It fought in the Battle of Kursk, initially near Maloarkhangelsk. On 5 July, the beginning of the German attack, the division claimed 34 German aircraft downed and eleven damaged in six hours. After a German breakthrough at Ponyri, the 1st was transferred to the air, claiming six more aircraft on the march. Despite also suffering heavy losses, the division's units arrived at Ponyri, where they claimed fourteen aircraft downed and eight damaged. On 9 July, the division was operationally subordinated to the 2nd Tank Army, fighting in the Soviet counteroffensive, Operation Kutuzov. With the army, the 1st fought in the capture of Kromy, Dmitrovsk-Orlovsky, Dmitriyev-Lgovsky, and Sevsk. In the offensive, the division claimed 42 aircraft downed and sixteen damaged.