Belarusian Air Force The Belarussian Air Force is the air force of the Armed Forces of Belarus , formed in 1992 from the 26th Air Army of the Soviet Air Forces which had been serving in the Byelorussian SSR . On 5 May 1942 , on the basis of the Air Forces of the Western Front , the 1st Air Army was created . By General Staff order of 10 January 1949 , the Army became the 26th Air Army ( ГШ ВС СССР № ОРГ 120026 ) . In 1980 , the 26th Air Army was redesignated the Air Forces of the Belorussian Military District ( ГШ ВС СССР 1980 года № 314 / 1 / 00170 ) . On 1 May 1988 , in accordance with the Ministry of Defence of the USSR ' s Decree № 0018 , the Air Forces of the District were again renamed the 26th Air Army . On 15 June 1992 , by decree № 05 of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus , the 26th Air Army headquarters became the command of the Air Forces of the Republic of Belarus . Organization . In accordance with an edict of the President of Belarus in 2001 , the Air Force , and Air Defense troops were created as one of the arms of the Armed Forces of Belarus . The VVS and Air Defense forces are intended to protect population centres such as cities and regions , as well as the administrative , industrial , economic interests of the Republic . They are also intended to defend troops from the impacts of enemy air attacks , and also against the attacks of hostile troops , as well as fire support and the guarantee of combat operations of ground forces . In peacetime , VVS and Air Defense forces are on standby to protect the state boundary in the air and also control of Belarusian airspace . The Air Force and Air Defense of the Armed Forces of Belarus are organized into six major flying regiments , including two interceptor , three strike , and a reconnaissance regiments . The air force consists of more than 18 , 170 personnel , though this number is being reduced . Prior to August 2010 , there were 6 primary airbases : Machulishi ( 50th Mixed Air Base ) , Lida ( 206th Assault Air Base ) , Baranovichi ( 61st Fighter Air Base ) , Ross ( 116th Bomber - Recon Air Base ) , Pruzhany ( 181st Combat Helicopter Base ) , and Bereza ( 927th Fighter Air Base ) . There are 4 active airbases : Baranovichi ( 61st Assault Air Base ) , Lida ( 116th Guards Assault Air Base ) , Pruzhany ( 181st Combat Helicopter Base ) and Machulishi ( 50th Mixed Air Base ) , now December 2011 . The Air Force is responsible for all military aviation , as the Army maintains no aircraft of its own . The Belarusian Air Force maintains close links with the Russian Air Force . Accidents and Future Plans . On 20 April 2009 , two MiG - 29 aircraft were performing an exercise when they both collided . One managed to land safely , while the other crashed . On 30 August 2009 , an Su - 27 UBM aircraft crashed on the second day of the Air Show 2009 in Radom killing both pilots . On 30 November 2011 , an Mi - 24 helicopter crashed in a small forest near the village of Novye Zasimovichi . According to eyewitnesses , " thick fog fell the previous evening . " On 12 June 2012 , an Su - 25 aircraft crashed near the small village in Belarus . The pilot Nikolai Gridnyov lost control of the jet when doing exercises in low - altitude flight . Future plans for Belarus is to buy around 18 Su - 30K s or Su - 30KN , which are already outdated , according to Russia . The return of these Su - 30K ( originally leased by India ) to Russia cannot be kept by the Russian Air Force . However , Russia can modify the aircraft for 5 million US $ a piece and Belarus can participate in the upgrade program and receive the Su - 30KN in the future . Belarus and Russia have signed a contract for the delivery of four Yak - 130 Mitten light attack aircraft to Belarus in 2015 . Aircraft Inventory . ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Aircraft ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Origin ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Type ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Versions ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | In service ! style = " text - align : left ; background : # aabccc ; " | Notes ! style = " align : center ; background : lavender ; " colspan = " 7 " | Fighter and CAS Aircraft ! style = " align : center ; background : lavender ; " colspan = " 7 " | Transport aircraft ! style = " align : center ; background : lavender ; " colspan = " 7 " | Trainer Aircraft ! style = " align : center ; background : lavender ; " colspan = " 7 " | Attack Helicopters ! style = " align : center ; background : lavender ; " colspan = " 7 " | Transport and Utility Helicopters