Main weapon to help Russia expand global influence

According to the 2018 Military Power Report byInternational Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) announcedRussia currently has 177 heavy and medium transport aircraft, second only to the United States in the world. The effectiveness of the Russian transport fleet in the military intervention in Syria shows that this force will play an important role in Moscow's global ambitions, according toWar Is Boring.

The main reason for the Russian military, which focuses heavily on ground combat, to field a large transport fleet is the existence of the Airborne Forces (VDV), a special branch of the military that specializes in deploying troops and combat equipment by air.

The VDV’s operational model is similar to the US Marine Corps (USMC). Both serve as expeditionary forces, capable of rapid deployment to remote areas to capture and consolidate positions while waiting for the main infantry units to arrive to support them. The difference is that the USMC operates on US Navy ships, while the VDV relies on heavy transport aircraft.

The main transport of the VDV is the Ilyushin Il-76 strategic transport aircraft, designed for large-scale cargo transportation or parachute troop drops. The Il-76 entered service in 1974 with a total of 960 built. The Il-76 is capable of taking off and landing on a variety of terrains, including dirt runways and polar glaciers.

To carry out blitzkrieg operations, the VDV often deploys light mechanized infantry units from Il-76 transport aircraft. Each aircraft can carry three BMD infantry fighting vehicles, enough to equip a paratrooper platoon. Russia is currently operating the Il-76MD-90A version with a reinforced airframe and more powerful engines, increasing the payload to carry modern BMD-4 armored vehicles.

These transport aircraft are all equipped with powerful defense systems, including radar warning devices (RWR), jammers, decoy launchers, and two 23mm radar-guided cannons at the tail to deal with enemy fighters, as well as provide fire support for paratroopers after landing.

The engine thrust reversal system helps the Il-76MD-90A land on runways only 450 m long, allowing it to operate in remote areas without infrastructure to support aircraft of the same type.

The VDV also performs traditional missions such as support and counterinsurgency operations. In this role, troops and some equipment are rapidly deployed by transport aircraft, while tanks and heavy infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) are transported by rail.

Russia currently operates a fleet of An-124s, the world's largest transport aircraft, capable of carrying both main battle tanks and fighter jets. However, the Russian Air Force mostly uses An-124s to transport supplies and air defense equipment to bases far from the country's territory.

The flexibility and large transport capacity make the transport aircraft fleet the main weapon helping Russia deploy troops to remote locations in a short time, one of the requirements in Moscow's strategy to expand its global influence in the future, expert Beckhusen emphasized.

In contrast, the US airborne capabilities are limited to infantry and light combat vehicles. The US Army has not had a parachute tank since retiring the M551A1 Sheridan in the mid-1990s. In recent years, the Pentagon has begun to look into reviving its airborne armored force, but the effort has yet to produce clear results.