on_full_combat_alert_fighter_aircraft_scrambled_323682 |title=Ukrainian Air Force put on full combat alert, fighter aircraft scrambled |website=www.ukrinform.ua |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714032058/http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/ukrainian_air_force_put_on_full_combat_alert_fighter_aircraft_scrambled_323682 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the 2014 ceasefire, the air force was suspended from carrying out missions in the areas of Donbas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lb.ua/news/2014/11/10/285506_snbo_rastorzhenie_minskih.html|publisher=LB.ua|title=СНБО: расторжение минских договоренностей даст повод РФ ввести "миротворцев"|date=10 November 2014 |access-date=2014-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110185506/http://lb.ua/news/2014/11/10/285506_snbo_rastorzhenie_minskih.html|archive-date=2014-11-10|url-status=live}}</ref> Since February 2022, the Air Force has been engaged in constant combat operations in the face of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]]. The air force flies [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manuel |first=Rojoef |date=2024-11-26 |title=Netherlands Delivers Final F-16 Training Jets for Ukraine to Romania |url=https://thedefensepost.com/2024/11/25/ukraine-final-f16-netherlands-romania/#:~:text=Apart%20from%20the%20practice%20jets,of%20pilots%20complete%20their%20training.%E2%80%9D |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=The Defense Post |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-07 |title=Ukraine uses French Mirage jets for first time in repelling massive Russian attack |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-use-french-mirage-2000-jet-first-time-repel-russia-missile-drone-strike/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=POLITICO |language=en-GB}}</ref> and [[Soviet aircraft|Soviet-made aircraft]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-31 |title=Ukraine receives first F-16 fighter jets to bolster defenses against Russia, officials tell AP |url=https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-f16-jets-russia-missile-98fab7aa19e093bf8df3de015bc9006a |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

==Missions==
The role of the Air Force is to protect the [[air space]] of Ukraine. The objectives are: obtaining operational [[air superiority]], delivering [[air strikes]] against enemy units and facilities, covering troops against enemy air strikes, providing air support to the [[Ukrainian Ground Forces]], [[Ukrainian Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] and the [[Ukrainian Navy|Navy]] in wartime operations and peacetime exercises, disrupting enemy military movements on the ground, air and sea, disrupting enemy communications, and providing air support by [[reconnaissance]], [[airdrops]], and troop and cargo transportation in both peace and war, in support of the Armed Forces, other uniformed forces, and wider mandates of the Government of Ukraine.

In peace-time, this is carried out by flying air-space control missions over the entire territory of Ukraine (603,700 square km), and by preventing air space intrusion along the aerial borders (totaling almost 7,000&nbsp;km, including 5,600&nbsp;km of land and 1,400&nbsp;km of sea).<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://merln.ndu.edu/whitepapers/Ukraine_ENG_2011.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170829185905/http://ndu.libguides.com/merln/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2017-08-29 |title=Home - MERLN - LibGuides at National Defense University |website=Merln.ndu.edu |date=2016-08-16 |access-date=2017-01-05}}</ref>

As of 2025 combatting enemy jets which drop [[Glide bomb|glide bombs]] is important.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-20 |title=Russia's primitive glide bombs are still outmatching Ukraine's air defenses, killing more civilians |url=https://kyivindependent.com/russias-primitive-glide-bombs-are-still-outmatching-ukraines-air-defenses-killing-more-civilians-2/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=The Kyiv Independent |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==

=== 1917–1945 ===
{{Expand section|small=no|Short summary of Ukrainian–Soviet War to explain how the air fleets evolved through the course of the war and were absorbed at its end|date=December 2023}}
[[File:Ukrainian Galician Army Nieuport 17.jpg|thumb|200px|A [[Nieuport 17]] of the Ukrainian Galician Army]]

Ukrainian military aviation started with the winter 1917 creation of the [[Ukrainian People's Republic Air Fleet]], headed by former commander of the [[Kyiv Military District]] [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Viktor Pavlenko]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Харук |first=Андрій |date=2017-12-13 |title=Крила революції. Як в УНР витворили власні повітряні сили |url=https://www.dsnews.ua/ukr/nasha_revolyutsiya_1917/krila-revolyutsiyi-yak-v-unr-stvorili-vlasni-povitryani-sili-11122017220000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228083130/http://www.dsnews.ua/nasha_revolyutsiya_1917/krila-revolyutsiyi-yak-v-unr-stvorili-vlasni-povitryani-sili-11122017220000 |archive-date=2017-12-28 |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=dsnews.ua |language=uk}}</ref> Previously, while in Russian service in [[World War I]], Pavlenko was in charge of air security of the Russian [[Stavka]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Павленко Виктор Алексеевич |url=https://encyclopedia.mil.ru/encyclopedia/heroes/USSR/more.htm?id=12250810@morfHeroes |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130160335/http://encyclopedia.mil.ru/encyclopedia/heroes/USSR/more.htm?id=12250810@morfHeroes |archive-date=2021-11-30 |website=encyclopedia.mil.ru |language=ru}}</ref>

Sometime in 1918 the [[West Ukrainian People's Republic]] created its own aviation corps with the [[Ukrainian Galician Army]] headed by [[Petro Franko]], a son of renowned Ukrainian writer [[Ivan Franko]]. In 1918 he organized an [[aviation]] school of the Ukrainian Galician Army Command Center which was active until 1920.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Room of Taras and Petro Franko|url=https://dimfranka.lviv.ua/en/room-taras-and-petro-franko |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Дім Франка - Franko House}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kyiv Mural to Pilot Petro Franko opened on Aviakonstruktora Antonova Street |url=https://ukraine-kiev-tour.com/2020/kyiv-mural-pilot-petro-franko.html |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=ukraine-kiev-tour.com}}</ref>

The airplanes used by Ukraine in this period included Belgium-built [[SPAD S.VII]]s. The Ukrainian Galician Army used [[Nieuport 17]] biplanes. At the beginning of 1918, 188 aircraft of 26 models were listed in Ukrainian registers.<ref name=":8" />

During [[World War II]], Ukrainian pilots took part in combat operations as part of the [[Soviet Air Force]]. Among these pilots, [[Ivan Kozhedub]] is notable for being the highest-scoring Allied ace with over 60 credited solo victories.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukrainian WW II Ace Ivan Kozhedub, the First Soviet Pilot to Shoot Down a Jet and Still a Model for Ukrainian Defenders |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/18378 |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=Kyiv Post|date=18 June 2023 }}</ref>

=== Collapse of the USSR ===
==== Air Forces ====
{{Ukrainian Armed forces}}

On the basis of the ex-Soviet Air Forces formations in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Air Force, as a service branch of the young Armed Forces, was established on 17 March 1992, in accordance with a Directive of the Chief of the General Staff of the AFU. The headquarters of the [[24th Air Army]] of the Soviet Air Force in [[Vinnytsia]] served as the basis to create the Air Force headquarters. The newly created PSZSU nominally controlled at least three Frontal Aviation Armies ([[5th Air Army|5th]], [[14th Air Army|14th]], and [[17th Air Army|17th]]), the Strategic [[46th Air Army]], the [[8th Air Defence Army]] including the 28th, 49th, and 60th Air Defence Corps from the [[Soviet Air Defence Forces]] (PVO), two Military Transport divisions, at least nine Army Aviation regiments, and a large part of the Naval Aviation of the [[Black Sea Fleet]], for a total of 49 regiments and 11 independent squadrons with more than 2,800 aircraft and helicopters.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=26}} The PSZSU also controlled the 106th Heavy Bomber Division, based at [[Pryluky]]. This division included twenty-seven [[Tu-95MS]] bombers, two obsolete Tu-95M, nineteen new [[Tu-160]] bombers, and twenty [[Il-78]] aerial tankers. The 160th Division also had at least 564 [[Kh-22]] and [[Kh-55]] air-to-surface nuclear cruise missiles in their inventory.{{sfn|Zaloga|2014|page=200}}

After combining all its flying assets into the Air Force (though ground-based elements of the PVO remained separate as the [[Ukrainian Air Defence Forces]] until 2004), Ukraine gradually began downsizing the size of the PSZSU in order to comply with the [[Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe]] (CFE) terms.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=26}} Faced with difficulties maintaining a strategic bomber fleet, Ukraine was forced to scrap part of their bomber fleet under the [[Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction]] program and return some aircraft and all nuclear cruise missiles to Russia in exchange for settling debts for oil and natural gas imported from the Russian Federation.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=26}}{{sfn|Zaloga|2014|page=200}}{{sfn|Sinovets|2022|pages=93−94}}

==== Air Defence Forces ====
In 1992 the newly independent Ukrainian State took over control over the three Air Defence corps stationed in Ukraine and retained the Air Defence Forces of Ukraine as a separate armed service, equal in status to the Ground Forces, Air Forces and the Navy. The 28th Corps was transferred to the now-Ukrainian 8th Separate Army of Air Defence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Структура 8-й ОА ПВО с января по май 1992 года |url=http://www.8oapvo.su/structure/38-structure1992 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120222724/http://www.8oapvo.su/structure/38-structure1992 |archive-date=2012-01-20 |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Сайт ветеранов 8-й отдельной армии ПВО |language=ru}}</ref>

===1991–2014===
Since its independence in 1991, Ukraine launched a three-stage reform program to reform its Armed Forces. During the first stage which ran from 1991 to 2006 the ZSU shrank in size and capabilities.{{sfn|Sanders|2023|pages=313−314}} Corruption, already endemic in the political and economic system of the country began spreading into the ZSU, resulting in an increase of draft dodging cases and bases falling into a state of decay. Under the government of [[Viktor Yanukovych]] from 2010 to 2014, an armed conflict with Russian Federation was considered unthinkable, resulting in further budget cuts.{{sfn|Cooper|Crowther|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2023|page=9}} By 2014, the Air Force was suffering from chronic under-investment, leading to the bulk of its inventory becoming mothballed or otherwise becoming inoperable.<ref name=MBSJC/>

In 1993, the [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]] (IISS) estimated that the PSZSU had 171,000 personnel with 900 combat capable aircraft plus 440 in storage; 87 reconnaissance, 47 [[electronic countermeasure]], 274 transport, 560 training fixed-wing aircraft, and 142 helicopters.{{sfn|IISS|1993|page=91}}

Between 1994 and 2003 the entire fleet of 60 Tu-22M2 and Tu-22M3 with the exception of a few aircraft preserved for display in local museums, were scrapped alongside 423 Kh-22 cruise missiles. By 1995−96, the [[MiG-23]], [[MiG-25]], and [[Su-15]] interceptors were withdrawn from service.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=26}} While Ukraine was less than keen on returning its fleet of strategic bombers to Russia "since they could be used in roles other than nuclear attack", the PSZSU was soon unable to keep the fleet operational with Russia refusing to sell spare parts, forcing the Ukrainian government to start negotiating the possible sale of the aircraft back to Russia, but as talks dragged on, their condition seriously deteriorated.{{sfn|Zaloga|2014|page=200}} Starting in November 1998, some of the older aircraft began to be scrapped with American funding (with a few examples preserved as local museum exhibitions) and in October 1999, Ukraine finally agreed to return eight Tu-160s, three Tu-95MS's (out of nineteen Tu-160s and twenty-three Tu-95MS), and 575 Kh-55MS nuclear cruise missiles to settle debts for oil and natural gas imported from the Russian Federation.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=26}}{{sfn|Zaloga|2014|page=200}}{{sfn|Sinovets|2022|pages=93−94}}

During the second stage of reforming the ZSU, which ran from 2006 to 2014, Ukraine was supposed to (at least on paper) move from the old Soviet model of fielding large formations into a smaller, fully trained and equipped professional force, taking advantage of new technologies such as digitalization, precision-guided munitions and sensors, and command and control infrastructure. However, by 2014, it became clear that such plans were beyond the capabilities of the Ukrainian state to fund and implement, resulting in the PSZSU (and other branches of the Armed Forces) being unprepared for the [[War in Donbas]].{{sfn|Sanders|2023|pages=313−314}} Between 2006 and 2017, Ukraine sold as many as 65 combat jets ([[Su-27]]s, [[Su-25]]s, [[Su-22]]s, [[MiG-29]]s, and [[MiG-21]]s), 41 [[Aero L-39 Albatros|L-39]]s trainers, six [[An-72]], [[An-74]], and [[An-12]] military transports, three Il-78 tankers, 50 [[Tu-143]] reconnaissance drones, 44 [[Mi-24]] attack helicopters and 802 missiles of various types ([[R-23 (missile)|R-24]], [[R-27 (air-to-air missile)|R-27]], [[R-73 (missile)|R-73]] air-to-air missiles and [[Kh-59]] air-to-surface cruise missiles).<ref name="Ponomarenko">{{cite news |last1=Ponomarenko |first1=Illia |author1-link=Illia Ponomarenko |title=Ukraine's Air Force rebuilds amid war |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/7027 |access-date=25 January 2025 |work=Kyiv Post |date=15 March 2019 |location=[[Vasylkiv]] and [[Vinnytsia]]}}</ref>

On average, the Ukrainian radar forces detect and track more than 1,000 targets daily. As a result, in 2006 two illegal crossings of the state border were prevented and 28 violations of Ukrainian air space were prevented. Due to such increased strengthening of air space control, the number of air space violations decreased by 35% compared to the previous year, even though the amount of [[air traffic]] increased by 30%.<ref name=":0" />

[[File:Sukhoi Su-27UB Belyakov.jpg|thumb|A Ukrainian [[Sukhoi Su-27]] in July 2011]]

By 2010, the Air Force was reduced to 45,240 personnel (down from 96,000 in 2002). Formations included seven brigades with 188 combat aircraft; two reconnaissance squadrons operated thirty-three [[Sukhoi Su-24#Variants|Su-24MR]]s; three transport brigades with 31 aircraft ([[An-24]], [[An-26]], [[Tupolev Tu-134]], and [[Il-76]]); a helicopter fleet with 38 [[Mil Mi-9|Mi-9]]s, [[Mi-8]]s, and [[Mil Mi-2|Mi-2]]s. While only thirty-nine L-39s were available for training compared to 300 operational in 2002.{{sfn|Wragg|2011|page=302}}

Some upgrade programs were carried to overhaul and upgrade the PSZSU fleet of fighters and fighter-bombers. In 2008, 12 Su-25s were upgraded to the Su-25M1K standard. In 2011, the Air Force received its first four upgraded MiG-29MU1s with assistance from [[Rockwell Collins]]. From 2012 onwards, the MiGremont company started working on upgrading Su-27 to the Su-27M1 standard. However, due the lack of funds, only part of the fleet was upgraded prior to February 2014.{{sfn|Cooper|Crowther|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2023|pages=29−30}}{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=31}}

===Role in the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine===
{{see also|Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|War in Donbas}}

In 2014 the PSZSU was reduced to 144 aircraft, but only two-thirds were operational at the time.{{sfn|Galeotti|2019|page=49}} Due the poor condition of several of their aircraft, some units were severely understrength (for example, the [[7th Tactical Aviation Brigade]] had only 10 operational Su-24M and MRs in February that year).{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=27}}
 
Despite its poor condition, the Air Force operated intensively in the [[Donbas]] region, inflicting heavy casualties on the pro-Russian insurgents, albeit at a heavy cost.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=27}} During the first four months of the War in Donbas alone, the Ukrainian Air Force and [[Ukrainian Army Aviation]] lost four [[Mi-24]] gunships, two Mi-8 helicopters, six Su-25s, three transport aircraft and four strike and air-superiority fighters.{{sfn|Galeotti|2019|pages=49−50}} In total, 20 aircraft were shot down or lost in accidents, 126 were captured by the Russians after their air bases in Crimea were seized; while 51 servicemen of the PSZSU were killed including 16 pilots from February to early September 2014.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=27}} Ukraine later managed to secure the return of 92 of the captured aircraft.<ref name="Ponomarenko" />

[[File:Ukrainian Tupolev Tu-143.jpg|thumb|A Ukrainian [[Tupolev Tu-143|Tu-143]]]]

While the Russians made ample use of drones since the start of the conflict for observation and fire control, Ukraine had very few drones in early 2014.{{sfn|Galeotti|2019|page=39}} In fact, the Air Force operated none at all. In August 2014, the PSZSU began employing restored [[Tu-141]] and Tu-143 reconnaissance drones,{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=33}} while citizens and supporters from abroad (specially the [[Ukrainian Canadians|Ukrainian diaspora in Canada]]) launched crowdfunded initiatives to buy or build reconnaissance drones for the ZSU.{{sfn|Galeotti|2019|page=53}}

After the ZSU was defeated in the [[Battle of Ilovaisk]], Russia demanded a complete ban on the Ukrainian use of air power as a condition for the [[Minsk agreements#Minsk Protocol|Minsk I peace agreement]],{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=27}} though [[Air Command East]] based at [[Dnipropetrovsk]] kept two units of [[S-300PS]] [[surface-to-air missile]] batteries on standby against potential Russian airstrikes.{{sfn|Galeotti|2019|page=49}}

===Developments towards restoration (2014−2021)===
Starting in 1993 the [[United States National Guard]] worked with the Ukrainian Air Force as part of a [[NATO]] sponsored program. The Ukrainian Air Force worked with the California Air National Guard's [[144th Fighter Wing]] and pilots exercised together, including in 2011 and 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theaviationist.com/2022/05/24/california-ang-ukrainian-air-force/|date=24 May 2022|title=How California ANG Helped Ukrainian Air Force Improve And 'Counter Punch' Russian Aerospace Forces Over Ukraine}}</ref>

In response to the Russian annexation of Crimea and the insurgency in the Donbas region, Ukraine attempted to obtain a license to produce the [[Saab JAS 39 Gripen]] locally as well purchase [[Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano]] training aircraft, but due budgetary constraints, talks were cancelled in August 2014. Immediately after, Kyiv issued order No. 499 allocating funds to restore and upgrade as many Soviet-era fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters as possible. Such effort was possible thanks to clandestine purchases of spare parts abroad. Also Ukraine, a former hub of the Soviet aerospace industry, inherited hundreds of factories including: Konotop Aircraft Repair Plant (AVIAKON), [[Lviv State Aviation Repair Plant]] (LSARP or LDARZ), Nikolaev ([[Mykolaiv]]) Aircraft Repair Plant (NARP), Zaporizhzhia State Aircraft Repair Plant (ZDARZ, also known as "MiGremont"), Odessa Aircraft Plant (ODARZ, aka "Odessaviaremservis"), and the Lutsk Repair Plant Motor. Additionally, the Air Force also received enough funding to reactivate former air bases at [[Kanatove (air base)|Kanatove]], [[Voznesensk (air base)|Voznesensk]], [[Velykyi Buialyk]], and [[Artsyz Air Base|Artsyz]].{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=27}}

[[File:Stamp of Ukraine s2016.jpg|thumb|A 2022 Ukrainian postage stamp depicting a Bayraktar TB2 drone]]

Since 2014, the PSZSU also worked on restoring several SAM systems kept in storage, including the [[S-300V]].{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=34}} In August 2014 the Air Force received enough funding to reactivate 68 Soviet vintage Tu-141 and Tu-143 reconnaissance drones. While in 2019, Kyiv received its first batch of six [[Bayraktar TB2]] drones from [[Turkey]]. By 2022, 36 were operational with the Air Force and Navy.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=33}}

In 2019 spending on the PSZSU reached [[Ukrainian hryvnia|₴]]8.3 billion (US$320 million), allowing the gradual resumption of regular practice flights,<ref name="Ponomarenko" /> though according to Cooper, the leftover Soviet flight regulations and bureaucratic red tape prevented pilots from effectively putting into practice new tactics learned from NATO pilots during joint exercises.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=35}}

In 2020, the ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' reported that Ukraine planned on fully replacing its fleet of Soviet combat jets with 72−108 Western [[multirole combat aircraft]] (such as the Gripen E/F or F-16 Block 70/72); fully replace its [[Ilyushin]] and [[Antonov]] transport and L-39 Albatros trainer aircraft with unspecified types; and creating a force of attack and reconnaissance [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s by 2035. Kyiv also planned on fully replacing its Soviet SAM systems with modern systems including the [[NASAMS]], [[SAMP-T]] and [[MIM-104 Patriot]] in the next 15 years. The total cost of this project was estimated as ₴320 billion (US$12 billion) over a period of 15 years (over 38 times the budget of PSZSU in 2019).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Illia |first1=Ponomarenko |title=Ukraine's Air Forces seek full renovation by 2035 |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/10480 |access-date=4 February 2025 |work=Kyiv Post |date=22 May 2020}}</ref>

Prior to February 2022, the Air Force was equipped with a fleet of partially upgraded old aircraft (with the newest airframes being 30 years old) and inferior weaponry in comparison to their Russian counterparts; while its personnel were plagued by low salaries, poor living conditions, and insufficient annual flying hours per pilot, barely enough to maintain proficiency. Another problem for the PSZSU was a shortage of qualified pilots, with only 10−15 cadets graduating from the [[Ivan Kozhedub National University of the Air Force]] in [[Kharkiv]] every year, while hundreds of pilots abandoned service or retired between 2020 and 2021.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|pages=35−36}}

=== Role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine ===
{{main|Russian invasion of Ukraine|List of aircraft losses during the Russo-Ukrainian War}}

On the morning of 24 February 2022, most of the Ukrainian air defense crews were on their bases, while a handful were on training duties when the Russians launched a barrage of at least 160 ballistic and cruise missiles ([[Kh-101]], [[Kh-555]], [[3M54 Kalibr]], and [[9K720 Iskander]]) and anti-radiation missiles ([[Kh-31]], [[Kh-58]]) as well, hitting at least 83 ground targets including 11 air bases, 19 air defense radar systems and 39 "other" radar stations while up to 22 S-300 launchers and 17 launchers for other SAM systems knocked down during the first 48 hours of the Russian "[[special military operation]]". With communications from the headquarters in [[Vinnytsia]] cut off by a Russian [[cyberattack]] a day earlier, local commanders were forced to act independently in face of the enemy onslaught, with pilots quickly taking off and scattering to avoid incoming missiles, ground crews being hastily evacuated and start repairing as much remaining equipment as possible.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|pages=38−41}}

On 24 February 2022, the PSZSU had 116 operational combat aircraft (MiG-29s, Su-27s, Su-25s, and Su-24Ms) according to ''[[Business Insider]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brimelow |first1=Benjamin |title=Neither Moscow nor Kyiv can control Ukraine's skies. These are the jets they're using to fight the air war. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/combat-jets-russia-and-ukraine-are-using-in-ukraine-war-2022-7 |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=Business Insider |date=24 July 2022}}</ref> In March 2022, Ukraine still had about 55 operational combat aircraft according to [[David Deptula]], senior scholar at the [[United States Air Force Academy]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Varenikova |first1=Maria |last2=Kramer |first2=Andrew E. |title=How Ukraine's Outgunned Air Force Is Fighting Back Against Russian Jets |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/22/world/europe/ukraine-air-force-russia.html |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=22 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322091104/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/22/world/europe/ukraine-air-force-russia.html |archive-date=22 March 2022}}</ref>

In April 2022, [[the Pentagon]] stated that Ukraine not only managed to maintain its fleet of fixed-wing aircraft, but also repair damaged aircraft after receiving spare parts and equipment through the United States' coordination and provision,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ali |first1=Idrees |last2=Stewart |first2=Phil |editor1-last=Adler |editor1-first=Leslie |editor2-last=Maler|editor2-first=Sandra |editor3-last=Sithole-Matarise |editor3-first=Emelia |title=UPDATE 1 Ukraine's military boosts aircraft thanks to spare parts, Pentagon says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-military-gets-more-aircraft-parts-repair-others-pentagon-says-2022-04-19/ |access-date=25 January 2025 |work=Reuters |date=20 April 2022}}</ref> with a senior US defence official claiming that about 20 aircraft were restored to operational status.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Liebermann |first1=Oren |title=Ukraine's Air Force has added about 20 more operational aircraft after influx of spare parts, senior US defense official says |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/20/politics/ukraine-aircraft-spare-parts/index.html |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=CNN |date=20 April 2022 |language=English}}</ref> On 19 September, US Air Force General [[James B. Hecker]] said that Ukrainian air defences had shot down 55 Russian warplanes since the start of the invasion. He credited this success to the Ukrainian use of [[Buk missile system|Buk]] and [[S-300 missile system|S-300]] air defence systems. As the US doesn't have these systems getting new missiles from European allies was a "big ask" from Kyiv. Russian airplanes increased their operations due to the [[2022 Ukrainian Kharkiv Oblast counteroffensive]]. The tally went to 55 after the [[British Ministry of Defence]] stated that it believed that some 4 Russian jets had been downed by Ukraine over the previous 10 days. This was due to a number of factors including changing front lines, or the fact that they were under pressure to provide closer ground support. He further claimed that the Ukrainian Air Force was at about 80% of its pre-invasion strength after 7 months of combat.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-19 |title= Ukraine has shot down 55 Russian warplanes, U.S. general says |author=Paul McLeary |work=Politico |url= https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/19/ukraine-has-shot-down-55-russian-warplanes-00057569 |access-date=2022-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-19 |title= Russia may have lost four combat jets in Ukraine in last 10 days, UK says |work=Reuters |url= https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-may-have-lost-four-combat-jets-ukraine-last-10-days-uk-says-2022-09-19/ |access-date=2022-09-22}}</ref>

In May 2023 the ''[[BBC]]'' interviewed several Ukrainian Air Force pilots. Even with MiG-29s supplied from [[Slovakia]] and [[Poland]] these are still old, with the same Soviet era equipment and radars as their own Ukrainian aircraft. When long range radar guided missiles, such as the [[R-37M]], are fired by Russian aircraft Ukrainian pilots have to rely on ground radar to warn them verbally. Once a launch is detected pilots must abandon their mission and fly extremely low. Another pilot said that his radar cannot see cruise missiles, so they can't be shot down. Most of the pilots fly extremely low during attack missions. When they are in action they use Soviet era unguided bombs and rockets. Due to these limitations one pilot estimates that "they [Ukrainian pilots] carry out up to 20 times fewer sorties than the Russian Air Force."<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-09 |title= Ukraine war: Jet pilots talk about the air war with Russia|author1=Abdujalil Abdurasulov| author2=Zhanna Bezpiatchuk |agency=Reuters |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65461405 |access-date=2023-05-12}}</ref>

As of 4 August 2023, according to ''[[Forbes]]'' the Ukrainian Air Force lost seven aircraft, "four MiG-29s, an Su-24, an Su-25 and an Su-27". The reduced rate of loss, compared to reported 62 aircraft in 2022, is credited to longer range western weapons.<ref name=":6">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/08/06/the-ukrainian-air-force-lost-62-planes-in-2022-so-far-in-2023-it-has-lost-just-seven/?sh=2d6425a741b3 |author=David Axe |title=The Ukrainian Air Force Lost 62 Planes In 2022. So Far In 2023, It Has Lost Just Seven.|date=2023-08-06 |work=Forbes}}</ref>

According to leaked US intelligence documents from February and March 2023, Ukraine stocks of missiles for their Soviet SAM systems are running low due the constant barrage of Russian missiles and drones aimed at critical infrastructure and civilian targets, forcing commanders to choose which targets can be shot down or not. To address this issue, the US and allies began providing Ukraine with a large range of air defense systems, from truck-mounted guns to Patriot batteries.<ref name=WPAir>{{cite news |last1=Horton |first1=Alex |last2=Mellen |first2=Ruby |last3=Granados |first3=Samuel |last4=Galocha |first4=Artur |title=Europe These are the Western air defense systems protecting Ukraine |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/19/ukraine-air-defense-systems-patriot/ |access-date=1 February 2025 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230520075536/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/19/ukraine-air-defense-systems-patriot/ |archive-date=20 May 2023}}</ref>
 
In May 2023, a Patriot of the PSZSU in the [[Kharkiv Oblast]] reportedly shot down a Russian [[Su-34]] fighter-bomber, a [[Su-35]] fighter, and three Mi-8 helicopters in the [[Bryansk Oblast]]. In December Ukrainian Patriots or S-300s were used to shoot down three Su-34s in a single engagement in the occupied Southern Ukraine. A month later Ukrainian SAMs shot down a [[Beriev A-50]] early warning aircraft flying over the [[Sea of Azov]].<ref name="SAMbush">{{cite news |last1=Axe |first1=David |title=Russia Vectored A 100-Ton Cargo Plane To Belgorod, 20 Miles From Ukraine. So Of Course Ukraine Shot It Down. |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/01/24/russia-vectored-a-100-ton-cargo-plane-to-belgorod-20-miles-from-ukraine-so-of-course-ukraine-shot-it-down/ |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=Forbes |date=24 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref> According to a US Army officer, a German-supplied Patriot was used to ambush the A-50.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newdick |first1=Thomas |title=U.S. Army Officer Confirms Russian A-50 Radar Jet Was Shot Down With Patriot Missile |url=https://www.twz.com/land/u-s-army-officer-confirms-russian-a-50-radar-jet-was-shot-down-with-patriot-missile |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=The War Zone |date=10 June 2024}}</ref> On 23 February 2024, a second A-50 was shot down by a [[S-200 (missile)|S-200]] SAM in [[Krasnodar Krai]]. On 19 April 2024, a Russian [[Tu-22M3]] bomber was shot down in [[Stavropol Krai]] with a S-200 missile according to the chief of the [[Main Directorate of Intelligence (Ukraine)|Main Directorate of Intelligence]], Lt. Gen. [[Kyrylo Budanov]].<ref name="S200">{{cite news |last1=Newdick |first1=Thomas |last2=Altman |first2=Howard |title=Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire Shot Down with S-200 Missile: Ukraine's Spy Chief |url=https://www.twz.com/air/russian-tu-22m3-backfire-shot-down-with-s-200-missile-ukraines-spy-chief |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=The War Zone |date=19 April 2024}}</ref>

Some American officers told ''[[The New York Times]]'' that Ukraine used a Patriot missile to shoot down a Russian Il-76 transport in the [[Belgorod Oblast]] on 24 January 2024, allegedly killing everyone on board. According to Ukrainian claims the plane was carrying S-300 missiles, while Russia claimed it was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Sources told the ''NYT'' that at least some of the passengers were POWs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Amran |first1=Rachel |title=NYT: American officials confirm Patriot missile shot down Il-76 plane |url=https://kyivindependent.com/nyt-american-officials-confirm-patriot-missile-shot-down-russian-il-76-plane/ |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=The Kyiv Independent |date=8 February 2024 |language=en}}</ref> According to ''Forbes'', some of the Ukrainian prisoner names that were listed as passengers were already exchanged.<ref name="SAMbush" />

After receiving its first F-16s in August 2024, they were initially used in a defensive role, shooting down Russian cruise missiles, with the [[General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces]] stating that: "In the course of air combat, F-16 aircraft demonstrated their high effectiveness, [and] with [their on-board] weapons shot down four enemy cruise missiles". On 29 August 2024, an ex-Danish F-16 piloted by Lt. Col. Oleksii Mes crashed, killing him.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Axe |first1=David |title=Ukraine Has Lost Its First F-16 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/08/29/ukraine-has-lost-its-first-f-16/ |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=Forbes |date=29 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref> In 2025, the PSZSU F-16s are used in both offensive and defensive operations, intercepting incoming drones and missiles while also launching missiles and bombs at Russian positions along the front lines.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bandouil |first1=Sonya |last2=Basmat |first2=Dmytro |title=Zelensky confirms new arrival of F-16 jets to Ukraine |url=https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-confirms-new-arrival-of-f-16-jets-in-ukraine/ |access-date=20 March 2025 |work=The Kyiv Independent |date=20 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

On 7 January 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force Command claimed that an unnamed F-16 pilot managed to shoot down six cruise missiles with air-to-air missiles and cannon fire during a Russian missile strike on the morning of 13 December 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fornusek |first1=Martin |title=In historic record, Ukrainian F-16 pilot downs 6 cruise missiles in single mission, Air Force claims |url=https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-f-16-pilot-downs-6-cruise-missiles/ |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=The Kyiv Independent |date=7 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

On 16 January 2025, the PSZSU launched an investigation on whether key personnel are being redeployed to reinforce the [[Eastern front of the Russian invasion of Ukraine|Eastern Front]], following allegations that MiG-29 maintenance crews were sent as infantry affecting the combat readiness of the fleet. According to reports from ''[[The Kyiv Independent]]'' and ''Militarnyi'', thousands of Air Force personnel including aviation, anti-aircraft, and radio engineering crews, were transferred to the Ground Forces since 2024 following a January 11 directive from Commander-in-Chief [[Oleksandr Syrskyi]] ordering the transfer of 5,000 personnel from the Air Force to the Ground Forces, while the General Staff of the Armed forces of  Ukraine denied such allgations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Altman |first1=Howard |title=Investigation Launched Into Transfer Of Ukrainian MiG-29 Maintainers, Air Defenders To Front Lines |url=https://www.twz.com/air/investigation-launched-into-transfer-of-ukrainian-mig-29-maintainers-air-defenders-to-front-lines |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=The War Zone |date=16 January 2025}}</ref>

===Re-equipping developments (2022−present)===
As of August 2023, according to ''Forbes'', Ukraine lost 69 aircraft since February 2022, but they have been receiving equipment and funding from other countries,<ref name=":6" /><ref name="HeavyWeapon">{{cite web |last1=Janovsky |first1=Jakub |last2=((naalsio26)) |last3=Aloha |last4=Dan |last5=Kemal |title=Answering The Call: Heavy Weaponry Supplied To Ukraine |date=11 April 2022|url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/04/answering-call-heavy-weaponry-supplied.html |website=Oryx |access-date=25 January 2024}}</ref> including 27 MiG-29G and MiG-29AS fighter jets donated from Poland and Slovakia, while the Air Force has been able to restore some grounded Su-27s back to service.<ref name="DavidAxe">{{cite news |last1=Axe |first1=David |title=Ukraine's F-16s Will Reinforce, Or Replace, A Dizzying Array Of Old MiG And Sukhoi Fighters |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/01/23/ukraines-f-16s-will-reinforce-or-replace-a-dizzying-array-of-old-mig-and-sukhoi-fighters/?sh=46d54977737d |access-date=25 January 2024 |work=Forbes |date=23 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref> In January of that year, the PSZSU began preparing infrastructure to allow the operation of Western fighter jets such as the F-16, improving the quality of operating areas and possibly lengthening runways.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Altman |first1=Howard |title=Ukraine Situation Report: Kyiv Improving Airfields Anticipating Western Fighters |url=https://www.twz.com/ukraine-situation-report-kyiv-improving-airfields-anticipating-modern-jets |access-date=26 January 2025 |work=The War Zone |date=27 January 2023}}</ref> In April 2023, photographic evidence showed that the PSZSU managed to restore at least one Su-25 donated by [[North Macedonia]] to flyworthy condition and upgrade to the Su-25M1(K) standard before it joined the [[299th Tactical Aviation Brigade]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bozinovski |first1=Igor |title=Ukraine restores ex-North Macedonian Su-25 to help fight |url=https://www.key.aero/article/ukraine-restores-ex-north-macedonian-su-25-help-fight-russia |website=www.key.aero |access-date=25 January 2025 |language=en |date=16 May 2023}}</ref> In February 2024, the [[7th Tactical Aviation Brigade]] commander Col. Yevhen Bulatsyk told the ''[[Voice of America]]'' that the brigade not only managed to make up for its losses of Su-24M/MR bombers, but expand its numbers by restoring as many grounded aircraft as possible.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Axe |first1=David |title=It's Official. Despite Losses, Ukraine's Sole Bomber Brigade Is Bigger Now Than It Was Before The War. |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/02/22/its-official-despite-losses-ukraines-sole-bomber-brigade-is-bigger-now-than-it-was-before-the-war/ |access-date=26 January 2025 |work=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

Ukraine has also received Western air-defense systems from allies, including the Patriot, [[IRIS-T]], [[NASAMS]], [[MIM-23 Hawk]], and [[gun truck]]s to help protect its skies from missiles, fighter jets and drones.<ref name=WPAir /> In 2023, the Pentagon launched its "FrankenSAM" project which builds SAM systems capable of firing [[AIM-9M]] missiles built from parts obtained from the US, allies, and partners for Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Soviet Buk was modified by American engineers to fire [[RIM-7]] missiles. Also as part of the FrankenSAM project, the US also restored and revamped retired Hawk systems.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baldor |first1=Lolita C. |title=Pentagon's 'FrankenSAM' program cobbles together air defense weapons for Ukraine |url=https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-military-missiles-16c344bdba2e0695a2286a55d9614ff4 |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=AP News |date=12 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Other FrankenSAMs include [[9K33 Osa]]s modified to fire [[R-73 (missile)|R-73 missiles]] and Patriot missile launchers combined with elements from existing Ukrainian air defenses, which might include radars for the [[S-300P]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newdick |first1=Thomas |title=Ukraine's SA-8 Gecko 'FrankenSAM' Adapted To Fire Air-To-Air Missiles Seen In New Detail |url=https://www.twz.com/land/ukraines-sa-8-gecko-frankensam-adapted-to-fire-air-to-air-missiles-seen-in-new-detail |access-date=1 February 2025 |work=The War Zone |date=12 December 2024}}</ref>
 
In April 2024, a Ukrainian defense official told ''The War Zone'' that Ukraine received help from partners to provide an improved guidance system for their S-200 batteries, which were retired from service in 2013, before being reactivated during the war. "The missile itself has a good maneuvering system, so if provided with proper guidance is quite a modern weapon," the official stated. According to ''TWZ'' it is possible that Ukraine may have developed mobile launchers to allow its S-200 missiles to be fired from different locations.<ref name="S200"/> In January 2025, Syrsky stated in an interview with ''[[Television News Service|TSN]]'' that Ukraine is developing its own air defense systems in response to the Russian [[Oreshnik (missile)|Oreshnik]] ballistic missile.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fenbert |first1=Abbey |title=Ukraine developing its own air defense system to combat Russia's 'Oreshnik,' Syrskyi says |url=https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-producing-its-own-air-defense-systems-syrskyi-says/ |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=The Kyiv Independent |date=19 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

In July 2023, it was reported that Ukraine Su-24 bombers were adapted to fire [[Storm Shadow]] missiles by using parts taken from [[Panavia Tornado]]s retired from British service.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Allison |first1=George |title=Retired Tornado parts used to launch Ukrainian Storm Shadows |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/retired-tornado-parts-used-to-launch-ukrainian-storm-shadows/ |work=UK Defence Journal |access-date=29 January 2025 |date=2 July 2023}}</ref> On 24 April 2024, during the ''[[Center for Strategic and International Studies]] (CSIS)'' annual Global Security Forum, [[Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment]] Dr. William LaPlante confirmed the use of [[iPad]]s or similar commercial tablets by Ukrainian pilots to quickly integrate modern Western weaponry (such as [[AGM-88 HARM]] missiles, [[JDAM-ER]] and [[AASM Hammer]] glide bombs) on their Soviet-era jets.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newdick |first1=Thomas |title=Ukrainian Fighter Jets "Using iPads" To Control Western Weapons |url=https://www.twz.com/air/ukrainian-fighter-jets-using-ipads-to-control-western-weapons |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=The War Zone |date=25 April 2024}}</ref> On 9 June 2024, Serhiy Golubtsov, the head of aviation within Ukraine's Air Force Command told in an interview with ''[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]]'' that after Ukraine exhausted its stockpiles of unguided munitions inherited from the Soviet Union and US-supplied [[Zuni rocket]]s, their Su-25 attack aircraft began using French-supplied Hammer glide bombs. Golubtsov also stated that Ukraine is working on the development of domestically produced glide bombs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newdick |first1=Thomas |title=Ukrainian Su-25 Frogfoots Now Using French Hammer Guided Bombs After Exhausting Rocket Stocks |url=https://www.twz.com/air/ukrainian-su-25-frogfoots-now-using-french-hammer-guided-bombs-after-exhausting-rocket-stocks |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=The War Zone |date=10 June 2024}}</ref>

Western allies started preparing the transfer of surplus aircraft for Ukraine including nearly 100 F-16s, some [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000]]-5 and a pair of Saab 340 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Ukraine's new-look air force will have to fight smart |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/flight-international-opinion/why-ukraines-new-look-air-force-will-have-to-fight-smart/158828.article |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=Flight Global |date=20 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

On 26 September 2025, the Air Force announced the establishment of a sub-branch dedicated to unmanned air defense interceptors of drones, in addition to increasing the number of light helicopters with mounted machine guns for drone interceptions as well as enhancing electronic warfare for drone interception near Ukrainian cities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-26 |title=Ukraine Forms New Branch in Air Force: Drone Air Defense Systems |url=https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukraine-forms-new-branch-in-air-force-drone-air-defense-systems-11987 |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=UNITED24 Media |language=en}}</ref>

On 17 November 2025, Ukraine signed a deal to procure up to 100 [[Dassault Rafale|Rafale jets]] over a 10 year period.<ref name="reuters-rafale">{{Cite web |date=Nov 17, 2025 |title=Ukraine signs deal to obtain 100 French-made Rafale warplanes |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/zelenskiy-france-seal-air-defence-warplane-deals-2025-11-17/ |website=Reuters}}</ref>

== Equipment ==
{{Warning|Due to the ongoing [[Russo-Ukrainian War]], the information below may be outdated.}}

The last reliable information of the number of Ukrainian Air Force operational aircraft came in December 2021; during the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|current escalation of fighting]], losses, technical refitting and donations may have changed the equipment numbers reported below.

=== Aircraft ===
As of December 2023, the amount of aircraft that are still in service, especially fighter aircraft, is uncertain. Ukraine had 43 MiG-29s, 12 Su-24s, 17 Su-25s, and 26 Su-27s in active service in 2021 according to data from ''Flight Global'' in 2021.{{Sfn|Hoyle|2021|p=32}}

====Current inventory====
{| class="wikitable"
! Aircraft
! Origin
! Type
! Variant
! In service
! Notes
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Military aircraft#Combat aircraft|Combat aircraft]]
|-
| [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|General Dynamics F-16]]
| [[United States]]
| Multirole
| [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants|A/AM]]{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}}{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
| 7{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
| About 85 to be delivered.<ref name="F16">{{cite news |last1=Newdick |first1=Thomas |title=New Shots Of Ukrainian F-16s Shine Light On Combat Missions |url=https://www.twz.com/air/new-shots-of-ukrainian-f-16s-shine-light-on-combat-missions |access-date=13 February 2025 |work=The War Zone |date=12 February 2025}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mikoyan MiG-29]]
| [[Soviet Union]]
| [[Multirole combat aircraft|Multirole]]
| [[Mikoyan MiG-29#Variants|S/M1/M2/UB/G/AS]]<ref name="DavidAxe" />{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|pages=31−32}}
| 45{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}}
| 9 are used for conversion training.{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}}
|-
| [[Sukhoi Su-24]]
| Soviet Union
| [[Attack aircraft|Attack]]
| [[Sukhoi Su-24#Variants|M/MR]]{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|pages=27−28}}
| 13{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}}
| Modified to fire Storm Shadow missiles.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Axe |first1=David |title=Ukrainian Bombers Fire 10 Bunker-Busting Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles At Russian Commanders |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/11/20/ukrainian-bombers-fire-10-bunker-busting-storm-shadow-cruise-missiles-at-russian-commanders/ |website=Forbes |access-date=8 December 2024 |language=en |date=20 November 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sukhoi Su-25]]
| Soviet Union
| Attack / [[Close air support]]
| [[Sukhoi Su-25#Variants|M1/M1K/UB/UBM1/UBM1K]]{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=37}}
| 17{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}}
| 4 are used for conversion training.{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}}
|-
| [[Sukhoi Su-27]]
| Soviet Union
| Multirole
| [[Sukhoi Su-27#Variants|S/P/P1M/UB/UM]]{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=36}}
| 23{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}}
| 6 are used for conversion training.{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}}
|-
| [[Dassault Mirage 2000]]
| [[France]]
| Multirole
| [[Dassault Mirage 2000#Variants|5F]]<ref name="Mirage1" />
| 6<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pouvreau |first=Ana |date=2025-08-03 |title=Les implications pour l’armée française de la cession des Mirage 2000-5 à l’Ukraine |url=https://www.revueconflits.com/les-implications-pour-larmee-francaise-de-la-cession-des-mirage-2000-5-a-lukraine/ |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=Conflits : Revue de Géopolitique |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref name="MirageReuters" />
| 4 to 14 more to be delivered.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Charpentreau |first=Clement |date=2025-08-25 |title=France may double Mirage 2000-5 fighter transfer to Ukraine |url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/france-double-mirage-2000-5-transfer-ukraine |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=www.aerotime.aero |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[Yakovlev Yak-52|Yakolev Yak-52]]
|Soviet Union
|Drone [[Interceptor aircraft|Interceptor]]
|
|?
|Originally built as trainer aircraft, retired from active service. Reintroduced in 2024 as drone interceptors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=A shooter with a shotgun shoots down Russian drones from a Ukrainian Yak-52 aircraft — close look from the sky |url=https://itc.ua/en/news/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=itc.ua |language=Ukrainian}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Reconnaissance aircraft|Reconnaissance]]
|-
| [[Antonov An-30]]
| Soviet Union
| [[Surveillance aircraft|Surveillance]]
| [[Antonov An-30#Variants|B]]{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=32}}
| 3{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}}
|
|-
| [[Saab 340 AEW&C|SAAB 340]]
| [[Sweden]]
| [[AEW&C]]
| [[Saab 340 AEW&C#Variants|ASC 890]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Warren |title=Ukraine war briefing: Sweden donates vital ASC 890 surveillance planes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/30/ukraine-war-briefing-sweden-sends-vital-asc-890-surveillance-planes |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=30 May 2024}}</ref>
|
| 2 to be delivered.{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}} 
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Military transport aircraft|Transport]]
|-
| [[Antonov An-24]]
| Soviet Union
| Transport
|
| rowspan="2" | 22{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}}
|
|-
| [[Antonov An-26]]
| Soviet Union
| Transport
|
|
|-
| [[Antonov An-70]]
| Ukraine
| Transport
| 
| 1{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Helicopter]]s
|-
| [[Mil Mi-8]]
| Soviet Union
| [[Military transport aircraft#Rotary wing|Transport]] / Utility
| [[Mil Mi-8#Variants|TB/MSB-V]]{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=33}}
| 15{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}}
| 
|-
| [[Mil Mi-9]]
| Soviet Union
| [[Command post]]
| 
| 2+{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|
|-
| [[Mil Mi-17]]
| Soviet Union<hr /> [[Russian Federation]]
| Transport / Utility
| [[Mil Mi-17#Variants|E/M/V-5]]<ref name="SIPRI" />
| 7{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
| Donated by several countries since 2022<ref name="SIPRI">{{cite web |title=Arms transfer database |url=https://armstransfers.sipri.org/ArmsTransfer/TransferRegister |website=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute |access-date=22 May 2024}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Trainer aircraft]]
|-
| [[Aero L-39 Albatros|Aero L-39]]
| [[Czechoslovakia]]
| [[Jet trainer]]
| [[Aero L-39 Albatros#Variants|C/M1]]{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=37}}
| 42{{sfn|Hoyle|2024|page=32}}
|
|-
! colspan="6"| [[Unmanned aerial vehicle]]
|-
| [[Baykar Bayraktar TB2|Bayraktar TB2]]
| [[Turkey]]
| [[Unmanned combat aerial vehicle]]
|
| ?{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
| At least 8 were donated by [[Baykar]].<ref name="SIPRI" />
|-
|}

{|style="margin: 0 auto;"
|[[File:Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27P Flanker (29583343448).jpg|thumb|Su-27 over [[Royal International Air Tattoo]] (2018)]]
|[[File:Sukhoi Su-25 in Ukrainian service 269 n (cropped).jpg|thumb|Ukrainian Su-25]]
|[[File:An Mi-8 helicopter at the training Military Academy (Odessa) - cropped.jpg|thumb| An Mi-8 helicopter lifts off from the military training academy in [[Odesa]]]]
|}

====F-16 procurement====
{{See also|F-16 training coalition||F-16 operators}}

In May 2023, the United States indicated support for training Ukrainian pilots on the [[F-16]] fighters and for allies to transfer the aircraft to Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-19 |title= F-16 fighter jets: Biden to let allies supply warplanes in major boost for Kyiv |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65649471 |access-date= 2023-06-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-20 |title=U.S. and its allies plan to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, official says |url= https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/us-allies-plan-provide-ukrainian-pilots-f-16-fighter-jets-official-say-rcna85270 |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=NBC News}}</ref> Jets announced to be donated will be delivered to Ukraine once the Ukrainian pilots have completed their training.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Holland |first1=Steve |last2=Ali |first2=Idrees |last3=Ali |first3=Idrees |date=2023-08-18 |title=US approves sending F-16s to Ukraine from Denmark and Netherlands |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us-approves-sending-f-16s-ukraine-denmark-netherlands-2023-08-17/ |access-date=2023-08-18}}</ref>

[[Royal Danish Air Force|Denmark]] will provide 19 F-16 aircraft and [[Royal Netherlands Air Force|the Netherlands]] will attempt to provide up to 100% of their remaining fleet of 42 aircraft,<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |date=2023-08-20 |title=Netherlands and Denmark to donate up to 61 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/20/netherlands-to-donate-up-to-42-f-16-fighter-jets-to-ukraine |access-date=2023-11-06 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> with the exception of the aircraft required for the training of Ukrainian pilots and maintenance personnel that will take place in Denmark and Romania. Denmark aims to deliver six F-16s by April 2024,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-11 |title=Denmark, Netherlands, US spearhead creation of future Ukraine air force |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/denmark-netherlands-us-spearhead-creation-of-future-ukraine-air-force |access-date=2023-10-30 |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> then eight F-16s in the rest of the year and five afterwards.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Benjamin |last1=Brown |first2=Yulia |last2=Kesaieva |date=2023-08-20 |title=Zelensky hails 'historic' supply of F-16s as Ukraine seeks to counter Russian air supremacy |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/20/europe/netherlands-denmark-f-16-fighter-jets-ukraine-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> The Netherlands committed to an initial delivery of 18 aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 22, 2023 |title=Netherlands to deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/netherlands-deliver-18-f-16-fighter-jets-ukraine-2023-12-22/ |access-date=December 22, 2023 |website=Reuters}}</ref>

[[Royal Norwegian Air Force|Norway]] have provided two F-16s to train Ukrainian pilots,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-24 |title=Норвегія надасть для навчання українських пілотів два винищувачі F-16 – Прем'єр-міністр |url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3752691-norvegia-nadast-dla-navcanna-ukrainskih-pilotiv-dva-vinisuvaci-f16-premerministr.html |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=www.ukrinform.ua |language=uk}}</ref> while the total number of aircraft provided to Ukraine will be six.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=John |date=2024-07-10 |title=Norway to send six F-16s to Ukraine before end of 2024 |url=https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/norway-to-send-f-16s-to-ukraine-before-end-of-2024/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Airforce Technology |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Belgian Air Component|Belgium]] announced that they will send a total of 30 F-16s to Ukraine by 2028, with Ukrainian president [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] stating that the first aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Finnerty |first1=Ryan |title=Belgium pledges 30 F-16 fighters to Ukraine |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/belgium-pledges-30-f-16-fighters-to-ukraine/158480.article |access-date=29 May 2024 |work=Flight Global |date=28 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref> In a compliance report in accordance with the [[Arms Trade Treaty]], Norway stated it had delivered 14 F-16s to Ukraine in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Норвегія запланувала до передачі Україні удвічі більше F-16, ніж анонсувала |url=https://militarnyi.com/uk/news/norvegiya-zaplanuvala-do-peredachi-ukrayini-udvichi-bilshe-f-16-nizh-anonsuvala/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Мілітарний |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | via=The Arms Trade Treaty |date=2025-06-06 |title=Government of Norway Annual Report on Exports and Imports of Conventional Arms, in Accordance with Article 13(3) of the Arms Trade Treaty |url=https://thearmstradetreaty.org/download/f6963d96-93ee-3028-837b-c0b6b4596796 |access-date=10 June 2025 |archive-date=11 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250611000958/https://thearmstradetreaty.org/download/f6963d96-93ee-3028-837b-c0b6b4596796 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

All F-16 aircraft supplied by Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium will be the F-16AM (single-seat) / F-16BM (twin-seat) Block 15 [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16 Mid-Life Update|Mid-Life Update]] (MLU) variants. These variants are analogous to the F-16C/D Block 30/50/52.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Ukraine conflict: Belgium joins Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands in promising F-16s to Kyiv |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ukraine-conflict-belgium-joins-denmark-norway-the-netherlands-in-promising-f-16s-to-kyiv |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Janes.com |date=12 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine conflict – Analysis: Dutch and Danish F-16 options for Ukraine |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ukraine-conflict-analysis-dutch-and-danish-f-16-options-for-ukraine |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Janes.com |date=26 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

As of August 2024, Ukraine has received ten F-16s, and six Ukrainian pilots have completed their training.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2024-07-31 |title=Ukraine war latest: First F-16 fighter jets arrive in Ukraine, Bloomberg reports |url=https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-first-f-16-fighter-jets-arrive-in-ukraine-bloomberg-reports/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=The Kyiv Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kilner |first=James |date=2024-07-28 |title=Only six Ukrainian pilots trained to fly new F-16 fighter jets |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/07/28/only-six-ukrainian-pilots-trained-to-fly-new-f-16-jet/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> By the end of 2024, Ukraine is expected to have twenty F-16s. The remaining jets will be delivered in batches throughout 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 August 2024 |title=How much of a difference will Ukraine's new F-16s make? |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/08/04/how-much-of-a-difference-will-ukraines-new-f-16s-make |access-date=2024-08-21 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>

====Mirage 2000-5 procurement====
On 6 June 2024, according to ''[[Le Figaro]]'', French president [[Emmanuel Macron]] announced the future transfer of an unspecified number of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |title=Emmanuel Macron annonce la cession d'avions Mirage 2000-5 à l'Ukraine |url=https://video.lefigaro.fr/figaro/video/emmanuel-macron-annonce-la-cession-davions-mirage-2000-5-a-lukraine/ |access-date=6 June 2024 |work=Figaro Live |date=6 June 2024 |language=fr}}</ref>

According to French Defense Minister [[Sébastien Lecornu]], the first Mirages will be delivered in the first quarter of 2025, and they will be modernized before delivery, with new air and ground combat systems as well defenses against electronic warfare.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sydorzhevskyi |first1=Maksym |title=Will French Mirage bombers boost Ukraine's air defenses? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/will-french-mirage-bombers-boost-ukraines-air-defenses/a-70474113 |access-date=24 November 2024 |work=[[Deutsche Welle]] (DW) |date=10 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref> In October 2024, it was reported that the first batch of three Mirages will be equipped with [[MICA (missile)|MICA missile]], SCALP-EG cruise missiles, and AASM Hammer guided bombs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Altman |first1=Howard |title=French Mirage 2000s Destined For Ukraine Will Fly With Storm Shadow, MICA Missiles |url=https://www.twz.com/news-features/french-mirage-2000s-destined-for-ukraine-will-fly-with-storm-shadow-mica-missiles |access-date=24 November 2024 |work=The War Zone |date=23 October 2024}}</ref> In November 2024, French legislator [[Frank Giletti]] stated in his budget review that six Mirage 2000-5Fs will be delivered to the UAF with a "complete support model" for maintenance and combat readiness.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zoria |first1=Yuri |title=Ukraine to receive six Mirage 2000-5F fighters from France by mid-2025 |url=https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/11/12/ukraine-to-receive-six-mirage-2000-5f-fighters-from-france-by-mid-2025/ |access-date=24 November 2024 |work=Euromaidan Press |date=12 November 2024}}</ref>

In December 2024, Ukrainian pilots and ground crews completed their training in France. Reportedly Ukraine asked for a total of 12 Mirage 2000-5Fs to fulfill the immediate needs of the Air Force.<ref name="Mirage1">{{cite news |title=Ukrainian Pilots Complete Training on Mirage 2000-5Fs in France |url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukrainian-pilots-complete-training-on-mirage-2000-5fs-in-france/ |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=Militarnyi}}</ref> On 6 February, Ukraine received an undisclosed number of Mirages, and ex-Dutch F-16s as well.<ref name="MirageReuters">{{cite news |last1=Irish |first1=John |last2=Dysa |first2=Yuliia |last3=Meijer |first3=Bart |editor1-last=Lawson |editor1-first=Hugh |editor2-last=Heinrich |editor2-first=Mark |title=Ukraine receives F-16s from Netherlands, first Mirage jets from France |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-receives-f-16s-netherlands-first-mirage-jets-france-2025-02-06/ |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Reuters |date=6 February 2025}}</ref><ref name="Newdick2025">{{cite news |last1=Newdick |first1=Thomas |title=First Mirage 2000 Fighter Has Arrived In Ukraine |url=https://www.twz.com/air/first-mirage-2000-fighter-has-arrived-in-ukraine |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=The War Zone |date=6 February 2025}}</ref>

====Gripen procurement====
While Ukraine attempted to obtain [[Saab JAS 39 Gripen]]s as early as 2014,{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=27}} as of November 2024 there was no indication on the transfer of the aircraft (at least on the short term), with Ukraine's NATO allies prioritizing ongoing deliveries and support of F-16s to the PSZSU; though Sweden has earmarked spare parts (enough for 14 aircraft) for a future delivery according to Swedish Minister of Defence [[Pål Jonson]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jennings |first1=Gareth |title=Ukraine conflict: Swedish spares package covers 14 Gripens, defence minister says |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/ukraine-conflict-swedish-spares-package-covers-14-gripens-defence-minister-says |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=[[Janes Information Services|Janes]] |date=22 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref> On 6 February 2025, Commander-in-Chief of the ZSU Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that negotiations on the transfer of Gripens C/D to Ukraine are still ongoing.<ref name="Newdick2025" /> On 22 October 2025, Sweden and Ukraine signed a letter of intent for the supply of 100 to 150 Gripen to Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahlander |first=Johan |date=23 October 2025 |title=What are the Gripen fighter jets Ukraine wants to buy from Sweden? |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/what-are-gripen-fighter-jets-ukraine-wants-buy-sweden-2025-10-22/ |url-status=live |access-date=18 November 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref>

====Rafale procurement====
On November 17, 2025, Ukraine signed a deal to procure up to 100 [[Dassault Rafale|Rafale jets]] over a 10 year period.<ref name="reuters-rafale"/>

===Retired===
Previous aircraft operated include: [[An-12]], [[Il-76]], [[Il-78]], [[L-29]], [[Mil Mi-2|Mi-2]], [[Mil Mi-6|Mi-6]], [[MiG-21]], [[MiG-23]], [[MiG-25]], [[MiG-27]], [[Su-15]], [[Su-17]], [[Tu-16]], [[Tu-22]], [[Tu-22M]], [[Tu-95MS]], [[Tupolev Tu-134]], [[Tu-141]], [[Tu-143]], [[Tu-160]], and [[Yak-28]]{{sfn|Zaloga|2014|page=200}}{{sfn|IISS|1993|page=91}}{{sfn|Wragg|2011|page=302}}{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|pages=26,36}}

=== Armament ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Origin
! Type
! Variant
! Notes
|-
! colspan="5"| [[Air-launched cruise missile]]s
|-
| [[Storm Shadow]] / [[Storm Shadow|SCALP-EG]]
| France<br />United Kingdom
| Long-range cruise missile
|
| {{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
! colspan="5"| [[Air-to-air missile]]s
|-
| [[R-73 (missile)|R-73]]
| Soviet Union
| Short-range
|
| {{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
| [[R-60 (missile)|R-60]]
| Soviet Union
| Short-range
|R-60M
| {{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
| [[R-27 (air-to-air missile)|R-27]]
| Soviet Union/Ukraine
| Medium-range
| ER/ET{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=29}}
| {{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
| [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]]
| United States
| Short-range
| L/M/X<ref name="F16" />
| {{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
|[[AIM-120 AMRAAM]]
|United States
|Medium-range
| B/C<ref name="SIPRI" />
| {{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
| [[AIM-7 Sparrow]]
| United States
| Medium-range
|
| Used in the [[surface-to-air]] role.<ref name="SIPRI" />
|-
| [[RIM-7 Sea Sparrow]]
| United States
| Short-range
|
| Used in the surface-to-air role.<ref name="SIPRI" />
|-
| [[ASRAAM]]
| United Kingdom
| Short-range
| AIM-132
| Used in the surface-to-air role.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newdick |first1=Thomas |last2=Rogoway |first2=Tyler |title=Air-To-Air Missiles From UK Now Being Used By Ukraine As SAMs |url=https://www.twz.com/asraam-air-to-air-missiles-from-uk-being-used-by-ukraine-as-sams |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=The War Zone |date=4 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="5"| [[Air-to-surface missile]]
|-
| [[Kh-25]]
| Soviet Union
|
| MP{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=How is Ukraine's fearsome Su-25 Frogfoot fleet helping to turn the tide of the war? |url=https://www.key.aero/article/how-ukraines-fearsome-su-25-frogfoot-fleet-helping-turn-tide-war |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=www.key.aero |date=10 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Kh-29]]
| Soviet Union
| 
|
| {{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
| [[Kh-58]]
| Soviet Union
| [[Anti-radiation missile]]
|
| {{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
| [[AGM-88 HARM]]
| United States
| Anti-radiation missile
|
| {{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
! colspan="5" |[[Military dummy|Decoy missiles]]
|-
| [[ADM-160 MALD]]
| [[United States]]
| 
| B
| {{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
! colspan="5"| [[Guided bomb]]s
|-
| [[KAB-1500L]]
| Soviet Union
| Laser guided
| 
| <ref name="Su24">{{cite news |last1=Newdick |first1=Thomas |title=Ukrainian Su-24 Back In The Fight And Armed With A Laser-Guided Missile |url=https://www.twz.com/ukrainian-su-24-back-in-the-fight-and-armed-with-a-laser-guided-missile |access-date=22 May 2024 |work=The War Zone |date=10 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[KAB-500KR]]
| Soviet Union
| TV guided
|
| <ref name="Su24" />
|-
| [[Mini Akıllı Mühimmat|MAM-L]]
| Turkey
|
|
| For Baykar Bayraktar TB2.<ref name="HeavyWeapon"/>
|-
| [[Mini Akıllı Mühimmat|MAM-C]]
| Turkey
|
|
| For Baykar Bayraktar TB2.<ref name="HeavyWeapon"/>
|-
| [[Joint Direct Attack Munition]]
| United States
| 
| ER
| {{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
| [[GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb]]
| United States
| 
| B
| <ref name="F16" />
|-
| [[Armement Air-Sol Modulaire]]
| France
| 
|
| {{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
| [[Paveway]]
| United Kingdom
| 
| [[Paveway IV]]
| To be supplied by the UK.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spirlet |first1=Thibault |title=Ukraine is getting a new type of laser-guided bomb that can pummel 'soft' Russian targets, analyst says |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraines-new-paveway-bombs-can-hurt-soft-russian-targets-analyst-2024-4 |access-date=22 May 2024 |work=Business Insider |date=25 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Newdick |first1=Thomas |title=Dual-Mode Paveway IV Guided Bombs Headed To Ukraine |url=https://www.twz.com/news-features/dual-mode-paveway-iv-guided-bombs-headed-to-ukraine |access-date=22 May 2024 |work=The War Zone |date=24 April 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| Unnamed guided aerial bomb
| Ukraine
|
|
| Similar in concept to the French AASM.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Axe |first1=David |title=Ukraine Has Invented Its Own Precision Glide Bomb.|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/09/07/ukraine-has-invented-its-own-precision-glide-bomb-it-could-become-a-key-weapon-for-strikes-on-targets-in-russia/ |work=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="5"| [[Unguided bomb]]s
|-
| [[OFAB-100-120]]
| Soviet Union
|
|
|<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=ANALYSIS: What is the current status of the Ukrainian Air Force? |url=https://www.key.aero/article/analysis-what-current-status-ukrainian-air-force |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=www.key.aero |date=18 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| OFAB 250–270 
| Soviet Union
|
|
| High explosive fragmentation.<ref name=":4" />
|-
| [[FAB-250]]
| Soviet Union
|
|
| {{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=29}}
|-
|[[FAB-500]]
| Soviet Union
|
| OFAB-500ShN<br />OFAB-500ShR
| Parachute retarded fragmentation bomb.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|Sipos|2024|page=27}}
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Rocket (weapon)|Unguided rockets]]
|-
| [[S-8 (rocket)|S-8]]
| Soviet Union
|
|S-8KOM
|<ref name=":3" />
|-
| [[S-13 rocket|S-13]]
| Soviet Union
|
|
|<ref name=":4" />
|-
| [[S-24 rocket|S-24]]
| Soviet Union
|
| S-24B
|<ref name=":4" />
|-
| [[S-25 (rocket)|S-25]]
| Soviet Union
|
| S-25OF
|<ref name=":4" />
|-
| [[Hydra 70]]
| United States
| 
|
| Used on Su-25 bombers and Mi-8 helicopters.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kozatskyi |first1=Sanya |title=Surrogate-MLRS in war with Russia: how efficient are they? |url=https://mil.in.ua/en/articles/surrogate-mlrs-in-war-with-russia-how-efficient-are-they/ |website=Militarnyi |access-date=22 May 2024 |date=26 October 2023}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="6"| Illumination bombs
|-
| SAB-250-200
| Soviet Union
|
|
| <ref name=":3" />
|}

=== Air defense ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Origin
! Type
! In service
!Pledged
! Notes
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Surface-to-air missile]]
|-
| [[S-300PS]]<br />[[S-300 missile system#S-300P/S-300PT|S-300PT]]<hr/>[[S-300V]]<hr />[[S-300PMU]]
| [[Soviet Union]]
| Mobile long-range SAM
| 170{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}<hr />?<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trevithick |first1=Joseph |title=Rare Look At S-300V1 Surface-To-Air Missile Systems In Action In Ukraine |url=https://www.twz.com/land/rare-look-at-s-300v1-surface-to-air-missile-systems-in-action-in-ukraine |access-date=12 February 2025 |work=The War Zone |date=10 February 2025}}</ref><hr />8{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|
| One S-300PMU battery was donated by [[Slovakia]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Muller |first1=Robert |title=Slovakia sends its air defence system to Ukraine |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakia-gives-s-300-air-defence-system-ukraine-prime-minister-2022-04-08/ |work=Reuters |access-date=23 May 2024 |date=8 April 2022}}</ref>
|-
| [[S-200 missile system|S-200]]
| Soviet Union
| Static long-range SAM
| ?
| 
| Reactivated in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Axe |first1=David |title=Big Fat Missiles To Take Down Big Fat Russian Planes. How Ukraine Brought Back Its Massive S-200s. |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/02/24/big-fat-missiles-to-take-down-big-fat-russian-planes-how-ukraine-brought-back-its-massive-s-200s/?sh=38d4c7a44743 |website=Forbes |access-date=23 May 2024 |language=en |date=24 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Denisova |first1=Kateryna |title=Ukraine's obsolete S-200 missile systems reportedly back on track to hit Russian targets |url=https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-obsolete-s-200-missile-systems-reportedly-back-on-track-to-hit-russian-targets/ |access-date=23 May 2024 |work=The Kyiv Independent |date=20 April 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Buk missile system|9K37 Buk M1]]
| Soviet Union
| Mobile medium-range SAM
| 50{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|
| Modified to fire AIM-7 Sparrow/[[RIM-7 Sea Sparrow]] missiles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trevithick |first1=Joseph |title='FrankenSAM' Systems Are Now Shooting Down Drones In Ukraine |url=https://www.twz.com/frankensam-systems-are-now-shooting-down-drones-in-ukraine |access-date=23 May 2024 |work=The War Zone |date=17 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[S-125 Neva/Pechora]]
| Soviet Union
| Mobile short-range SAM
| 
|
| Modernized to the S-125-2D standard.<ref>{{cite news |title=Armed Forces of Ukraine showcased the operation of Ukrainian S-125 air defense systems |url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/armed-forces-of-ukraine-showcased-the-operation-of-ukrainian-s-125-air-defense-systems/ |access-date=23 May 2024 |work=Militarnyi |date=3 July 2023}}</ref> The Polish S-125 Newa-SC is also used.<ref>{{cite news |title=Poland is studying the possibility of transferring anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine |url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/poland-is-studying-the-possibility-of-transferring-anti-aircraft-missiles-to-ukraine/ |access-date=23 May 2024 |work=Militarnyi |date=12 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[IRIS-T#IRIS-T SL surface-to-air missiles|IRIS-T SLM]] 
|[[Germany]]
|Mobile medium-range SAM
|
|6<ref name="Germany"/>
|
|-
||[[IRIS-T#IRIS-T SL surface-to-air missiles|IRIS-T SLS]] 
|Germany
|Mobile short-range SAM
|
|7<ref name="Germany">{{cite press release |title=Military support for Ukraine |url=https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/military-support-ukraine-2054992 |access-date=14 January 2025 |work=Website of the Federal Government (Bundesregierung) |date=12 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
|
|-
| [[NASAMS]]
| [[Norway]]/[[United States]]
| Mobile short- to medium-range SAM
| 14{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|
|
|-
| [[MIM-104 Patriot]]
| United States
| Mobile long-range [[anti-ballistic missile]] system
| 8<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Barker |first1=Kim |last2=Cooper |first2=Helene |last3=Jakes |first3=Lara |last4=Schmitt |first4=Eric |date=2025-05-04 |title=More American Air Defense Is on the Way to Help Ukraine |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-patriot-systems.html |access-date=2025-05-08 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
| 
| PAC-3 variant used.{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
| [[Aster (missile family)#Land systems|SAMP/T]]
| [[Italy]]/[[France]]
| Mobile long-range ABM
| 1
| 1
|
|-
| [[Aspide]]
| Italy
| Mobile medium-range SAM
| 4+{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|
|
|-
| [[MIM-23 Hawk]]
| United States
| Mobile medium-range SAM
| 4+{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|
| To be upgraded.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stone |first1=Mike |title=US to sell to Ukraine $138 million in HAWK air defense upgrades |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us-sell-missile-defense-upgrades-ukraine-2024-04-09/ |access-date=23 May 2024 |work=Reuters |date=11 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="6" | [[Anti-aircraft guns]]
|-
| [[Skynex]]
| Germany
| [[Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun]]
| 8{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
| 2<ref name="Germany" /> 
| 
|-
| [[ZU-23-2]]
| Soviet Union
| Towed AA gun
|
|
|{{sfn|IISS|2025|page=202}}
|-
|}

{|style="margin: 0 auto;"
|[[File:S-300PS TEL, Kyiv 2021, 10.jpg|thumb|S-300PS [[Transporter erector launcher|TEL]] in Kyiv, 2021]]
|[[File:Ukrainian IRIS-T SLM.jpg|thumb|IRIS-T SLM SAM Air defense system]]
|[[File:Українські військовослужбовці непорушно стоять на захисті повітряних кордонів держави (31862270651).jpg|thumb|9K37 Buk M1 SAM Air Defense system]]
|}

===Radars===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Model
! Country of origin
! Type
! Number
! Details
|-
| [[P-14 radar|P-14]]
| Soviet Union
| Early-warning radar
| N/A
|<ref name="oryx-ukr-losses">{{cite web |last1=Janovsky |first1=Jakub |last2=((naalsio26)) |last3=Aloha |last4=Dan |last5=Mitzer |first5=Stijn |last6=Oliemans |first6=Joost |last7=Kemal |title=Attack On Europe: Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-ukrainian.html |website=Oryx |access-date=21 October 2023}}</ref>
|-
|[[P-18 radar|P-18]]
|Soviet Union
|Early-warning radar
|N/A
|Being modernized to the P-18C standard.<ref>{{cite news |title=What Characteristics Has Modernized P-18C Radar and How It Can Strengthen Ukraine's Air Defense |url=https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/what_characteristics_has_modernized_p_18c_radar_and_how_it_can_strengthen_ukraines_air_defense-8300.html |access-date=20 October 2023 |work=Defense Express |language=en}}</ref> The Lithuanian P-18ML and Ukrainian P-18 "Malakhit" modernisation have both been seen in use.<ref name="oryx-ukr-losses" />
|-
| [[P-19 radar|P-19]]
| Soviet Union
| Mobile surveillance radar
| N/A
|<ref name="oryx-ukr-losses" />
|-
| [[P-35 radar|P-35]]
| Soviet Union
| Early-warning radar
| N/A
|<ref name="oryx-ukr-losses" />
|-
| 1L22 "Parol"
| Soviet Union
| Mobile radar
| N/A
|<ref name="oryx-ukr-losses" />
|-
| {{interlanguage link|PRV-11|ru|ПРВ-11}}
| Soviet Union
| Towed radar
| N/A
|<ref name="oryx-ukr-losses" />
|-
| {{interlanguage link|PRV-13|ru|ПРВ-13}}
| Soviet Union
| Towed radar
| N/A
|<ref name="oryx-ukr-losses" />
|-
| {{interlanguage link|PRV-16|ru|ПРВ-16}}
| Soviet Union
| Mobile radar
| N/A
| In service during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Lithuanian modernsation PRV-16ML has been seen in use.<ref name="oryx-ukr-losses" />
|-
| R-410
| Soviet Union
| Tropospheric scatter
| N/A
|<ref name="oryx-ukr-losses" />
|-
| 36D6 'Tin Shield
| Soviet Union
| Air surveillance radar
| 1+
| Part of the S-300 radar complex. 1 donated by Slovakia.<ref name="OryxSlovakia">{{Cite web |last=Oryx |title=Slovak Showdown: Slovak Arms Deliveries To Ukraine |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/05/slovak-showdown-slovak-arms-deliveries.html |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=Oryx}}</ref>
|-
|5N66M 'Clam Shell'
| Soviet Union
| Target acquisition radar
| 1+
| Part of the S-300 radar complex. 1 donated by Slovakia.<ref name="OryxSlovakia" />
|-
|5N63S 'Flap Lid B'
| Soviet Union
|Engagement/fire-control radar
| 1+
|Fire control radar for S-300. 1 donated by Slovakia.<ref name="OryxSlovakia" />
|-
|SURN 1S91
|Soviet Union
| Target acquisition and distribution radar
| 3+
| Part of the 2K12 Kub radar complex. 1 donated by Slovakia.<ref name="OryxSlovakia" /> 2 donated by Czech Republic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oryx |title=Bohemian Brotherhood: List Of Czech Military Supplies To Ukraine |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/07/bohemian-brotherhood-list-of-czech.html |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=Oryx}}</ref>
|-
| [[AN/MPQ-61]]
| United States
| Pulse acquisition radar
| 1
| Provided with the MIM-23 Hawk battery donated by Spain in December 2022.<ref name="Hawk1">{{Cite web |title=Improved Hawk Phase III SAM from Spain for Ukraine: Capabilities and Characteristics {{!}} Defense Express |url=https://en.defence-ua.com/news/improved_hawk_phase_iii_sam_from_spain_for_ukraine_capabilities_and_characteristics-4530.html |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=en.defence-ua.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Hawk2">{{Cite web |last=Oryx |title=Guns N' Gazpacho: Spanish Military Aid To Ukraine |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/05/guns-n-gazpacho-spanish-military-aid-to.html |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Oryx}}</ref>
|-
|[[AN/MPQ-62]]
| United States
| CW acquisition radar
| 1
| Provided with the MIM-23 Hawk battery donated by Spain in December 2022.<ref name="Hawk1"/><ref name="Hawk2"/>
|-
| [[AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel]]
| United States
| Towed air surveillance radar
| 8<ref name="SIPRI" />
| 
|-
| [[TRML]]
| Germany
| Early-warning radar
| 9<ref name="Germany"/>
| 
|-
| [[Ground Master 200]]
| France
| Mobile air surveillance radar
| 1<ref name="SIPRI" />
| Contract signed between Ukraine and Thales for 2 systems.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Під SAMP/T Україна отримає дві РЛС GM200 |url=https://mil.in.ua/uk/news/pid-samp-t-ukrayina-otrymaye-dvi-rls-gm200/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=Мілітарний |language=uk}}</ref>
|-
|[[Thomson-CSF|Thomson-CSF RAC 3D]]
| France
| Air surveillance radar
|1
|Provided by Spain with the Aspide 2000 battery.<ref name="Hawk2"/>
|-
| [[Giraffe radar|PS-90]]
| Sweden
| Early warning Radar
| 1<ref name="SIPRI" />
|
|-
|[[VERA passive sensor|VERA passive radar]]
|Czech Republic
|Long range passive radar
|4
|Pledged by the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn |last2=Oliemans |first2=Joost |title=Going Dutch Revisited: Dutch Military Aid To Ukraine |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/09/going-dutch-revisited-dutch-military.html |website=Oryx |access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>
|}

==Branches of the Air Force==
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = horizontal
| width             = 100
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = Емб заг пов сил 1 (2016).png
| caption1          = <small>Aviation</small>
| image2            = БЗ ППОСВ ЗРВПС.svg
| caption2          = <small>Anti-aircraft missile troops</small>
| image3            = БЕ РТВ (2016).png
| caption3          = <small>Radio engineering troops</small>
| header            = Troop badges of the Air Force
| footer            = 
| footer_background = 
| alt1              = 2016 to present badge of Ukrainian aviation
| alt2              = 2016 to present badge of Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile troops
| alt3              = 2016 to present badge of Ukrainian radio engineering troops
| total_width       = 
}}

=== Anti-Aircraft Missile Defense Forces ===
The Anti-Aircraft Missile Defense Forces Corps were created after the 2004 merger of the Air Force and the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces. It allowed the [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]] to adopt the tri-service structure,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-09-19 |title=На захисті повітряних просторів незалежної України |url=http://www.mil.gov.ua/ministry/ozbroennya-ta-texnika/povitryani-sili.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818143645/http://www.mil.gov.ua/ministry/ozbroennya-ta-texnika/povitryani-sili.html |archive-date=2016-08-18 |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Міністерство оборони України |language=uk}}</ref> common to most modern armed forces in the world as of present. Personnel of this force fall under the direct control of the Ukrainian Air Force General Command.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Приходько |first1=К.Ю. |last2=Приходько |first2=О.В. |date=2010-02-10 |title=Система протиповітряної оборони України |url=https://mil.in.ua/uk/articles/systema-protypovitryanoyi-oborony-ukrayiny/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Мілітарний |language=uk}}</ref>

They are dedicated to anti-air defense operations in defense of air force bases and facilities and other structures of state as well as economic complexes and others as mandated by law, as well as provide support to elements of the Ground Forces, Marine Corps and Navy in combat operations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-05 |title=Працює ППО. Підрозділ зенітних ракетних військ повітряного командування "Схід" показав ураження ворожих цілей |url=https://mil.in.ua/uk/news/pratsyuye-ppo-pidrozdil-zenitnyh-raketnyh-vijsk-povitryanogo-komanduvannya-shid-pokazav-urazhennya-vorozhyh-tsilej/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Мілітарний |language=uk}}</ref>

== Structure ==
As of August 2023 the structure is as follows:{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="5" |Ukrainian Air Force
|-
! colspan="5" |Commands
|-
! Name
! Components
! Commander
! Location
|-
| [[File:Command-pps.png|25px]] [[Air Force General Command (Ukraine)|Air Force General Command]]
| Training Command, Air Logistics Command, Air Operations Command
| Lt. Gen. [[Mykola Oleshchuk]]
| [[Vinnytsia]]
|-
| [[File:Pvk zahid 2021 (1).png|25px]] [[Air Command West]]
|
| Maj. Gen. [[Borys Henov]]
| [[Lviv]]
|-
| [[File:Pvk centr 2021 (1).png|25px]] [[Air Command Center]]
| 
| Lt. Gen. [[Anatolii Kryvonozhko]]
| [[Vasylkiv]]
|-
| [[File:PvK Pivden 2021.png|25px]] [[Air Command South]]
|
| Maj. Gen. [[Dmytro Karpenko]]
| [[Odesa]]
|-
| [[File:PvK Shid 2021.png|25px]] [[Air Command East]]
|
| Maj. Gen. [[Ivan Terebukha]]
| [[Dnipro]]
|-
! colspan="5" |[[File:Емб заг пов сил 1 (2016).png|25px]] [[Aviation]] Corps
|-
! Name
! Equipment
! Higher Command
! Air Base
|-
| [[File:7 Tactical Aviation Brigade.webp|25px]] [[7th Tactical Aviation Brigade (Ukraine)|7th Tactical Aviation Brigade]]
| [[Sukhoi Su-24|Su-24M/MR]]
| Air Force General Command
| [[Starokostiantyniv Air Base]]
|-
| [[File:15th Transport Aviation Brigade.png|25px]] [[15th Transport Aviation Brigade (Ukraine)|15th Transport Aviation Brigade]]
| [[Antonov An-24|An-24]], [[Antonov An-26|An-26]], [[Antonov An-30|An-30B]], [[Tupolev Tu-134|Tu-134A-3]], [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8]]
| Air Force General Command
| [[Boryspil International Airport]]
|-
| [[File:25th Transport Aviation Brigade.png|25px]] [[25th Transport Aviation Brigade (Ukraine)|25th Transport Aviation Brigade]]
| [[Ilyushin Il-76|Il-76M/MD]], [[Ilyushin Il-78|Il-78]], [[Antonov An-26|An-26]]
| Air Force General Command
| N/A (before the war [[Melitopol Air Base]])
|-
| [[File:39th Tactical Aviation Brigade.png|25px]] [[39th Tactical Aviation Brigade (Ukraine)|39th Tactical Aviation Brigade]]
| [[Sukhoi Su-27|Su-27]]
| Air Command "Central"
| [[Ozerne Air Base]]
|-
| [[File:Ghost of Kyiv Brigade.webp|25px]] [[40th Tactical Aviation Brigade (Ukraine)|40th Tactical Aviation Brigade]]
| [[Mikoyan MiG-29|MiG-29]]
| Air Command "Central"
| [[Vasylkiv Air Base]]
|-
| [[File:114th Tactical Aviation Brigade.png|25px]] [[114th Tactical Aviation Brigade (Ukraine)|114th Tactical Aviation Brigade]]
| [[Mikoyan MiG-29|MiG-29]]
| Air Command "West"
| [[Ivano-Frankivsk International Airport|Ivano-Frankivsk Air Base]]
|-
| [[File:203-тя навчальна авіаційна бригада.jpg|25px]] [[203rd Training Aviation Brigade (Ukraine)|203rd Training Aviation Brigade]]
| [[Aero L-39 Albatros|L-39]], [[Antonov An-26|An-26]], [[Mil Mi-2|Mi-2]]
| [[Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University|National Air Force University]]
| N/A (before the war [[Chuhuiv Air Base]])
|-
| [[File:204th Tactical Aviation Brigade SSI (with tab).png|25px]]  [[204th Tactical Aviation Brigade (Ukraine)|204th Tactical Aviation Brigade]]
| [[Mikoyan MiG-29|Mig-29]]
| Air Command "West"
| [[Lutsk Air Base]]
|-
| [[File:299 tactical aviation brigade insignia.webp|25px]] [[299th Tactical Aviation Brigade (Ukraine)|299th Tactical Aviation Brigade]]
| [[Sukhoi Su-25|Su-25]]
| Air Force General Command
| [[Kulbakino Air Base]]
|-
| [[File:383 ОБрБАК (повний).jpg|25px]] [[383rd Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Brigade (Ukraine)|383rd Unmanned Aircraft Brigade]]
| [[Baykar Bayraktar TB2|Bayraktar TB2]]
| Air Force General Command
| [[Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine|Khmelnytskyi Air Base]]
|-
| [[File:Нарукавний знак 456 Бригади транспортної авіації.png|25px]] [[456th Transport Aviation Brigade]]
| [[Antonov An-12|An-12]], [[Antonov An-24|An-24]], [[Antonov An-26|An-26]], [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8]]
| Air Force General Command
| [[Havryshivka Vinnytsia International Airport|Havryshivka Air Base]]
|-
| [[File:831st Tactical Aviation Brigade.png|25px]] [[831st Tactical Aviation Brigade]]
| [[Sukhoi Su-27|Su-27]]
| Air Command "Central"
| [[Myrhorod Air Base]]
|-
! colspan="5" |[[File:Емб ппо св зрв пс 1 (2016).png|25px]] [[Anti-aircraft warfare|Anti-Aircraft Defense Missile Artillery Corps]]
|-
! Name
! Equipment
! Higher Command
! Location
|-
! colspan="5" |Brigades
|-
| [[File:96th Anti-Aircraft Brigade emblem 2022 01.png|25px]] [[96th Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade (Ukraine)|96th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade]]
| [[S-300 missile system|S-300PS]], [[MIM-104 Patriot|Patriot]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yanchenko |first1=Volodymyr |title=Зеленський присвоїв звання Героя України Сергію Яременку - командиру 96-ї бригади ППО, яка збила 13 "Кинджалів" (in Ukrainian) |url=https://censor.net/ua/news/3427586/zelenskyyi_prysvoyiv_zvannya_geroya_ukrayiny_sergiyu_yaremenku_komandyru_96yi_brygady_ppo_yaka_zbyla |website=Censor.net |access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref>
| Air Command "Central"
| [[Danylivka, Kyiv Oblast|Danylivka]]
|-
| [[File:138th Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade.webp|25px]] [[138th Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade (Ukraine)|138th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade]]
| S-300PS, S-300PT, Patriot<ref>{{cite web |title=Ukraine's Military Showed the Patriot PAC 3, Which Is On Combat Duty And Ready to Shoot Down Targets at the Range of 150 Km |url=https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/ukraines_military_showed_the_patriot_pac_3_which_is_on_combat_duty_and_ready_to_shoot_down_targets_at_the_range_of_150_km-6524.html#:~:text=138th%20Anti%2DAircraft%20Missile%20Brigade |website=Defense Express |publisher=Defense Express Media & Consulting Company |access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref>
| Air Command "East"
| [[Dnipro]]
|-
| [[File:160th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade.webp|25px]] [[160th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade (Ukraine)|160th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade]]
| S-300PS
| Air Command "South"
| [[Odesa]]
|-
| [[File:201st Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade SSI (no tab).svg|25px]] [[201st Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade (Ukraine)|201st Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade]]
| S-300PS, S-300V1
| Air Command "South"
| [[Pervomaisk, Ukraine|Pervomaisk]]
|-
| [[File:Нарукавний знак 208 зрбр.png|25px]] [[208th Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade (Ukraine)|208th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade]]
| S-300PS, S-300PT
| Air Command "South"
| [[Kherson]]
|-
! colspan="5" |Regiments
|-
| [[File:11-й зенітний ракетний полк new.png|25px]] [[11th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment (Ukraine)|11th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment]]
| [[Buk missile system|Buk-M1]]
| Air Command "West"
| [[Shepetivka]]
|-
| [[File:14th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment.png|25px]] [[14th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment (Ukraine)|14th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment]]
| [[MIM-23 Hawk]]
| Air Command "Central"
| [[Poltava Oblast]]
|-
| [[File:156-zrp-znak.png|25px]] [[156th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment (Ukraine)|156th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment]]
| Buk-M1
| Air Command "Central"
| [[Zolotonosha]]
|-
| [[File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_basic_Litvite.svg|25px]] 210th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment
| S-300V1
| Air Command "Central"
| [[Uman]]
|-
| [[File:Емблема полку.png|25px]] [[223rd Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment (Ukraine)|223rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment]]
| Buk-M1
| Air Command "West"
| [[Stryi]]
|-
| [[File:225th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment.png|25px]] [[225th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment (Ukraine)|225th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment]]
| Unspecified 
| Air Command "East"
| [[Poltava]]
|-
| [[File:301 зенітний ракетний полк (з девізом).png|25px]] [[301st Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment (Ukraine)|301st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment]]
| S–300PS
| Air Command "East"
| [[Nikopol, Ukraine|Nikopol]]
|-
| [[File:302nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment.png|25px]] [[302nd Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment (Ukraine)|302nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment]]
| S–300PT
| Air Command "East"
| [[Kharkiv]]
|-
| [[File:540zrpvector.svg|25px]] [[540th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment (Ukraine)|540th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment]]
| S–300PS, S–300PT
| Air Command "West"
| [[Kamianka-Buzka]]
|-
! colspan="5" |[[File:Емб ртв пс 1 (2016).png|25px]] [[Military communications|Radio-Technical Troops]]
|-
! Name
! Equipment
! Higher Command
! Location
|-
| [[File:1st Radio-Technical Bde emblem 01.png|25px]] [[1st Radio Technical Brigade (Ukraine)|1st Radio Technical Brigade]]
|
| Air Command "West"
| Lypniki
|-
| [[File:14th Radiotechnical Brigade SSI (no tab).svg|25px]] [[14th Radio Technical Brigade (Ukraine)|14th Radio Technical Brigade]]
|
| Air Command "South"
| Odesa
|-
| [[File:19th Special Purpose Radio Intercept Brigade.png|25px]] [[19th Radio Intercept Brigade (Ukraine)|19th Special Purpose Radio Intercept Brigade]]
|
| Air Force General Command
| Halytsynov
|-
| [[File:138th Radio Technical Brigade.webp|25px]] [[138th Radio Technical Brigade (Ukraine)|138th Radio Technical Brigade]]
|
| Air Command "Central"
| [[Vasylkiv]]
|-
| [[File:164th Radiotechnical Brigade SSI (no tab).svg|25px]] [[164th Radio Technical Brigade (Ukraine)|164th Radio Technical Brigade]]
|
| Air Command "East"
| Kharkiv
|-
! colspan="5" |[[File:Емб військ зв 1 (2016).png|25px]] [[Military communications|Signal Corps]]
|-
! Name
! Equipment
! Higher Command
! Location
|-
| [[File:31_ОПЗ_та_РТЗ.png|25px]] [[31st Communications Regiment (Ukraine)|31st Communication Regiment]]
|
| Air Command "Central"
| [[Kyiv]]
|-
| [[File:43 окремий полк зв'язку та радіотехнічного забезпечення new.png|25px]] [[43rd Communications Regiment (Ukraine)|43rd Communication Regiment]]
|
| Air Command "South"
| [[Odesa]]
|-
| [[File:57th Communication Regiment.png|25px]] [[57th Communications Regiment (Ukraine)|57th Communication Regiment]]
|
| Air Command "East"
| [[Dnipro]]
|-
| [[File:76 ОПЗ та РТЗ ПС ЗСУ.png|25px]] [[76th Communications Regiment (Ukraine)|76th Communication Regiment]]
|
| Air Command "West"
| Lypniki
|-
| [[File:101st Communication Regiment.png|25px]] [[101st Communications Regiment (Ukraine)|101st Communication Regiment]]
|
| Air Force General Command
| [[Vinnytsia]]
|-
| [[File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_basic_Litvite.svg|25px]] 182nd Communication Regiment
|
| Air Force General Command
| Vinnytsia
|-
! colspan="5" |[[File:Emblema EW.png|25px]] [[Electronic Warfare|Electronic Warfare Corps]]
|-
! Name
! Equipment
! Higher Command
! Location
|-
| [[File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_basic_Litvite.svg|25px]] 17th Electronic Warfare Battalion
|
| Air Command "West"
| [[Kolomyia]]
|-
| [[File:1194th Separate Electronic Warfare Battalion SSI (no tab).svg|25px]] 1194th Electronic Warfare Battalion
|
| Air Command "South"
| [[Pervomaisk, Ukraine|Pervomaisk]]
|-
| [[File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_basic_Litvite.svg|25px]] 2204th Electronic Warfare Battalion
|
| Air Command "Central"
| [[Vasylkiv]]
|-
! colspan="5" |[[Air force ground forces and special forces|Air Force ground forces]]
|-
! Name
! Equipment
! Higher Command
! Location
|-
| [[File:1st Air Force Combined Rifle Brigade.png|25px]] [[1st Air Force Combined Rifles Brigade (Ukraine)|1st Air Force Rifle Brigade]]
|
| Air Force General Command
|
|-
| [[File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_basic_Litvite.svg|25px]] 28th Airfield Engineer Battalion
|
| Air Command "South"
| Mykolaiv
|-
| [[File:Coa_Illustration_Tincture_basic_Litvite.svg|25px]] 352nd Airfield Engineer Battalion
|
| Air Command "West"
| Khmelnytskyi
|}

== Geographic distribution ==
{{Location map+ |Ukraine Air Force commands | float=center | width = 920| caption = {{center|<br>Ukrainian Air Force locations in 2018<br>Brigades: [[File:Blue 0080ff pog.svg|10px]] Fighter, [[File:Red ff0000 pog.svg|10px]] Fighter/Attack, [[File:Yellow pog.svg|10px]] Transport, [[File:Blue 00ffff pog.svg|10px]] Training, [[File:Purple 8000ff pog.svg|10px]] S-300 Air-defense, [[File:Brown 804000 pog.svg|10px]] Radio-technical (Radar)<br>Regiments: [[File:Purple 8000ff pog.svg|8px]] S-300 Air-defense, [[File:Pink pog.svg|8px]] Buk-M1 Air-defense, [[File:Black pog.svg|8px]] Other, [[File:Fighter-jet-black-icon.svg|12px]] Auxiliary Airfield}}
| relief = 1
| places =
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = [[Vinnytsia|Air Force Command]]
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Blue 0080ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 49 | lat_min = 14 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 28 | lon_min = 29 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = [[Lviv|Cdo West]]
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Blue 0080ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 49 | lat_min = 49 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 24 | lon_min = 00 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = [[Odesa|Cdo South]]
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Blue 0080ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 46 | lat_min = 31 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 30 | lon_min = 40 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = [[Vasylkiv|Cdo Central]]
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Blue 0080ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 50 | lat_min = 10 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 30 | lon_min = 14 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = [[Dnipro|Cdo East]]
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Blue 0080ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 48 | lat_min = 27 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 34 | lon_min = 55 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Kyiv|96th AA Bde.]]</small>
   | position = top
   | background = white
   | mark = Purple 8000ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 50 | lat_min = 16 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 30 | lon_min = 13 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Dnipro|138th AA Bde.]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Purple 8000ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 48 | lat_min = 27 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 35 | lon_min = 03 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Odesa|160th AA Bde.]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Purple 8000ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 46 | lat_min = 31 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 30 | lon_min = 48 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Kherson|208th AA Bde.]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Purple 8000ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 46 | lat_min = 38 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 32 | lon_min = 35 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Shepetivka|11th AA]]</small>
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Pink pog.svg
   | marksize = 8
   | lat_deg = 50 | lat_min = 11 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 27 | lon_min = 04 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Zolotonosha|156th AA]]</small>
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Pink pog.svg
   | marksize = 8
   | lat_deg = 49 | lat_min = 40 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 32 | lon_min = 02 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv Oblast|201st AA Bde.]]</small>
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Purple 8000ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 48 | lat_min = 02 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 30 | lon_min = 51 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Uman|210th AA]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Purple 8000ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 8
   | lat_deg = 48 | lat_min = 45 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 30 | lon_min = 13 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Stryi|223rd AA]]</small>
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Pink pog.svg
   | marksize = 8
   | lat_deg = 49 | lat_min = 15 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 23 | lon_min = 51 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Nikopol, Ukraine|301st AA]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Purple 8000ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 8
   | lat_deg = 47 | lat_min = 34 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 34 | lon_min = 24 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Kharkiv|302nd AA]]</small>
   | position = top
   | background = white
   | mark = Purple 8000ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 8
   | lat_deg = 50 | lat_min = 05 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 36 | lon_min = 13 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Kamianka-Buzka|540th AA]]</small>
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Purple 8000ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 8
   | lat_deg = 50 | lat_min = 06 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 24 | lon_min = 21 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Starokostiantyniv Air Base|7th (Su-24)]]</small>
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Red ff0000 pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 49 | lat_min = 45 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 27 | lon_min = 13 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Ozerne Air Base|39th (Su-27)]]</small>
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Blue 0080ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 50 | lat_min = 10 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 28 | lon_min = 44 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Vasylkiv Air Base|40th (MiG-29)]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Blue 0080ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 50 | lat_min = 10 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 30 | lon_min = 22 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Ivano-Frankivsk International Airport|114th (MiG-29)]]</small>
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Blue 0080ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 48 | lat_min = 55 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 24 | lon_min = 42 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Kulbakino Air Base|299th (Su-25)]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Red ff0000 pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 46 | lat_min = 56 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 32 | lon_min = 05 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Mykolaiv|19th SIGINT]]</small>
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Black pog.svg
   | marksize = 8
   | lat_deg = 46 | lat_min = 57 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 32 | lon_min = 00 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Myrhorod Air Base|831st (Su-27)]]</small>
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Blue 0080ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 49 | lat_min = 58 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 33 | lon_min = 36 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine|383rd UAV]]</small>
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Black pog.svg
   | marksize = 8
   | lat_deg = 49 | lat_min = 25 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 27 | lon_min = 00 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Boryspil International Airport|15th Transport]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Yellow pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 50 | lat_min = 20 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 30 | lon_min = 53 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Melitopol Air Base|25th Transport]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Yellow pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 46 | lat_min = 50 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 35 | lon_min = 22 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Havryshivka Vinnytsia International Airport|456th Transport]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Yellow pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 49 | lat_min = 14 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 28 | lon_min = 36 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Chuhuiv Air Base|203rd Training]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Blue 00ffff pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 49 | lat_min = 50 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 36 | lon_min = 38 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Kharkiv|203rd Training]]</small>
   | position = left
   | background = white
   | mark = Blue 00ffff pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 49 | lat_min = 58 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 36 | lon_min = 00 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Kharkiv|164th Radar]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Brown 804000 pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 50 | lat_min = 02 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 36 | lon_min = 15 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Odesa|14th Radar]]</small>
   | position = bottom
   | background = white
   | mark = Brown 804000 pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 46 | lat_min = 26 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 30 | lon_min = 44 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Vasylkiv|138th Radar]]</small>
   | position = bottom
   | background = white
   | mark = Brown 804000 pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 50 | lat_min = 05 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 30 | lon_min = 18 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Lviv|1st Radar]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Brown 804000 pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 49 | lat_min = 42 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 24 | lon_min = 00 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Voznesensk (air base)|Voznesensk]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Fighter-jet-black-icon.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 47 | lat_min = 30 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 31 | lon_min = 15 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Kanatove (air base)|Kanatove]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Fighter-jet-black-icon.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 48 | lat_min = 34 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 32 | lon_min = 23 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Zaporizhzhia International Airport|Zaporizhzhia]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Fighter-jet-black-icon.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 47 | lat_min = 51 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 35 | lon_min = 18 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Chernihiv|Pevtsi]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Fighter-jet-black-icon.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 51 | lat_min = 32 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 31 | lon_min = 18 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Kolomyia|Korolivka]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Fighter-jet-black-icon.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 48 | lat_min = 31 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 25 | lon_min = 07 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Lutsk Air Base|204th (SU-24)]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Blue 0080ff pog.svg
   | marksize = 10
   | lat_deg = 50 | lat_min = 47 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 25 | lon_min = 20 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Kryvyi Rih]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Fighter-jet-black-icon.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 47 | lat_min = 53 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 33 | lon_min = 31 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Nizhyn Air Base|Nizhyn]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Fighter-jet-black-icon.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 51 | lat_min = 05 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 31 | lon_min = 52 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Artsyz|Chervonohlynske]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Fighter-jet-black-icon.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 45 | lat_min = 56 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 29 | lon_min = 22 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Kramatorsk Airport|Kramatorsk]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Fighter-jet-black-icon.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 48 | lat_min = 42 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 37 | lon_min = 37 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Mariupol International Airport|Mariupol]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Fighter-jet-black-icon.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 47 | lat_min = 04 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 37 | lon_min = 27 | lon_dir = E
}}
{{Location map~ |Ukraine Air Force commands
   | label = <small>[[Pryluky Air Base|Pryluky]]</small>
   | position = right
   | background = white
   | mark = Fighter-jet-black-icon.svg
   | marksize = 12
   | lat_deg = 50 | lat_min = 34 | lat_dir = N
   | lon_deg = 32 | lon_min = 19 | lon_dir = E
}}
}}

==Military ranks==
<!-- == ; As a non-member state, NATO rank codes are not used in Ukraine, they are presented here for reference purposes only:
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC;" ! NATO Code !! OF-10 !! OF-9 !! OF-8 !! OF-7 !! OF-6 !! OF-5 !! OF-4 !! OF-3 !! OF-2 !! colspan=2 | OF-1 !! OF(D) !! Student Officer |-
== -->
{{main|Military ranks of Ukraine}}

===Officers===
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OF/Ukraine}}
|}

===Other ranks and NCOs===
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OR/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OR/Ukraine}}
|}

==Training==
[[File:Sukhoi Su-25 of Ukrainian Air Force.jpeg|thumb|Ukrainian Su-25UBs]]

Training activities have taken on a qualitatively new character due to their complexity, including the simultaneous employment of all branches of the Air Force aviation, anti-aircraft artillery and radar troops in close teamwork with units of other armed services of the Armed Forces. Operational and combat training has included the following activities:

# Aviation units have performed more than 6,000 tasks in combat scenarios (including more than 1,500 air battles and interceptions, 629 firing at land-based targets, 530 bombings, 21 launches of [[Air to air missile|air missiles]], 454 tasks in aerial [[surveillance]], 454 airborne landings, 740 [[airlift]]s, 575 flight shifts for a total of 10,553 flying hours);
# Five tactical flying missions in a [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]], 14 in a pair and 5 in a flight organization have been carried out to perform the assigned combat tasks, and 54 pilots have been trained to perform specific tasks in difficult meteorological conditions;
# The number of flight crews being trained to defend the air space of the country and counter-terrorism air operations has almost doubled from 46 in 2005 to 90 in 2006; the units of anti-aircraft artillery and radar troops carried out 50 maneuvers involving redeployment, with each operator tracking 70 and 140 real and simulated targets, respectively.

In early September 2007, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted the most large-scale training of its aircraft to date. As the Defense Minister of Ukraine, [[Anatoliy Hrytsenko]] stated, "The most large-scale, during the whole 16 years of the Ukrainian independence, training of fighting aircraft, which defends our air space, was carried out during September 4–5". According to him, they fulfilled 45 battle launches of [[air-to-air missile]], out of them 22 during the day and 23 at night. 35 pilots confirmed their high skills during the training. [[Hrytsenko]] stressed that 100% of air targets were hit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://unian.net/eng/news/news-211057.html |title=Ukrainian Air Force carried out the most large-scale training of fighting aircraft |website=Unian.net |date=2007-09-06 |access-date=2017-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207183951/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-211057.html |archive-date=2012-02-07 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Company developed the [[KhAZ-30]] ultralight trainer for the Ukrainian Airforce. The aircraft is designed for elementary pilot training as an introductory aircraft before recruits move on the more advanced Aero L-39 Albatros trainer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://airheadsfly.com/2014/09/14/the-secret-weapon-of-ukrainian-military-flight-training/|publisher=AirHeads|title=THE "SECRET WEAPON" OF UKRAINIAN MILITARY FLIGHT TRAINING|work=AIRHEADSFLY.COM &#124; Aviation Feature Stories |date=14 September 2014 |access-date=2014-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014063129/http://airheadsfly.com/2014/09/14/the-secret-weapon-of-ukrainian-military-flight-training/|archive-date=2014-10-14|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Invasion of Ukraine===
Shooting down cruise missiles became important as the war progressed, so pilots received specialist training. The same tactics are used to intercept drones. Pilots use their [[infrared search and track]] to detect cruise missiles and drones by their [[infrared signature|heat signature]]. They were trained to do this using [[Flight simulator|simulators]]. Whereas most cruise missiles fly low and are hard to detect, Russian cruise missiles leave a heat signature from their “conventional two-circuit jet engines”. President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy|Zelenskyy]] singled out the [[204th Tactical Aviation Brigade]] for praise in shooting down drones. As [[surface-to-air missile]]s run out the fighters are called upon to do more work.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eurasiantimes.com/ukrainian-fighter-chases-shoots-down-russian-cruise-missile/ |title= Ukrainian Fighter 'Chases & Shoots Down' Russian Missile In A Spectacular Mid-Air Interception — Watch |website=EurAsian Times|author= Tanmay Kadam |date=2022-11-21 |access-date=2022-11-21}}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
* [[Denys Vasyliuk]] (1993–2024), Ukrainian fighter pilot<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 May 2024|title=Ukrainian combat pilot Denys Vasyliuk killed in action|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/05/18/7456452/|access-date=18 May 2024|website=Pravda|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Juice (pilot)]] ([[Andrii Pilshchykov]])

==See also==
* [[Air National Guard (Ukraine)]] - Aerial Comment of the [[National Guard of Ukraine]]
* [[Ukrainian Falcons]] - aerobatic demonstration team

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Tom |last2=Crowther |first2=Edward |last3=Fontanellaz |first3=Adrien |last4=Sipos |first4=Milos |title=War in Ukraine: Volume 2: Russian Invasion, February 2022 |date=2023 |publisher=Helion Limited |isbn=978-1-80451-216-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E7ZNzwEACAAJ |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Tom |last2=Fontanellaz |first2=Adrien |last3=Sipos |first3=Milos |title=War in Ukraine: Volume 6: The Air War February-March 2022 |date=2024 |publisher=Helion and Company |isbn=978-1-80451-698-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KCIzEQAAQBAJ |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Galeotti |first1=Mark |author1-link=Mark Galeotti |title=Armies of Russia's War in Ukraine |date=2019 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-3345-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XW90DwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
*{{Cite report |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=83735 |title=World Air Forces 2022 |last=Hoyle |first=Craig |date=December 2021 |location=London: Flight Global Insight |access-date=22 March 2022}}
*{{cite report |last1=Hoyle |first1=Craig |title=2025 World Air Forces directory |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=106507 |publisher=Flight Global |access-date=8 December 2024 |language=en |date=2024}}
*{{cite journal |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=Non-NATO Europe |journal=The Military Balance |date=1 January 1993 |volume=93 |issue=1 |pages=66–92 |doi=10.1080/04597229308460053 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/04597229308460053 |access-date=19 January 2025 |issn=0459-7222 |ref={{SfnRef|IISS|1993}} |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |url-access=subscription }}
*{{cite journal |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=Chapter Four: Russia and Eurasia |journal=The Military Balance |date=12 February 2025 |volume=125 |issue=1 |pages=152–205 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/04597222.2025.2445476 |doi=10.1080/04597222.2025.2445476 |access-date=12 February 2025 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |ref={{SfnRef|IISS|2025}} |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |url-access=subscription }}
*{{cite journal |last1=Sanders |first1=Deborah |title=Ukraine's third wave of military reform 2016–2022 – building a military able to defend Ukraine against the Russian invasion |journal=Defense & Security Analysis |date=3 July 2023 |volume=39 |issue=3 |pages=312–328 |doi=10.1080/14751798.2023.2201017 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |issn=1475-1798|doi-access=free }}
*{{cite book |last1=Sinovets |first1=Polina |title=Ukraine's Nuclear History: A Non-Proliferation Perspective |date=2022 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-030-90661-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Et5eEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Wragg |first1=David |title=The World Air Power Guide |date=2011 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=978-1-84468-784-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s2PNDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Zaloga |first1=Steven J. |title=The Kremlin's Nuclear Sword: The Rise and Fall of Russia's Strategic Nuclear Forces 1945-2000 |date=2014 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |isbn=978-1-58834-485-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yKpqBgAAQBAJ |language=en}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web |last1=Hiscock |first1=Duncan |last2=Myroshnichenko |first2=Oleh |last3=Shapovalova |first3=Natalia |editor-last= Kozuharov |editor-first=Simone |title=Analysis of the Ukrainian Security Policy at the End of 2006: Taking Stock |url=https://www.icps.com.ua/assets/uploads/images/images/eu/ukrainian_security_policy_e.pdf |website=International Centre for Policy Studies |location=Kyiv |language=en |date=2006}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Olynyk |first1=Stephen D. |title=Ukraine as a Post-Cold War Military Power |journal=Joint Force Quarterly |publisher=Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University |date=1 June 1997 |issue=15 |pages=87−94 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA426799.pdf |location=Washington, D.C. |language=en |issn=1070-0692}}
* {{cite web |last1=Ripley |first1=Tim |title='Operation Crimea '14' An Incomplete Victory? |url=http://www.timripley.co.uk/articles/2014/Operation-Crimea-2014%20-Update-18-03-2014.pdf |website=Tim Ripley - Defence Journalist |date=18 March 2014}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Air force of Ukraine}}
* [http://www.ukrbat.narod.ru/vvs.html Ukrainian Air Force]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090901144133/http://litnik.in.ua/content/category/7/30/100/ Photos from Ukrainian Air Force museum in Kyiv & Poltava]
* Air Force page on the official site of Ministry of Defence:
** [https://archive.today/20150306202745/http://www.mil.gov.ua/ministry/sklad-zbrojnix-sil-ukraini/povitryani-sili.html in Ukrainian]
* [http://www.paulnann.com/Country.asp?Country=Ukraine Photo gallery of the Ukrainian Air Force] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207023907/http://www.paulnann.com/Country.asp?Country=Ukraine |date=7 February 2012}} and [[Ukrainian Falcons]] in flight.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050206172310/http://lindenhillimports.com/ukraine.htm Obsolete 1990-s pennants and patches], Linden Hill imports
* [http://spotters.net.ua/search/?airline=Ukraine+-+Air+Force& Photos of Ukrainian Air Force] {{in lang|uk}}

{{Ukraine topics}}
{{Military of Ukraine}}
{{Air Forces of the countries former Soviet Union}}
{{Air forces in Europe}}
{{Air forces}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ukrainian Air Force| ]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Air forces by country]]
[[Category:Aviation in Ukraine|Air Force]]
[[Category:Military of Ukraine|Air Force]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1992]]