In the context of the changed political situation in the world, the military-political leadership (MPL) of Germany is rethinking the role and tasks of its armed forces. At the same time, the air force as the most efficient and high-tech component of the Armed Forces acquires special significance.
The large-scale military reform in Germany, carried out from the beginning of the 2000s until 2012, did not fundamentally change the structure of the national air force. The number of aviation divisions was reduced from four to three, the transport aviation command was disbanded, and the number of combat and auxiliary squadrons was slightly reduced. In addition, the process of a real transition to new models of military equipment has begun, which is actively continuing at the present time. The German Air Force quickly got rid of the Soviet MiG-29 tactical fighters, transferring them to Poland for a symbolic 1 euro, and at the same time dismissing most of the not-so-bad pilots from the military aviation of the GDR.
Until 2012, the structure of the Air Force continued to be typical of any branch of the German armed forces. They were headed by an inspector (commander), whose working body was the main headquarters of the Air Force, which was part of the central apparatus of the German Ministry of Defense.
The organizational and staffing structure of the Air Force included two main blocks - the operational command (OK) of the Air Force and the central control (CC) of the Air Force (both located in Cologne-Wan). At the same time, all aviation divisions and the command of operational control were part of the OK. The central administration included training and support formations.
The turning point in the process of German military reform was the adoption in 2011 of a new military doctrine, called the "Basic Directions of German Defense Policy." The document interprets the tasks of the armed forces and each separate type of the Armed Forces in a new way.
Thus, the main goal of the planned German Air Force transformations, an increase in the combat capabilities of aviation and air defense forces is declared while reducing the number of formations and units included in their composition. In this case, the main attention is supposed to be paid to improving the combat control system, reorganizing reconnaissance aviation, as well as equipping formations and units with modern models of aircraft.
On the basis of the Basic Provisions of the German Defense Policy, the range of key tasks of the German Air Force is supposed to be shifted from gaining air supremacy and combating enemy aircraft to direct air support for troops, surveillance and air reconnaissance. At the same time, it is planned to maintain the necessary potential for conducting strategic air operations provided for by national or coalition plans.
According to the reform plans, the High Command (CC) of the Air Force, headed by an inspector (commander in chief), becomes the supreme body of the German air force. The Berlin-Gatow garrison (10 km south of Berlin) was chosen as the location of the Civil Code. It will develop general and long-term plans for the construction, combat training and operational use of the Air Force, as well as determine the deployment (basing) of their formations and units.
The fundamental point is the fact that the main command of the Air Force, as well as the Civil Code of other branches of the Armed Forces, is being removed from the structure of the central apparatus of the Ministry of Defense. It is no coincidence that the location of the Air Force High Command - Berlin-Gatow - was also chosen. Thus, the Civil Code plans to restore the military traditions of the garrison, on the territory of which the largest air fleet museum in Germany is now located.
The prospective structure of the German Air Force controls is divided into three main areas of activity - operational leadership, combat management and support. At the same time, the divisional level is completely excluded from the Air Force control system, and divisional headquarters are subject to reduction.
The task of operational leadership is planned to be entrusted to the command of the operational forces (KOS) of the Air Force (Cologne-Van). It should be directly responsible for organizing combat training, developing plans for the combat use of units and formations, technical equipment and logistics. Two components will be directly subordinated to the KOS - air and ground.
The air component will combine combat and transport aviation. The combat aviation will include three (possibly four) aviation squadrons of tactical fighters (AvB Wittmund, Nervenich, Neuburg and Laage), as well as a fighter-bomber (AvB Buchel) and reconnaissance (AvB Yagel) aviation squadrons.
Transport aviation will be represented by transport aviation (AvB Wunsdorf) and transport helicopter (AvB Holzdorf) squadrons and a special transport air group (Berlin / Cologne-Wan).
The basis of the ground component will be: a SAM squadron (Huzum), two control and communications regiments (Schönewalde and Erndtenbrück), an air force security regiment (Shortens) and an information and technical support regiment. The component will also include training centers of the German Air Force in the USA and Italy (AvB Holloman and Decimomannu), as well as an electronic warfare center (Kleinantingen).
In the promising structure of the German Air Force, a special place is given to the 51st reconnaissance aviation squadron (AVB Yagel). It is supposed to have the 511th reconnaissance squadron (rae) and the 512th reconnaissance squadron of unmanned aerial vehicles in its composition. At the same time, the 511 rae will be equipped with RECCE Tornado reconnaissance aircraft and ECR Tornado electronic warfare aircraft.
The air force command associates the expansion of aviation reconnaissance capabilities with the adoption of strategic and operational reconnaissance UAVs. In this regard, by 2014, the Eurohawk reconnaissance UAV is expected to be included in the 512 squadron. In the period up to 2015, it is possible to put into service four more similar vehicles, and until 2017 - the same number of Global Hawk UAVs designed to deploy the AGS ground-based aerial reconnaissance system.
At present, the German Air Force is at the stage of making a decision on the start of a program to equip the national air force with medium-altitude attack UAVs for operational-tactical purposes. In accordance with plans until 2020, the German Air Force as part of the 512th reconnaissance squadron should have 16 such UAVs in service.
The program for the purchase of medium-altitude UAVs is planned to be implemented in two stages. At the first stage, it is possible to acquire a batch of five units, which the Bundeswehr will use as a "transitional model" for the period from 2015 to 2020. At the same time, samples of Israeli (Israel Aerospace Industries) and American (General Atomics Aeronotical Systems) firms are being studied.
At the second stage, it is planned to create a "European" strike unmanned aerial vehicle. Works in this direction are actively carried out by the EADS concern.
The tasks of the combat control of the German Air Force will be assigned to the main operations center (GOC) of the Air Force (Kalkar). The center should ensure German participation in the work of the operational planning and command and control bodies of the multinational air force grouping in the course of preparing and conducting operations under the overall leadership of NATO and the EU.
The GOC is planned to subordinate the following structures: the German headquarters component in the NATO OVVS (AVB Ramstein); the German component at the headquarters of the European Transport Air Command (Eindhoven, the Netherlands); the German component of the AWACS command and aviation control "Awax-NATO" (Gilenkirchen); German component "AGS" (AVB Sigonella, Italy); German components in NATO and EU structures; Air Force Operations Center (Kalkar); National Airspace Protection Center (Yudem); space control center (Yudem); Information Technology Support Group (Kalkar).
The Air Force Support Forces Command (CSO) (Cologne-Wan) will be responsible for organizing the recruitment and training of personnel for the German Air Force, as well as for the logistics and medical support for their activities. It will include: the German component of the NATO Program Center, the Center for the Training of Technical Specialists (Fasberg), the officer (Roth) and non-commissioned officer (Appen) schools of the Air Force, the training battalion of candidate officers and non-commissioned officers (Germersheim), an information technology group security, as well as the air traffic control department of the Bundeswehr (Frankfurt am Main), the air force medical service department (Cologne-Wan) and two air force weapons centers (Schönewalde and Manching).
The reform plans approved by the command of the Bundeswehr provide for the withdrawal of units of medium transport helicopters CH-53 from the ground forces and their transfer to the helicopter transport squadron of the Air Force (AVB Laupheim and Holzdorf). All light transport helicopters NH-90 and fire support helicopters "Tiger", on the contrary, will be concentrated as part of the Rapid Response Division of the FRG.
Within the framework of the Bundeswehr rearmament program in the Air Force, it is planned to completely replace obsolete weapons and military equipment with new and modernized models within five years. Thus, the Luftwaffe is supposed to have up to 225 combat aircraft (of which Typhoon - 140, Tornado - 85), about 100 transport aircraft (Transall - 60, A.400M - 40), 64 CH- 53, nine strategic and 16 operational-tactical UAVs, 112 Patriot launchers.
Assessing the performance characteristics of the new aircraft of the German Air Force, it should be noted that the Typhoon tactical fighter is a competitive machine on the world market and corresponds to the 4+ generation. At the same time, it is difficult to attribute it to a "breakthrough" in the world of aviation. The situation is even more complicated with the adoption of the A.400M transport aircraft. The manufacturer, represented by the Airbus Military consortium, constantly postpones delivery dates. At the same time, the performance characteristics of the machines have undergone significant changes in the direction of deterioration, which causes extreme dissatisfaction on the part of the Air Force command.
When analyzing the prospects for the development of the German Air Force, the moral and psychological aspect of the reform also attracts attention. Thus, this type of armed forces, more than any other, preserves the combat traditions of German aviation. For example, the names of the squadrons (71 iaesks - "Richthofen", 51 raesks - "Immelman", 31 abaesks - "Belke") were given to them in honor of the pilots of the First World War. A large number of biographies and descriptions of the military exploits of the German aces during the Second World War are constantly published in special editions. The appearance in the air of the characteristic silhouette of the Me 109 is not surprising - in Germany there are a large number of clubs and societies where combat vehicles are carefully preserved and restored, thereby supporting the interest of young people in aviation.
Another sign of the German Air Force is the extreme "Americanization" of military pilots. This is explained by the fact that the formation of pilots takes place in the United States using American methods and aviation technology. At the same time, units of the national air force participate in a large number of large-scale combat training events in the United States together with their American counterparts.
Thus, the military reform being carried out by the leadership of the FRG is designed to ensure the further priority development of the air force. At the same time, the air force control system is being improved and, despite economic difficulties, active steps are being taken to re-equip this branch of the armed forces.
(Colonel A. Lopukhov, Foreign Military Review)
Lieutenant Colonel Yu. Blinkov,
major O. Kutinov
The Federal Republic of Germany has a powerful and dynamically developing air force ("Luftwaffe"), which is an independent branch of the armed forces. The range of tasks assigned by the command of the Bundeswehr to the national air force has expanded significantly in recent years. In peacetime, within the framework of the joint NATO air defense system in Europe, the German Air Force solve air defense tasks (are on combat duty), carry out air transfers of troops and cargo to areas of coalition peacekeeping operations, and carry out aerial reconnaissance (including for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of international agreements ), provide assistance in case of natural disasters, participate in rescue and evacuation operations, etc.
The main tasks of combat aviation in wartime conditions will be: gaining and maintaining air supremacy; air defense of the country, important facilities and groupings of troops (forces); isolation of the combat area; destruction of key enemy targets; implementation of air support for own and coalition troops (forces), including naval groupings and ships; air reconnaissance and others. For auxiliary aviation, such tasks can be: carrying out transport transfers of troops and weapons and military equipment, conducting search and rescue operations, carrying out information and reconnaissance operations, landing troops, etc.
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| Organizational structure of the German Air Force |
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| Airfield network of the German Air Force |
The basis of the Air Force is combat aviation, which, in cooperation with other branches of the armed forces, is capable of playing a decisive role in defeating the opposing enemy. The air force also includes all air defense forces and means, including fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile systems, anti-aircraft artillery and radio equipment. Auxiliary aviation is called upon to solve the tasks of ensuring combat operations of all types of aircraft.
Governing bodies. The leadership of this type of aircraft is entrusted to the Air Force inspector (commander), who reports to the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr. The latter directs the construction and combat activities of all formations, units and institutions of the air force through the main headquarters and the operational command and central control of the air force subordinate to it.
Organizationally, the German Air Force consists of the main headquarters, the operational command and the central control of the Air Force.
Air Force Headquarters (Bonn)- operational management body. He is engaged in the development of plans for the construction, combat training and operational use of this type of aircraft, and also determines the deployment of formations, units and subunits of the Air Force.
Air Force Operational Command (Köln-Van) is the highest operational unit of the Air Force. It is designed to control the forces and means of the Air Force both in peacetime and in wartime. It includes the command of operational management, the transport aviation command, three aviation divisions, other units and institutions.
Three aviation divisions include all units and subunits of combat aviation, air defense forces and means. They are able to independently prepare for the conduct of hostilities and participate in them.
The Air Transport Command (TAK) concentrates all auxiliary aviation, which provides for the transfer of troops and cargo by air, special transportation and search and rescue operations.
The Central Directorate of the Air Force is responsible for organizing the recruitment and training of personnel for the air force, logistics, medical, geophysical support, as well as planning and monitoring the course of combat training of air force units.
Number, combat composition and weapons. At present, the number of personnel of the Air Force is 45 thousand people. They have 14 squadrons of combat aircraft, six anti-aircraft missile groups, six squadrons of auxiliary aircraft, six helicopter squadrons and one transport helicopter group.
In total, the Air Force is armed with 460 combat aircraft (including 72 aircraft carrying nuclear weapons and 63 reserve aircraft), 97 auxiliary aircraft, 84 helicopters, 534 missile launchers and 232 anti-aircraft artillery guns.
Into the fighting force 1st Aviation Division includes 45 Tornado tactical fighters, 44 F-4F air defense fighters and four Typhoon-F. 1 fighters, 64 Patriot launchers. These forces and assets have been consolidated into the 32nd Fighter-Bomber Aviation Squadron, the 74th Fighter Aviation Squadron, the 5th SAM Squadron, and the 1st Command and Communications Regiment.
In 2nd Air Division there are 109 tactical fighters "Tornado", 14 "Typhoon-F. 1" and 64 missile launchers "Patriot". These forces and means are consolidated into the 31st and 33rd fighter-bomber squadrons, as well as the 73rd fighter aviation squadron, the 2nd SAM squadron and the 3rd command and communications regiment.
AT 4th Aviation Division there are 5 7 Tornado tactical fighters, 44 F-4F air defense fighters and 64 Patriot missile launchers. These forces and means are consolidated into the 51st reconnaissance and 71st fighter aviation squadrons, the 1st SAM squadron, as well as the 2nd and 4th command and communications regiments.
TAK has 84 Transall C160 tactical military transport aircraft, six CL-601s, four A310MRTTs, three A310s, as well as 81 UH-1D and three AS-532s. All these forces and means are brought together into three transport aviation squadrons and an air group of special transportations of the Moscow Region.
The aviation division is the highest operational-tactical formation of the Air Force. It includes two or three aviation and one or two anti-aircraft missile squadrons.
Aviation squadron- the main tactical part. In peacetime, it consists of two or three squadrons. The German Air Force is armed with the following types of aviation squadrons:
- fighter (IAESK);
- fighter-bomber (Ibaesque);
- reconnaissance (raesk);
- transport (taesk).
The aviation squadron has up to 2,000 personnel. During mobilization deployment, its strength increases to 4,000 -4,500 people due to replenishment with reservists. The transport aviation squadron includes one or two aviation and up to three helicopter squadrons.
Squadron SAM is a tactical part and solves the tasks of object air defense. Organizationally, the squadrons have two Patriot anti-aircraft missile groups, which in the future should be replaced by modernized Patriot PAC-3 air defense systems.
Currently, the German Air Force is being transferred to a new structure that will include operational engagement forces, stabilization forces and support forces.
It is planned to include four or five squadrons of aircraft and helicopters of combat and auxiliary aviation, an anti-aircraft missile force group and means of the Air Force search and rescue service - a total of about 30 combat aircraft and up to 6,000 people.
The Stabilization Forces will unite the main part of the combat-ready aviation formations and will have about 200 combat aircraft and 11,000 people. Aircraft - carriers of nuclear weapons, included in them, can be involved in solving NATO tasks.
The support forces will include support units, training centers and units, the Air Force reserve (about 18,000 people in total).
With mobilization deployment, the number of Air Force personnel is planned to be increased to 80 thousand people, and the number of combat aviation squadrons - from 14 to 17.
Aerodrome network. A well-developed airfield infrastructure has been created in Germany, including more than 600 airfields of various classes and helipads, as well as airfield road sections. Over 110 airfields are considered to be well prepared and suitable for basing all types of combat and auxiliary aircraft. Their runways are 1,800 meters or more in length and have permanent pavement. About 30 airfield sections have been prepared on highways for the dispersal of combat aircraft. Reinforced arched shelters have been built at airfields where military aviation is based, for which special bunker-type underground storage facilities have been equipped for storing aviation nuclear munitions. In Germany, such storage facilities are available at five air bases. According to foreign experts, the airfield network will allow the NATO command to concentrate a powerful group of tactical, as well as transport and transport and refueling aviation in Germany.
Prospects for the development of the German Air Force. The military-political leadership of Germany pays unremitting attention to enhancing the capabilities of the Bundeswehr in general and improving its air component in particular. This is primarily due to the special role and place of Germany in the coalition structures of NATO and the European Union, the changing approaches of the leadership to the problem of the use of armed forces outside the national territory, as well as Germany's desire to gain a foothold in leading positions in Europe and the world.
According to NATO experts, in the face of new challenges and threats to the security of the alliance, the air force will be entrusted with a wide range of tasks, both humanitarian and combat.
As part of the commitments made by Germany at the NATO Prague Summit (November 2002), measures are being taken in this country to increase the capabilities of the national air force.
The main goal of these measures is to create aviation formations smaller in number and combat strength, but with greater combat capabilities, capable of independently or in cooperation with units and formations of the ground forces and the Navy to solve a wide range of tasks in any theater of operations, mainly as part of multinational NATO and EU groupings.
As part of the ongoing reform, the organizational structure and control system of the national air force are being optimized, the combat power of this type of aircraft is being strengthened by modernizing existing equipment, switching to modern types of aviation equipment and equipping the air force with high-precision long-range weapons.
In order to reduce redundant control links on the basis of the Logistics Command and the Armaments Department of the Air Force Central Directorate, the Armament Systems Command of the Air Force Central Directorate was formed. It is assumed that the implementation of a unified management of the processes of developing weapons systems, equipping the troops with them and their further operation will contribute to the faster introduction of new models into the troops.
In order to improve the efficiency of command and control of aviation expeditionary formations in remote theaters, in 2008 it is planned to create mobile aviation control centers (MTsUA). The main tasks of such centers will be airspace control, aviation and air defense forces control, organization of interaction with NATO air force control points and the civil air traffic control system. The mass and size parameters of the MTsUA will allow them to be transferred to any areas, which, according to Western experts, will ensure more efficient use of the air component of the Bundeswehr as part of the alliance’s primary engagement forces or combat tactical groups of the EU response forces.
Experience in the use of aviation formations of Germany in crisis areas (Bosnia, Kosovo, Darfur, Afghanistan) suggested to the leadership of the Bundeswehr the idea of creating a system to ensure the basing of Air Force units and formations in remote theaters. The main tasks of such a system will be the repair and restoration of the airfield infrastructure, as well as its protection and defense.
By 2009, it is planned to disband the TAK with the transfer of tasks for the air transfer of troops and cargo to the European Transport Command being created. At the same time, the transport squadrons of this command are to be transferred to the aviation divisions.
By 2010, it is planned to finally form a promising organizational and staffing structure of the Air Force, optimized for operations in the new military-strategic situation and mainly as part of the NATO coalition forces. According to foreign experts, provided that trends in the balance of power in the world continue, this structure of the Air Force can be maintained until 2020-2025.
Currently, the basis of the combat strength of the Air Force are air defense fighters, fighter-bombers, tactical reconnaissance aircraft and electronic warfare aircraft.
The outdated F-4Fs are being replaced by Typhoon-F. 1 aircraft. This aircraft, during the development process during the 90s, moved from the category of a fighter with limited strike capabilities to the category of a multi-functional combat aircraft. The first batch of such machines (44 units) is intended for the rearmament of fighter aviation squadrons. The second and third batches (68 units each) with improved strike capabilities will go into service with fighter-bomber squadrons in the period from 2008 to 2012 to replace the Tornado aircraft. "Typhoon" will have an increased range and be equipped with a radar with a phased antenna array and a laser designator.
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The capabilities of fighter-bomber aviation are also planned to be increased through the modernization of Tornado fighter-bombers. It is envisaged, in particular, to improve the cockpit information display system, equip the aircraft with high-precision weapons and ensure more effective overcoming of the air defense system. The implementation of this program will extend the life of the Tornado until 2020-2025, after which they will be replaced by modernized Typhoon-F. 1 aircraft or one of the modifications of the F-35 fighter.
Equipping strike aircraft with promising high-precision medium- and long-range weapons with more effective warheads will make it possible to strike at stationary and even mobile targets without entering the air defense coverage area, hitting several targets simultaneously, reducing the amount of consumable ammunition and the composition of strike groups.
It is planned to increase the operational reach of tactical aircraft of the German Air Force through the use of air refueling facilities. In this regard, it is planned to further develop our own refueling aircraft and form a separate squadron in it.
Combat unmanned aircraft will receive significant development. It is expected that the adoption of various UAVs will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the Air Force.
A tangible increase in the capabilities of military transport aviation should be expected after 2010, with the start of a massive supply of new equipment to the troops. The A400M aircraft will have a maximum takeoff weight of about 1000 tons, a payload capacity of 37 tons, a flight range with a load of 20 tons of more than 5,600 km, and a cargo compartment large enough to transport any type of military equipment, except for heavy tanks. It is planned to be equipped with an in-flight refueling system, which will significantly expand the scope of the use of the German armed forces, including solving the tasks of transfers at the strategic level.
The adoption of the new multi-purpose helicopter NH-90 (jointly developed by companies from Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands) will significantly improve the quality of air transfers of troops and cargo over short distances and increase the effectiveness of search operations.
In accordance with the requirements of the NATO coalition military strategy, the Bundeswehr command continues to carry out measures to reorganize the air defense system in order to move to a single centralized command and control of air defense and air force forces and means. It is envisaged to optimize the structure of the air force and air defense control and warning bodies, as well as to ensure the interoperability of communication systems and automation equipment for their further inclusion in the NATO ACCS (Air Command and Control System) automated command and control system for the air force and air defense.
The stages of the reorganization of the national air defense system are coordinated with the timing of the implementation of the program for the deployment of this ACS by 2015. The leadership of the Bundeswehr continues to work on the integration of automated control systems (combining two independent systems) - the German air defense GADGE (Germany Air Defense Ground Environment) and the Eifel Air Force into ACCS. This program provides for the full interfacing of their communication systems with automated control systems, as well as the creation of unified command and control bodies, which are deployed on the basis of the command bodies of the new air defense system and NATO tactical aviation command bodies using their infrastructure.
According to the NATO leadership, the deployment of the ACCS automated control system will ensure timely delivery of operational information about the air situation, control commands and reports, free exchange of data between all air force and air defense control bodies in real time, improve interaction between national and coalition forces and means of tactical aviation.
Significant changes are also expected in the combat composition of the ground air defense forces. The outdated "Improved Hawk" and "Roland-3" air defense systems (294 launchers in total), which were put into reserve, will be removed from service. The Patriot air defense system will remain in the combat strength, which in the future are planned to be replaced by modernized Patriot PAC-3 air defense systems and launchers of the promising MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defense System), which is expected to enter service no earlier than 2012 of the year. The new airborne air defense system will be capable of simultaneously firing up to 10 targets, intercepting tactical and operational-tactical missiles at a range of up to 35-40 km and an altitude of about 30 km.
The implementation of programs to modernize the Patriot air defense system and the adoption of new medium-range MEADS air defense systems will significantly increase the fire capabilities and effectiveness of the German air defense system as a whole.
It is planned to increase the capabilities of aerial reconnaissance by modernizing the airborne and container equipment of reconnaissance aircraft and adopting new generation reconnaissance UAVs. As the forces of tactical reconnaissance aviation are reduced, their tasks will be carried out by combat aircraft, which are planned to be equipped with hanging containers with reconnaissance equipment.
The improvement of command and control agencies for intelligence forces and means is carried out primarily through the integration of command and control, communications, intelligence and electronic warfare systems to ensure their operational and technical interaction (interfacing), as well as standardization and unification of the parameters of technical means within NATO.
In general, upon completion of the reorganization measures (by 2015), the German Air Force will have three (instead of four) aviation divisions, including ten squadrons of combat and auxiliary aviation. (In total, it is planned to have more than 350 combat aircraft, including 180 multipurpose Typhoons.)
FOREIGN MILITARY REVIEW No. 3/2001, pp. 31-38
AIR FORCE
Colonel V. FEDOSEEV
The Federal Republic of Germany has the most powerful air force, which is the German Air Force ("Luftwaffe") - an independent type of armed
forces (VS). In peacetime, forces and means are allocated from their composition, which are on combat duty in the joint NATO air defense system in Europe. They are also called upon to exercise control and prevent violations of national airspace, and, if necessary, to take measures to prevent the intrusion from the air of aircraft and other air objects.
In wartime or in times of crisis, the Air Force operates according to national plans or participates as part of the Allied Forces grouping to the "North" in an air offensive (defensive) operation, interaction with formations of other types of armed forces in the theater of operations (it is possible to use nuclear weapons along with conventional weapons) ). They are designed to solve the following tasks: gaining and maintaining air superiority, isolating the combat area and the battlefield, providing close air support to the ground forces and the Navy, conducting aerial reconnaissance in the interests of all branches of the armed forces, and carrying out air transportation of troops and military cargo.
The basis of the Air Force is combat aviation, which, in cooperation with other branches of the armed forces, is capable of playing a decisive role in defeating the opposing enemy. They also include all air defense forces and means, including fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile systems, anti-aircraft artillery and radio equipment. To ensure the combat operations of all types of armed forces, the Air Force has auxiliary aviation.
Governing bodies. The leadership of the Air Force is entrusted to the Air Force Inspector (Commander), who reports to the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr. He directs the construction and combat activities of all formations, units and institutions of the air force through the main headquarters.
Organizationally, the German Air Force consists of the main headquarters, the operational command of the Air Force, the Air Force Support Command and the Air Force Central Directorate (Fig. 1).
The main headquarters of the Air Force is the body of operational control. It develops plans for the construction, combat training and operational use of the Air Force, determines the deployment of formations, units and subunits of the Air Force. The headquarters includes an operational command, an air force support command and an air force central directorate.
The Air Force Operational Command (Köln-Van), formed in 1994 on the basis of the Tactical Aviation Command, is the highest operational association of the air force. It is designed to control the forces and means of the Air Force both in peacetime and in wartime. It consists of two regional commands of the Air Force - "North" and "South", the transport aviation command and the command of the Air Force control services.
Air Force commands "North" (Kalkar) and "South" (Messtetten) include all formations and units of combat aviation, air defense forces and means. All auxiliary aviation is concentrated in the transport aviation command (Munster), intended for the transfer of troops and cargo by air. The Command of Air Force Control Services (Köln-Van) is responsible for the functioning and development of communication and control systems of the air force, as well as investigating accidents, disasters and analyzing the causes of flight accidents, developing requirements, recommendations and plans to reduce accidents not only in Air Force, but also in the aviation of the Bundeswehr in general.
The Air Force Support Command is responsible for the purchase of new equipment and equipment, their current repair, as well as for supplying Air Force units and subunits with fuel and lubricants (fuels and lubricants), ammunition and spare parts, and planning the needs of aviation units in material and technical means. It consists of six logistics regiments, each of which has a specific area of responsibility and is the main rear part. These regiments have at their disposal about 20 warehouses for logistics, ammunition, fuel and lubricants, 15 repair shops and 10 motor transport units. For the main types of logistic support, the Air Force has created reserves that make it possible to conduct combat operations with maximum tension for 30 days or more.
The Central Directorate of the Air Force is responsible for organizing the recruitment and training of personnel for the air force in military educational institutions, as well as for medical and geophysical support, planning and monitoring the course of combat training of the Air Force units.
Number, combat composition and weapons. The number of Air Force personnel is 73.3 thousand people. The air force has 20 squadrons (559 combat aircraft), of which 457 are in combat strength (108 of which are nuclear weapons carriers, including 165 fighter-bomber, 36 Tornado IDS, 35 Tornado ECR, 144 fighter air defense, 125 F-4F, 94 combat training "Alpha Jet", as well as 102 in reserve.
15 anti-aircraft missile groups include 534 anti-aircraft missile launchers, of which 240 are Patriot, 204 are Advanced Hawk and 90 Roland, as well as 264 anti-aircraft artillery guns.
There are more than 160 aircraft in nine squadrons of auxiliary aviation, of which 157 are transport, 7 are electronic warfare. There are about 100 helicopters in five squadrons of auxiliary aviation helicopters.
Attack aviation, all air defense forces and means are consolidated into four aviation divisions (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th), which are distributed between the regional commands of the Air Force "South" and "North" (two in each).
The command of the Air Force "North" includes the 3rd and 4th aviation divisions, in the combat composition of which there are 117 tactical fighters "Tornado" (Fig. 2), 89 air defense fighters F-4F (Fig. 3) and 23 MiG-29, 108 PU SAM "Patriot" (Fig. 4), 96 - "Improved Hawk" and 30 - "Roland". These forces and means are consolidated into two (31st and 38th) fighter-bomber aviation squadrons, three (71st, 72nd and 73rd) fighter squadrons, one (51st) reconnaissance squadron, three (1st, 2nd and 3rd) - ZUR and regiment (1st) radar control of airspace.
The command of the Air Force "South" includes the 1st and 2nd aviation divisions, in the combat composition of which there are 119 "Tornado" tactical fighters, 36 F-4F air defense fighters, 132 "Patriot" missile launchers, 108 - "Improved Hawk" and 60 "Roland".
These forces and assets have been consolidated into three (32nd, 33rd and 34th) fighter-bomber squadrons.
Air Transport Command has 84 Transall C.160 tactical transport aircraft (Fig. 5), seven CL-601s (see color insert), two Boeing 707s, seven A-310s, and 99 UH-1D assault helicopters (Fig. .6).
Aviation division is the highest operational-tactical unit of the Air Force. It includes two or three aviation and one or two anti-aircraft missile squadrons.
Aviation squadron - the main tactical part. In peacetime, it consists of two or three squadrons (20 aircraft) and up to 2,000 military personnel. During mobilization deployment, the squadron strength increases to 4,000 - 4,500 people due to replenishment with reservists. The transport aviation squadron includes one or two aviation and up to three helicopter squadrons.
Squadron SAM is a tactical part and solves the tasks of object air defense. Organizationally, in three squadrons (1st, 2nd and 5th) it is planned to have two anti-aircraft missile groups (one group of Patriot and Improved Hawk missiles each). The other three (3rd, 4th and 6th) SAM squadrons additionally include one group of Roland SAMs.
Air Force units and subunits are fully equipped with materiel. Every day, at least 80 percent of aircraft of the regular composition of combat aviation squadrons. The staffing of the flight crew is from 1.2 to 1.5 crew for each regular aircraft, and the technical staff is at least 90 percent. peacetime schedule.
In accordance with the transition to a new, three-component structure (reaction forces, main defensive forces and reinforcement forces) of the combined and national armed forces, the Bundeswehr command plans to allocate 19 combat squadrons (four aviation and 15 anti-aircraft missile) to the aviation component of the NATO response forces.
One squadron of air defense fighters (18 F-4Fs), one squadron of electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft (18 Tornadoes ECR) and six anti-aircraft missiles (three of the Patriot, two of the Improved Hawk "and one" Roland ", a total of 41 missile launchers). They are kept in 72-hour readiness for redeployment to operational airfields and in fact represent the forward echelon aviation of the NATO response force. The time required for the preparation of SNR aviation for the start of hostilities after the completion of the redeployment should be no more than 72 hours.
The rapid deployment forces (RRF) of the NATO bloc are allocated two fighter-bomber aircraft (36 Tornado aircraft), one reconnaissance (18 Tornado RECCE), one air defense fighter (18 F-4F) and five anti-aircraft missile (three - "Patriot" and two - "Improved Hawk", a total of 36 missile launchers) squadrons. They are supposed to be put into action if the scale of the crisis exceeds the capabilities of the SNR aviation, as well as if it is necessary to increase the efforts of these forces in areas of a sharp aggravation of the situation on European theater of operations or outside the bloc's area of responsibility.The deadlines for the readiness of RRF aviation have been determined: 7 days for redeployment and up to 7 days for the completion of the creation of an operational group.
In addition, units of aircraft and helicopters of military transport aviation can be transferred to the response forces.
A feature of the functioning of the aviation component of the NATO response forces is that in everyday conditions, the Air Force and Air Defense units allocated to them are under national subordination and are engaged in planned combat training in places of permanent deployment. Their reassignment to the coalition command is carried out only after the decision of the leadership of the alliance on the use of reaction forces or for the period of the exercises. At the same time, these forces can also be used in the national interests and according to the plans of the WEU.
Under normal conditions, coordination of interaction between units of the air component of the NATO Response Forces is carried out through a special headquarters deployed at the Central Military District in the city of Kalkar. The chief of staff is the commander of the regional aviation command "North".
The main defensive forces will include Air Force forces and assets that are not included in the SNR and RRF. They are planned to be used if there is a threat of a large-scale military conflict.
With mobilization deployment, the number of Air Force personnel is planned to be increased from 78,000 to 225,000 people, and the number of combat aviation squadrons from 20 to 23 (500 aircraft).
Aerodrome network. AT In Germany, a highly developed airfield infrastructure has been created, including more than 600 airfields of various classes, helipads, and airfield road sections. Over 130 airfields are considered well prepared and suitable for basing all types of combat and military transport aviation. The airfield network on the territory of the country is unevenly distributed (Fig. 8), however, according to foreign experts, it will allow the NATO command to concentrate here a powerful group of tactical aviation, as well as transport and transport and refueling aircraft.
Operational and combat training headquarters and combat training of Air Force units and subunits are planned and carried out taking into account the possible nature of military operations in Europe and the requirements of modern concepts of the combat use of aviation. According to foreign experts, the leadership takes into account the shortcomings of the combat use of the national air forces during the "Decisive Force" operation. The main attention is paid to improving plans for the mobilization and operational deployment of formations and units, techniques and methods of combating an air enemy, actions as part of multinational strike groups, organizing interaction with other types of aircraft, and increasing the efficiency of the command and control system.
Annually, the participation of headquarters, formations, units and subunits of the Air Force is planned for at least 50 exercises, exercises-competitions, training and combat readiness checks (Fig. 7). Most of the operational and combat training activities are carried out on the scale of the NATO Air Force. Of those exercises in which the German Air Force participates, the largest are the Central Enterprise, Cold Phase, Joint Maritime Kos and Tactical Air Meat, during which the following plans are worked out: the operational deployment and conduct of the first air offensive and defensive operations in the initial period of the war in Europe using conventional means of destruction, repelling enemy aggression from coastal areas, organizing interaction between NATO command and control bodies.
Rice. 8. Airfield network of the German Air Force
Combat training plans provide for the development of various tasks in various weather conditions day and night, followed by verification of the results achieved in exercises. On the territory of Germany, combat training is carried out taking into account the prohibition by the federal authorities of flights at low and extremely low altitudes and supersonic speeds, as well as restrictions on the use of aviation training grounds. In this regard, these types of flights and the practical use of aviation weapons are practiced at the training grounds of the USA, Canada, Italy, Greece and other NATO countries during exercises and planned combat training. The annual average flight time per flight crew is about 150 hours for combat and 240 hours for auxiliary aviation. At the same time, foreign experts note that in recent years there has been a trend of understaffing of combat and auxiliary aviation personnel. This is due to two main factors: the transition of experienced pilots to civil aviation due to material interest, as well as a decrease in the level of medical condition of applicants for admission to the school. In 2000, out of more than 2,000 applicants, only 143 were able to pass the medical board and professional selection for further training in flight professions.
Prospects for the development of the Air Force. Simultaneously with the improvement of plans for the operational use of the Air Force, the Bundeswehr command has developed and is consistently implementing a program for the development of this type of armed forces "Structure-4". Its main goals are: optimization of the organizational structure and control system of the national air force; strengthening the combat power of this type of aircraft due to the modernization of existing equipment; and the transition to modern types of aviation technology, equipping with high-precision weapons with a long range of destruction, the creation of smaller in number and combat strength, but with greater combat capabilities, aviation formations capable of independently or in cooperation with units and formations of the ground forces and the Navy to solve a wide range of tasks on any theater or area of armed conflict. By the year 2000, the number of Air Force personnel is scheduled to be reduced to 77,000 people.
Rice. 9. Tactical fighter EF-2000 "Typhoon"
The modernization of the F-4F air defense fighters is carried out in order to increase the range of lines for intercepting air targets. The aircraft are equipped with AN / APG-65 multifunctional radar stations with a phased antenna array, which have the ability to detect air targets at a distance of up to 150 km. It is planned to use the AIM-120 air-to-air guided missile with an active homing head and a firing range of up to 75 km as a means of destruction. An increase in the combat range of these aircraft is planned to be achieved by installing an in-flight refueling system on them. It is planned to use four Boeing 707 transport aircraft as tankers, on which the relevant re-equipment work is being carried out.
The Tornado tactical fighter modernization program provides for the improvement of the central on-board computer, as well as the possibility of equipping them with GBU-24 guided bombs, HARM anti-radar missiles, AMRAAM and ASRAAM air-to-air missiles, overhead containers with reconnaissance equipment, the Apash missile defense system air-to-ground class (with a replaceable warhead and a firing range of up to 150 km), which allows the crew to hit ground targets outside the line of fire of enemy ground-based air defense systems. It is supposed to increase the accuracy of the aircraft entering the target area and the use of airborne weapons by correcting the inertial navigation system according to NAVSTAR data and equipping Tornado aircraft with a suspended sighting and navigation system, which includes a laser rangefinder-target designator.
According to plans, after 2002, the new tactical fighter EF-2000 Typhoon (Fig. 9) will begin to enter service with the Air Force, which should replace, first of all, the outdated F-4F air defense fighters. In total, it is planned to purchase 140 aircraft in the air defense fighter version and 40 in the tactical fighter version.
In order to upgrade the fleet of the main C. 160 military transport aircraft, it is possible to purchase 74 new FLA transport aircraft developed by the Euroflag European consortium. The start of their mass production is scheduled for 2003.
Prior to the entry into the troops (after 2003) of 114 modern multi-purpose NH-90 helicopters, jointly developed by companies from Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, it is planned to modernize the UH-1D transport and landing helicopters in service. In particular, it is planned to replace electrical equipment, strengthen the fuselage structural elements, and install new flight and navigation equipment. It was decided to extend the service life of UH-1D helicopters until 2010.
In accordance with the requirements of the new NATO coalition military strategy and the "Temporary concept of joint air defense of the Central European theater of operations" adopted on its basis, the Bundeswehr command continues to carry out measures to reorganize the air defense system of the country's territory.
The purpose of the reorganization is the transition to a single centralized command and control of air defense and air force forces and means in the course of air offensive and defensive operations. For example, it is envisaged to expand the national control and warning system by deploying new air defense systems in the eastern lands of the Federal Republic of Germany, optimizing the structure of the air force and air defense control and warning bodies, achieving interoperability of communication systems and automation equipment for further integration into the automated control system of the air force and air defense NATO ACCS (Air Command and Control System).
In the structure of the deployed unified automated control system for the NATO air force and air defense in Europe, two air operations control centers have been created on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany - CUVO (Combined Air Operation Center). They are headed by the regional commanders of the national air forces of the Federal Republic of Germany "North" (2 TSUVO - Kalkar) and "South" (4 TSUVO - Mösstetten) and are directly subordinate to the commander of the OVVS at the CE theater of operations. Organizationally, the CUVO consists of three groups: offensive operations management, defensive operations management, and support and support coordination. This control body is an association of headquarters structures involved in the development and formulation of offensive and defensive tasks (former TsUTA and OTsS Air Defense or their equivalents of control bodies 2 and 4 OTAK). The TSUVO will manage the units and subunits of the aviation component of the operational group of forces, as well as the forces and means additionally allocated by the commander of the OVVS to the theater of operations to perform certain tasks.
Information about the air situation is received by the CCVO from AWACS aircraft and aviation control AWACS - NATO and from control and warning centers (CCO), which have their own means of detection and use data from control and warning posts (CL) and radar posts (RLP).
In order to improve the capabilities of the air defense system, special attention is being paid to the deployment of modern three-coordinate radar stations (RLS) at five radar posts (RLP in the settlements of Debern, Altenburg, Putgarten, Elmenhorst and Kelpin), which control the airspace over the eastern lands of Germany with phased antenna array AN/FPS-117. These stations are distinguished by high tactical and technical characteristics in terms of detection range and the number of simultaneously tracked targets, require minimal maintenance and are capable of operating offline. In addition, the command of the US Air Force in Europe transferred to the Bundeswehr located in the settlement. Tempelhof near Berlin) AN / FPS-117 radar, which is actively used to control the airspace over the eastern lands of Germany.
Measures are being continued to optimize the structure of the Air Force and Air Defense command and control bodies on the territory of the western lands of the Federal Republic of Germany. At the same time, control functions are removed from a number of TsUOs, and the leadership of air defense forces and means is assigned to the TsUVO. In particular, four TsUOs (in the cities of Fisselhewede, Marienbaum, Auenhausen and Erbeskopf) are being converted into air defense radars and equipped with AN / FPS-117 radars.
In total, in the national control and warning system, the Bundeswehr command intends to have eight TsUOs (in the settlements of Brockzetel, Breckendorf, Messtetten, Lauda, Freising, Pragsdorf, Schönewalde and Erndtebrück) and 12 remotely controlled radar stations (in the settlements of Auenhausen, Altenburg, Grosser Arber, Debern, Debraberg, Marienbaum, Putgarten, Tempelhof, Kelpin, Fisselhewede, Elmenhorst and Erbeskopf). According to Western experts, the new structure of the air force and air defense control and warning bodies, in the face of reduced financial allocations and a reduction in personnel, will improve the efficiency and reliability of the air defense system by automating the process of detecting and tracking targets, centralizing control and closer interaction of all air defense systems.
In addition to the above activities, work continues on the integration of the Gage air defense control system of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Eifel air force control system into the unified NATO ACCS air defense and air defense control system. Thus, the governing bodies of the national control and warning system are equipped with modern means of automation and communication, databases and software. In general, all this will ensure more reliable and effective air defense of the German territory, coordination and interaction in the management of national and coalition forces and means of tactical aviation, which, ultimately, will significantly increase the capabilities of the combined NATO air forces in Europe.
Within the framework of this plan, it is envisaged to equip the control bodies of each level (from the commander of the German Air Force to the squadron commander inclusive) with modern means of automation and communication, databases and flexible software. This, according to the command of the Air Force, will reduce the time of the aviation and air defense control cycle by 3-4 times, provide comprehensive automated communications, in a crisis situation and in wartime by bringing the organizational and staffing structure of the German Air Force in line with NATO requirements, significantly increase flexibility and mobility, as well as the ability of the Air Force to build up forces and means at the right time in the required directions, and strengthen the centralization of command and control.
For more details, see: Foreign Military Review. - 2000. - No. 10. - S. 27 - 33.
The German Air Force is an independent branch of the armed forces. The Air Force includes:
1) aviation itself, 2) air force communications troops, 3) paratroopers, 4) air defense troops.
The highest operational unit is the air fleet. It includes all combat aviation units, with the exception of naval and military aviation. Each air fleet consists, as a rule, of one or several air corps, air defense units and communications units. In addition, the air fleet includes several air districts. The commander of the air districts directs the air defense, air force schools and the training of reserves for the air fleets, as well as the preparation of the airfield network and the operation of airfields.
He also manages:
1) communication service, 2) meteorological service, 3) sanitary service, 4) military prosecutor's office, 5) civil aviation.
Air fleets operating in secondary directions do not have corps in their composition and consist of separate squadrons.
The Aviation Corps is a mixed task force consisting of five to six squadrons and one reconnaissance group. The number of bomber squadrons in a corps is not constant and depends on the nature of the tasks carried out by the corps.
Squadron - the highest operational-tactical formation of a homogeneous composition (with the exception of mixed squadrons).
The bomber squadron consists of three active and one reserve (training) group. The squadron has a headquarters, which includes a headquarters patrol (4 aircraft) and a communications company. The reserve group does not conduct combat operations. It is based at the rear airfield and is preparing reinforcements for active groups. In a combat situation in particularly tense periods, there were cases of the use of aircraft of reserve groups for combat operations. A squadron of dive bombers does not conduct combat operations. It is based at the rear airfield and. prepares replenishment for active groups. In a combat situation in oyuobo tense. periods there were cases of the use of reserve aircraft for combat operations. The squadron of dive bombers does not have a reserve (training) group.
At the beginning of the war with the Soviet Union, all combat groups of bomber and fighter squadrons operated, as a rule, in one direction under the leadership of the squadron headquarters. In the summer and autumn of 1941, groups from squadrons began to be placed under operational control of other squadrons and corps operating in other directions. In these cases, the squadron command could not manage the combat activities of the pear, operating in other directions, and was responsible for the groups that had left operational subordination only for organizational issues.
From the end of 1941, when the operational transfer of aviation from one sector to another became intense, the transfer of individual groups to the operational subordination of other corps assumed a massive character, and at present the battle groups of most squadrons operate in isolation from squadron headquarters. The combat missions of the group are received not from the command of their squadron, but from the command of the air formation in whose sector they conduct combat operations.
The group consists of three detachments of 9 aircraft each, a headquarters unit (3 aircraft) and a technical company. The technical company consists of aviation specialists and provides maintenance of the material part and minor repairs of aircraft, engines, weapons and instruments.
The fighter squadron consists of three to four operational combat groups and headquarters. The headquarters includes a headquarters patrol (4 aircraft) and a communications company. Some fighter squadrons have a headquarters detachment of 9-12 aircraft. The squadron does not have a reserve (training) group; combat groups are replenished with personnel directly from fighter schools.
The group consists of three detachments of 12 aircraft each, a headquarters patrol (2-3 aircraft) and a technical company. Detachments of squadrons of twin-engine fighters consist of 9 aircraft each.
Organization of reconnaissance aircraft.
The German command attaches exceptional importance to aviation reconnaissance. Not a single operation of ground troops is carried out without preliminary thorough aviation reconnaissance.
The reconnaissance aviation is manned by selected flight personnel with extensive combat experience. Commanders of reconnaissance groups are one or two categories higher in rank than commanders of fighter and bomber aviation groups. Thus, if the commanders of fighter and bomber groups are captains and, more rarely, majors, then in reconnaissance aviation, groups are usually commanded by lieutenant colonels.
The flight crew of reconnaissance detachments consists mainly of officers in the rank from lieutenant to captain (observer pilots are all officers), while in fighter and bomber aviation detachments the layer of officers among the flight crew ranges from 20 to 40%
All reconnaissance aviation in Germany is divided into long-range, short-range (military) and naval.
The largest organizational unit is the reconnaissance group. The composition of the groups in terms of the material part, which is in service, the number of detachments and the purpose is heterogeneous. The number of detachments in a group varies from three to ten, but normally a group has three to five active detachments, the rest of the detachments are, apparently, in reserve (rest, re-formation). The detachment consists of 9-12 aircraft.
Close (military) reconnaissance aviation is armed with Khsh-126, FV-189, Me-109, Me-110 aircraft. The most common type of short-range reconnaissance aircraft is the FV-189.
The main type of long-range reconnaissance aircraft is the Yu-88 aircraft. In addition, Do-215, Do-217, Xe-111 and partially Me-110 aircraft are used for long-range reconnaissance.
For night reconnaissance, Yu-88, Me-110, Do-217 and Do-215 aircraft are used.
Recently, short-range reconnaissance units have begun to receive Me-109 type fighter aircraft.
Each air fleet has one or two reconnaissance groups. Each air corps has, as a rule, at least one reconnaissance group. In addition, detachments of the Air Force Supreme Command are attached to the headquarters of the air fleets and corps operating in the main directions.
Each army corps, depending on the importance of the direction, is assigned one or two short-range reconnaissance detachments.
Tank groups (armies) are assigned one long-range reconnaissance detachment and one or two short-range reconnaissance detachments. The tank corps, depending on the importance of the direction, is given one detachment of close reconnaissance.
In the first months of the war, during the offensive of the German army, in tank groups operating in decisive directions, close-range reconnaissance detachments were attached to separate tank and motorized mechanized divisions.
The use of reconnaissance groups in full strength in one direction is an exception. As a rule, detachments of the same group are assigned to different air corps and even fleets.
Frequent regroupings of aviation, including reconnaissance, led to the fact that the majority of reconnaissance groups acted in squads on a front with a width of up to 1500 km. Under these conditions, the commanders of the groups could not direct the combat work of the detachments, and the latter received tasks not from the headquarters of the group, but from the formation that the detachment served.
In the second half of 1942, part of the reconnaissance groups, whose detachments were especially dispersed, was disbanded. On the basis of the disbanded groups, groups with a new numbering were created, which included detachments of different groups operating in the same direction. This reorganization made it possible for the commanders of some groups to direct the combat operations of their units. Most of the detachments of the reconnaissance groups continue to operate in isolation from the headquarters of the groups, reporting to the latter only on organizational matters.
Distribution of the German Air Force
By the beginning of the war with the Soviet Union, the German air force had five air fleets. Parts of four air fleets were concentrated against the USSR, which were aimed for action:
1. On the Karelian front - parts of the 5th air fleet. The fleet does not have air corps in its composition and consists of separate bomber and fighter squadrons.
2. In the North-West direction (northern army group) - parts of the 1st air flag. The fleet consisted of the 1st Air Corps.
3. In the Central direction (central army group) - parts of the 2nd air fleet. The fleet consisted of the 2nd and 8th air corps.
4. In the South-Western direction (southern army group) - parts of the 4th air fleet. The fleet consisted of the 4th and 5th air corps.
Parts of the 3rd Air Fleet, as part of the 9th Air Corps, were concentrated on the airfields of Germany and France for operations against England. In addition, the 10th Aviation Corps, the 11th Airborne Corps and the Night Fighter Corps (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Fighter Squadrons) were based on the airfields of Germany and the Fraction, which covered the most important industrial and military political centers of the country from allied air raids.
Regroupings of the German Air Force during the war
By the autumn of 1941, when the German high command saw that the plan for a lightning war against the Soviet Union had failed, a regrouping of aviation was carried out, which consisted of the following: the 2nd Air Corps of the 2nd Air Fleet was removed from the Soviet-German front and transferred to operations in the Mediterranean. The 10th Air Corps, which had previously operated independently, was included in the 2nd Air Fleet. The 8th Air Corps left the 2nd Air Fleet and was included in the 1st Air Fleet with the task of directly supporting the ground forces advancing on Leningrad.
After the failure of the plan of attack on Leningrad, the 8th air corps came under the direct control of the high command of the German army and was called the "close combat corps". It should be noted that from the first days of the war with the Soviet Union, the 8th Air Corps was in a special account with the German command. The corps was commanded by one of the capable and authoritative generals of the German Air Force - Richthofen. The squadrons of the corps were staffed with select, combat-experienced personnel. The corps was replenished with materiel in the first place and the number of aircraft in the corps was always close to the regular one. From the moment of reassignment to the high command, the corps has always carried out tasks to support its advancing infantry and motorized units in the main, decisive directions. In the autumn of 1941, the corps in full strength supported the troops advancing on Moscow. In the spring of 1942, during the fierce struggle for the Kerch Peninsula, the corps was transferred to the airfields of the Crimea to support the offensive of its troops on the Kerch Peninsula, after which the corps supported the grouping of its troops operating against Sevastopol from the same airfields. At the end of the battles for Sevastopol, the corps in full force was transferred to the Kharkov region to support the German offensive that had begun in the spring of 1942. Later, the corps in full force supported the 6th Army advancing on Stalingrad.
By the beginning of 1943, the 1st Air Corps, withdrawn from the 1st Air Fleet, was transferred to the airfields of the Crimea and came under the control of the 4th Air Fleet. The 8th Air Corps was also subordinate to the 4th Air Fleet. The 5th Air Corps left the 4th Air Fleet and was subordinated to the OST Air Force Group, which operated in the Central direction. In the spring of 1943, on the basis of the OST Air Force Group, the 6th Air Fleet was created as part of the 1st and 4th Air Divisions. The 5th Air Corps was disbanded and its units were merged into the 6th Air Fleet.
As of December 1, 1943, the German air force was distributed as follows:
1st Air Fleet - there are no air corps subordinate to the fleet. The fleet consists of a special task force and a separate naval aviation group. The fleet operates from airfields in the North-Western direction (Northern Army Group).
The 2nd Air Fleet consists of the 2nd Air Corps and operates in southwestern Germany, southern France and Italy.
The 3rd Air Fleet consists of the 9th Air Corps and the Atlantic Air Force Task Force.
Area of operations: northwestern Germany, Belgium, Holland. Denmark, western and northern France.
The 4th air fleet consists of the 1st, 4th and 8th air corps.
Area of operations: southern and eastern Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and on the Soviet-German front from the airfields of the South-Western direction (southern army group).
5th Air Fleet - there are no air hulls in the fleet. From airfields in Finland and northern Norway, the fleet operates against the USSR. From the airfields of western and southern Norway - against England.
The 6th Air Fleet consists of the 1st and 4th Aviation Divisions and the 3rd Operational Group. The fleet operates against the USSR from the airfields of the Central Direction (Central Army Group).
Operational group of the Air Force "ZYUD OST". The group includes the 10th Air Corps.
Area of operations: Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Crete and Rhodes.
Moreover, in central Germany, Poland. Parts of the 12th night fighter corps are based in Czechoslovakia and Hungary, consisting of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th night fighter squadrons and parts of the 11th paratrooper corps.
Air Force training
In 1933, Germany had up to 2,000 flight personnel, most of whom had extensive combat experience and participated in the war of 1914-1918.
With the advent of Hitler to power (1933), the German government began mass training of flight officers, attracting for this the youth of the most reactionary sections of the Prussian nobility, merchants and petty bourgeoisie, and only members of the fascist party were admitted to schools.
By 1939, the total number of flight personnel was up to 25,000 people, of which up to 12,000 pilots. During the two years of the war in the West (Poland, France, the Balkans, England), the number of flight personnel did not decrease, but, on the contrary, slightly increased. This is explained by the fact that the German Air Force in the ongoing combat operations had an overwhelming numerical superiority, and the insignificant losses of the summer staff were replenished with excess by young pilots graduated from normally operating flight schools. Thus, by the beginning of the war with the Soviet Union, the German air force had over 12,000 pilots, most of whom had completed training in peacetime and already had rich combat experience gained in the war with Poland, France, England and the Balkans .
However, from the very first days of the war with the Soviet Union, German aviation suffered such losses that could not be replenished by young pilots graduating from normally functioning flight schools. In order to quickly replenish the losses, the German command was forced to revise the recruitment system and the timing of the training of flight personnel. Belgians, French, Czechs, Croats and other nationalities who were previously not allowed in the Air Force began to be recruited to serve in aviation. Schools began to accept non-members of the fascist party. Training periods were drastically reduced. These measures, on the one hand, increased the monthly graduation from the Air Force schools - up to 1,200 pilots and 2,600 airlifters, but, on the other hand, led to the fact that the Air Force combat units began to be replenished with young, inexperienced, poorly trained pilots. Despite the shortened training period, the German command could not keep the number of Air Force personnel at the level of 1941, because all the increasing losses on the Soviet-German front could not be fully replenished even by poorly trained personnel.
During the two years of the war with the Soviet Union, the number of German aviation pilots decreased by about 2,000 people, and by July 1943 the total number of pilots was 10,500 people, which does not fully meet the total need for the German Air Force in flight personnel and inevitably entails further replenishment of combat units by poorly trained pilots.
From June 22, 1941 to March 1, 1943, the losses of the German Air Force amount to about 20,000 summer personnel. During the period of summer fighting in 1943, these losses increased significantly. Considering that most of the losses are the most trained flight personnel, we can assume that the old flight personnel are mostly out of order and they are only enough to fill command positions. The rank and file flight personnel for the most part are young, trained during the war under reduced programs and do not have sufficient combat experience. This is confirmed by the behavior of the pilots during the performance of combat missions and numerous testimonies of captured pilots.
The training of German Air Force pilots consists of two periods: pre-conscription, from the age of 12 to enrollment in the air force, and a period of direct training in aviation training regiments and flight schools. Young people aged 12-18 are trained in flying in the system of organizations of the "Union of Hitler's Youth" (Hitler Youth). During this period, future pilots study aircraft modeling, gliding, the basics of parachuting, the elementary foundations of aviation theory, radio engineering and the material part of the Air Force. Training is led by instructors from the National Socialist Air Corps (NSFC).
Upon reaching the age of 18, young people who meet a number of requirements (Aryan origin, labor service, no criminal record, health status) are enrolled in the Air Force and sent to aviation training regiments, where they undergo physical and rifle training for 2-3 months (in peacetime, training in the aviation training regiment lasted 1 year). At the end of the program, students are sent to aviation training companies (companies for the training of candidates for pilots), where they receive elementary knowledge of air navigation and the material part of aircraft and engines. A-B schools are completed from aviation training companies. These schools provide elementary theoretical flight knowledge. The term of study at school is 6-9 months. Flight time 100-140 hours. Self release is made after 60 landings and 5 hours flight time with an instructor. Training is conducted on aircraft of three categories with gradually increasing complexity in control. At the end of the A-B scale, students receive a military certificate, where all the tests they pass are entered in the future.
From school A-B, pilots intended to work on multi-engine aircraft (bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, twin-engine fighters) are sent to school C for training on twin-engine aircraft. The term of study is 2-3 months. Before the war, the mandatory flight time was 60 - 70 hours, at present this rate is greatly reduced and depends on the student's progress. After successfully graduating from school "C" on the certificate issued to the pilot, a mark is made "awarded with the rights of a military pilot of an increased type."
All pilots scheduled to work in bomber aviation, after the "C" school, are sent to the blind flight school. Many fighter and reconnaissance pilots also go through blind flying school. The training period has been reduced from 6 weeks to approximately 4 weeks. At the end of the blind flight school, bomber pilots are sent to bomber aviation schools, where students are first divided into crews consisting of a pilot, observer, radio operator and flight mechanic. The term of study is 2-3 months. Flight 40-60 hours. Upon graduation, the pilot and his crew are assigned to an active unit or to a reserve combat training school for further training.
By 1939, bomber aviation schools were producing trained pilots who, without additional training, could be sent to active units. At the beginning of 1940, the German Air Force, having no significant losses and having accumulated a surplus of flight personnel, created reserve combat training schools that were run by air fleets or air corps. The stay in this school depended mainly on the needs of the summer staff at the front and lasted from several days to 6-7 weeks. Thus, these schools can be considered as a general reserve of flight personnel undergoing further training in anticipation of being sent to active units. These schools are also used for the retraining of bomber crews on new types of aircraft. There is evidence that in 1942 the reserve combat training schools were abolished.
The general training course for a bomber pilot lasts 11 - 17½ months with a flight time of 240-330 hours. According to reports, these terms of training are often not met, and pilots, bypassing the bomber school, are sent directly to the reserve combat training school or to the fourth groups of air squadrons.
Fighter pilots, after graduating from the A-B school, are sent to fighter aviation schools. If the student cannot be enrolled in the basic fighter aviation school, then he is sent to the primary preparatory school of fighter aviation, where there is no flight training. At the fighter aviation school, a pilot receives 30 hours of flight time on training aircraft and up to 70 hours on a Me-109 aircraft. The term of study is 3-4 months.
Upon graduation, the pilot is sent to the reserve training unit, where he undergoes further combat training.
Ground technical staff. In peacetime, the duration of training was 4 years. Persons at the age of 14 were admitted to the school. Currently, the terms of training have been reduced, but the order of preparation has remained the same.
Head of the 2nd division of the 2nd division
Headquarters of the Red Army Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Zhdanov
The German air force - the Luftwaffe - is sometimes compared to the mythical Phoenix bird, which died in a fire and was reborn from the ashes young and renewed. After the defeat of the First World War for Germany, the Entente countries were issued 5,000 fully combat-ready German aircraft for destruction. The German Imperial Air Force ceased to exist. Moreover, in the future, Germany was forbidden to have military aircraft. One of the articles of the Treaty of Versailles stated: "Germany should not have its own air force, either on land or at sea". However, the revival of German aviation began almost immediately after its death, as Germany managed to save the aviation industry. Many aircraft manufacturing firms switched to the production of light sports and passenger aircraft. Some firms, such as Junkers, Heinkel, and Dornier, managed to survive thanks to aircraft orders from the Soviet Union.
Gradually, the training of flight personnel was also improved. Already in 1926, according to the Paris Aviation Agreement, the German ground forces and navy were allowed to train 36 sports pilots(at the same time, everyone understood what tasks they would face). Shortly thereafter, the Entente states also agreed to study at German pilot schools. civil aviation. In the combat training of these pilots, Germany again received significant assistance from the Soviet Union, which in 1925 provided an airfield near the city of Lipetsk for the creation of a German aviation school. During the eight years of its existence, officially called the 4th Aviation Detachment of the 40th Air Squadron of the Red Army Air Force, 120 fighter pilots and about 100 observer pilots were trained or retrained here. Among them were many future generals and aces of the Luftwaffe. However, the main purpose of this aviation school was to work out the tactics of aviation combat operations, its interaction with the ground forces.
With the advent of A. Hitler to power, all enterprises that could be used for the development of aircraft construction were placed under the control of the newly created German Ministry of Aviation. The construction of airfields was carried out at a rapid pace, flight and aviation technical schools were created, and the formation of the first aviation units began. By March 1, 1935, when Hitler decided to take off his disguise and announced their creation, the German Air Force - Luftwaffe already existed (basic structures). The head of the Luftwaffe was Field Marshal and then Reich Marshal of Aviation Hermann Goering. At his disposal was the Ministry of Aviation, which included the headquarters of the air force and management: administrative and financial, civil aviation, air defense, personnel, educational institutions, technical and special supplies. In addition, there were several organizations controlled by the Ministry of Aviation: the National Socialist Flying Corps, the Imperial Air Defense Union, the Lufthansa air communications joint-stock company with its foreign branches, and the Aviation Research Society.
Before the Second World War, a powerful aviation industry was created in Germany to equip aviation formations with equipment, which was represented by 29 firms with 20 aircraft and 13 engine-building plants, as well as 31 plants supplying components. Up to 190,000 workers were already employed at these factories before the war. The reconstructed and newly built enterprises of the German aviation industry were distinguished by the latest equipment, high level of technology and mechanization of all main production processes. During the war, the production capabilities of the German aircraft industry increased many times, both due to the construction of new factories on the territory of Germany itself, and due to the involvement of enterprises in the territory of the occupied countries in the production of aircraft equipment.
Numerous competitions and records have become a favorite pastime for designers and pilots: for the fastest flight, for the farthest flight, for the most impossible flight, for crossing the English Channel and many others. These competitions, often run by aristocrats in love with a new undertaking, usually promised fame and tangible prize money. The civilian public showed great interest in both aircraft and pilots. The well-known German pilot, Ernst Udet, who later created Luftwaffe Third Reich. Airplanes became more reliable, faster and more carrying capacity. This did not go unnoticed by military specialists, and the relevant departments of different countries began to finance some aviation competitions, while formulating their own requirements for the designs of applicants. As a result, without much fuss and financial costs, civilian design bureaus gradually began to create aircraft that could later be easily reconstructed into combat ones. It was supposed to install slightly larger cockpit lights on the fuselages and mount weapons. The method of installing the barrel of a large-caliber machine gun or an aircraft gun in the collapse of the engine cylinders inside the shaft on which the propeller was mounted, which later became standard, was invented just in the interwar period.
German aviation before World War II, main tasks
However, reconnaissance or counteraction to it was still considered the main function of the aircraft. Even air strikes were perceived as a beautiful, but ineffective exotic. Only the civil war in Spain in 1936-1939. brought significant changes to this state of affairs. The insurgent putschists, led by General Franco, at first had rather small forces and could not seriously count on the success of a military coup. However, the putsch had a pronounced anti-communist character, which made it possible to win over Nazi Germany, which was in humiliating political and economic isolation after the defeat in the First World War. Hitler, who by that time had become Chancellor of the Reich, sent the Condor volunteer aviation squadron, equipped with Junkers transport aircraft, to help Franco. This is what decided the outcome of the civil war. The German "Junkers" organized an air bridge between Spain and Africa and in a matter of days transferred almost 50,000 infantrymen from Morocco to help the putschists.
In addition, then Hitler ordered the latest German fighters Messerschmitt Bf 109 to be sent to Spain.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 aircraft was very different from the mass machines of that time. It used a fully enclosed cockpit canopy, which significantly reduced air resistance and increased flight speed. Structurally new fighter It was a monoplane, which improved visibility. It tested some elements of the passive protection of the pilot. In particular, the chair had armor protection and covered the pilot from fire from below and behind. In addition, a walkie-talkie was installed on the Messerschmitt Bf 109, which made it possible to control aircraft from the ground, as well as much more convenient and faster to control vehicles in air combat. The newest "Messerschmitts" so surpassed the Republican aviation that they staged a real terror in the skies of Spain. Having rather quickly defeated the enemy in the air, they even began to fire at the enemy's ground positions and achieved noticeable success in this. As a result, General Franco won, and the Luftwaffe received invaluable combat and tactical experience in the use of modern aviation, which made it possible to reconsider its role in hostilities.
The experience of the war in Spain had a decisive influence on the entire future fate of the air force. Experts from many countries argued fiercely, but as a result they agreed that Military aircraft reached the point where they can become a decisive means to achieve victory. True, the fundamental disputes about the methods of using this tool continued for quite a long time. One of the new methods was proposed by General Douai. In his opinion, victory in the war of the future could be achieved at the cost of extremely insignificant losses. If we recall the experience of the First World War, then it is enough to build a powerful defensive line, behind which troops should be deployed. While the enemy will storm the fortifications to no avail and with heavy losses, a powerful air fleet of heavy bombers and high-speed fighters will destroy the industrial centers of the aggressor with massed raids, thereby completely undermining his power. And when the enemy runs out of steam, it will be possible to go on a decisive offensive, which will end in an unconditional victory. However, this outwardly beautiful idea was embodied by the French during the construction of a defensive line of fortifications on the Franco-German border, which received the name "Maginot Line".
In the UK, considering the Spanish experience, they believed that aircraft were needed solely to neutralize enemy aircraft, best of all at base airfields. And at this time, the infantry, reinforced by slow-moving "infantry" tanks, will inflict a decisive defeat on the enemy on land. Thus, British views were reduced to the simplification of hostilities by reducing the role of the air force. From the point of view of the German General Staff, modern means of armed struggle have reached a level of development that will help to completely eliminate the long-term confrontation of the armies. The war was supposed to be lightning fast, fleeting, almost bloodless, and, of course, victorious.
