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299th Tactical Aviation Brigade

Military unit of the Ukrainian Air Force

Military unit of the Ukrainian Air Force

FieldValue
unit_name299th Tactical Aviation Brigade
image299 tactical aviation brigade insignia.webp
image_size150
dates4 November 1976 – present
countryUkraine Ukraine
USSR Soviet Union (1976–1991)
allegiance
branch
(1976–1991)
typeBrigade
roleClose air support
size950 personnel
36 aircraft
command_structure[[File:PvK Pivden 2021.png25px]] Air Command South
garrisonKulbakino Air Base, Mykolaiv Oblast
nicknameVasyl Nikiforov
decorations[[File:За_мужність_та_відвагу_2015.svg200px]] [[File:За мужність та відвагу (2022).svg200px]]
For Courage and Bravery
commander1Colonel Oleksandr Dyakov
identification_symbol[[File:299-а_бригада_тактичної_авіації.png100pxcenter]]
identification_symbol_labelFormer Shoulderpatch
identification_symbol_2[[File:299 aviation brigade insignia.png100pxcenter]]
identification_symbol_2_labelFormer Insignia
identification_symbol_3[[File:Roundel of Ukraine.svg50pxcenter]]
identification_symbol_3_labelRoundel
identification_symbol_4[[File:Lesser Coat of Arms of Ukraine.svg50pxcenter]]
identification_symbol_4_labelFin flash
identification_symbol_5[[File:Емб заг пов сил 1 (2016).png75pxcenter]]
identification_symbol_5_labelAviation branch insignia
aircraft_attackSukhoi Su-25
aircraft_trainerAero L-39 Albatros

USSR Soviet Union (1976–1991) (1976–1991) 36 aircraft Soviet–Afghan War

  • Russo-Ukrainian War
    • War in Donbas
    • Russian invasion of Ukraine For Courage and Bravery The 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade (299 BrTA,"Lieutenant General Vasyl Nikiforov"), is a formation of the Ukrainian Air Force based at Kulbakino Air Base, Mykolaiv Oblast. The unit is equipped with Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft and is tasked with providing close air support for the Ukrainian Ground Forces and the Ukrainian Navy. It is subordinated to Air Command South headquartered at Odesa and has some 950 servicemen. Initially the airbase operated solely Su-25s but in November 2007 it inherited some 20 Aero L-39 Albatros trainer aircraft from a disbanded unit. Known operational aircraft as of 2016 are 13 L-39Cs and 23 Su-25s (of which 5 are Su-25UBs). As of late 2025 it could be up to 26, including possibly 8 Su-25UBs.

History

Soviet era

On 4 November 1976, the unit was established as the 299th Instructor-Research Shipborne Aviation Regiment of Soviet Naval Aviation at Saky Air Base, Crimea. It operated a squadron of Yakovlev Yak-38s and a squadron of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s. By June 1979, the unit was known as the 299th Ship-Based Attack Regiment (299 KShAP). Between 4 April and 9 June 1980, the unit deployed three Yak-38s to Shindand Air Base, Herat Province, during the Soviet–Afghan War to test the aircraft's combat abilities.

Beginning in September 1989, the regiment began to re-equip with the Sukhoi Su-25, with the transition completed by 3 July 1991. The transition to the Su-25 led to the regiment being renamed the 299th Independent Maritime Assault Aviation Regiment (299 OShAP) in 1990.

Ukrainian era

On 24 August 1991, Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union, which was approved via a referendum on 1 December. In January 1992, the regiment was renamed the 299th Independent Assault Aviation Regiment. On 17 March 1992, the 299th was officially incorporated into the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On 1 September 2003, the regiment became the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade (299 BrTA).

;Russian invasion of Ukraine

Since 2014, the brigade participated in hostilities as part of the government operation against Pro-Russian rebels in Donbas.

On 2 July 2014, a Su-25, call sign Blue 06, crashed due to a technical fault while landing at Dnipropetrovsk International Airport. The pilot ejected safely.

On the morning of 16 July 2014, Su-25 call sign Blue 03, was shot down over eastern Ukraine near Amvrosiivka town, and the pilot ejected successfully. National Security Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said that it was shot down by a missile fired from a Russian Mikoyan MiG-29.

On 23 July 2014, two Su-25 strike fighters, call sign Blue 04 and Blue 33 were shot down in the rebel-held area of Savur-Mohyla. Ukrainian authorities claimed that they were hit by long-range anti-aircraft missiles launched from Russia. Ukrainian Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said later in an interview that one of the attack planes was probably shot down by an air-to-air missile.

On 29 August 2014, a pair of Su-25 after returning from a mission on Kuteynikov, were attacked by enemy fire. Blue 08, piloted by Vladislav Voloshin, was shot down near Starobeshevo by a surface-to-air missile during the battle of Ilovaisk. The pilot, Captain Vladyslav Voloshyn, ejected and after 4 days was able to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory, was secured by a unit of the Ukrainian National Guard.

;Later service The 299th TAB suffered the loss of two Su-25 strike aircraft due to accidents. The first on 11 November 2015, when strike aircraft call sign Blue 07 piloted by Lieutenant Yegor Bolshakov crashed after colliding with high voltage transmission lines, the pilot died. Another strike aircraft, Blue 38 was lost on 14 July 2016 at Starokostiantyniv Air Base, after a failed take off.

Organization

The active Aircraft are most likely organized into 3 combat groups. Two consisting of 10-12 single seat Su-25s and the last fielding the remaining two seat Su-25UBs. The latter operates in the rear, mostly for training puropses. In total, the brigade has around 30 active pilots flying combat sorties.

  • [[File:299 tactical aviation brigade insignia.webp|299 tactical aviation brigade insignia|25px]] Unit Headquarters
    • [[File:Air Force image1-387-5-133x152.png|Insignia of the 1st Aviation Squadron of the 299.BrTA of the Ukrainian Air Force|25px]] 1st Aviation Squadron
    • [[File:Air Force image1-995-3-106x152.png|Insignia of the TEC of Aviation and Automotive Equipment / 299. BrTA/ Ukrainian Air Force|25px]] TEC of Aviation and Automotive Equipment
    • [[File:Air Force image1-51-1-109x152.png|Insignia of the 344th Guard Battalion / 299.BrTA / Ukrainian Air Force|25px]] 344th Guard Battalion

Equipment

Su-25

The Su-25 is the basic production model of the series, originally developed and built in the Soviet Union.

Su-25UB

Two-seat trainer variant of the basic Su-25, retaining full combat capability.

Su-25M1 and Su-25UBM1

The Su-25M1 is the first Ukrainian upgrade package for the Su-25 and the 2008 standard, developed exclusively for the Ukrainian Air Force. It features modernized avionics and additional flare dispenser racks as part of its improved self-protection suite.

The aircraft updated to this standard also received the famous "Pixel" paint scheme, originally in green. Only a few aircraft retain the green pixel scheme, with most now painted in grey, especially after reactivation. Additionally, the "Anti-Mykola" paint scheme was standardized some time after 2022 to avoid friendly fire.

Su-25M1K in 2023 with "Anti-Mykola" paint scheme

Su-25M1K and Su-25UBM1K

From 2015 onwards, the M1K upgrade package was established as the new standard, with most active airframes planned to be upgraded to this standard over time. This was in accordance with the state defence order calling for repairs of 24 aircraft from the total inventory of 39 Su-25/Su-25UBs in Ukraine inventory. The M1K features Ukrainian-designed equipment such as the new nav-attack system for precise weapons delivery from higher altitudes. Key equipment includes the S-17BC8-M1 digital sight, Kharkov Aviakontrol OJSC audio and video recording system, the С-3307 satellite navigation system receiver by Orizon-Navigation, and a modernized radio station. The M1K upgrade differs by adding the Adros KUV 26-50-01 flare dispenser system.

List of aircraft

Before the full scale invasion in 2022, the brigade consisted of 1 Su-25, 13 Su-25M1, 5 Su-25M1K, 3 Su-25UBM1, 2 Su-25UBM1K. During the war and until April 2023 some Su-25 stored or in reserve status were refitted for combat operations and four more were acquired from the Republic of North Macedonia. Two were made airworthy again and are now serving as blue 50 and 51.

Tail NumberTypeStatusNote
Blue 03Su-25M1Shot down - 16 July 2014.Ukrainian officials reported that the aircraft was shot down by Russian aviation, while separatists claimed to have downed it with MANPADS. The pilot safely ejected.
Blue 04Shot down - 23 July 2014 by separatists.One of two Su-25 shot down near the MH17 crash site.
Blue 06Crashed- 2 July 2014.Lost at Dnipropetrovs’k airport after returning from a combat mission. The pilot ejected safely.
Blue 15Su-25M1KOperational as of 2023
Blue 16Su-25M1Shot down - 26 July 2022.Pilot Oleksandr Kukurba died while flying a combat mission defending Ukrainian skies.
Blue 17Damaged beyond repair - Destroyed on the ground on 22 March 2022 by Russian jetfighters on Melitopol.Pilot Rostyslav Lazarenko survived and managed to land the aircraft.
Blue 19Shot down - 26 February 2022 in Kherson region.Pilot Lt. Col was killed.
Blue 20Operational as of 2023
Blue 21Shot down - 7 February 2024 by a Russian Su-35.Pilot Vladyslav Rykov was killed.
Blue 22Operational as of 2023
Blue 23Non operational before loss on September 2024.Wreckage recorded in Kulbakino Airfield in a Ukrainian documentary.
Blue 24Operational as of 2023
Blue 25Operational as of 2023
Blue 27Shot down - 14 December 2022.Pilot died.
Blue 28Operational as of 2025url=https://www.twz.com/air/ukraines-su-25s-seen-launching-hammer-rocket-boosted-bombs-for-the-first-timetitle=Ukraine’s Su-25s Seen Launching Hammer Rocket-Boosted Bombs For The First Timework=TWZdate=2 January 2025}}
Blue 29Shot down - 2 March 2022, over Starokostiantyniv, Khmelnytskyi Oblast.Pilot Capt. Oleksandr Korpan died.
Blue 30Shot down - 26 February 2022 in Kherson region.Pilot Capt. died.
Blue 31Su-25M1KShot down - 26 February 2022 near .Pilot Capt. died.
Blue 32Operational as of 2023
Blue 33Su-25Shot down - 23 July 2014 by separatists.The other Su-25 shot down near the MH17 crash site.
Blue 35Su-25M1KOperational as of 2023
Blue 36Operational as of 2023
Blue 37Su-25M1Shot down - 27 January 2023 near Kramatorsk.Pilot died.
Blue 39Shot down - 27 February 2022 near Hlibivka Vyshgorod, Kyiv region.Pilot Gennady Matulyak died.
Blue 40Su-25M1KShot down - 3 March 2022 on MykolaivCaptain was killed.
Blue 41Su-25M1Operational as of 2023According to the Ukraine Ministry of Defence it was hit with MANPADS, on July 16, 2014. The pilot was forced to land.
Blue 44Su-25Refit since 2011. Current state unkwown.
Blue 45Su-25M1KShot down - 14 May 2022 in Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.Captain was killed
Blue 46Su-25M1Operational as of 2023
Blue 47Su-25M1KOperational as of 2025Modified to carry French made AASM Hammer stand-off weapon
Blue 48Operational as of 2023
Blue 49Su-25M1Shot down - Wreck found in Kherson region.Pilot Andrey Maksinov was captured by Russian forces, he was interviewed by Russian media.
Blue 50Su-25M1KOperational as of 2023Ex-Macedonian 122 or 123
Blue 51Operational as of 2023Ex-Macedonian 121
Blue 60Su-25UBM1K
Blue 61
Blue 62Su-25UBM1
Blue 63Operational in 2021
Blue 64
Blue 67Su-25UBM1K
Blue 120Su-25UBM1KAirworthiness not ensuredEx-Belarussian then Ex-Macedonian 120
122 or 123Su-25unknownThe last of the Ex-Macedonian Airframes is either 122 C/N 25508110188 or 123 C/N 25508107039

Another 9 unidentified Su-25 aircraft were reported lost.

On 6 March 2022, a Su-25 was lost in Snihurivka, Mykolaiv Oblast according to the Ukrainian Mayor of Mykolaiv and Russian sources that reported the shotdown of a Ukrainian Su-25 by a Russian Su-35.

On 14 March 2022, a Su-25 was shot down by Russian forces in Volnovakha, Donbas region. The pilot, Roman Vasyliuk, captured by Russian forces was later released on 24 April, by a Russo-Ukrainian prisoner swap.

On 15 April 2022, Russian forces shot down a Su-25 in Izium, the Pilot was reported dead. Seredyuk was awarded with the Hero of Ukraine order.

On 10 April 2022, a Su-25 was destroyed in the ground inside a hangar at Dnipro Airbase by Russian rocket attacks, one Ukrainian technician was wounded as well.

On 7 September 2022, Ukrainian media reported the death of pilot while flying a combat mission on a Su-25.

On 19 September 2022, the remains of a Su-25, were found in Yehorivka, Donetsk Oblast. The aircraft was destroyed by a Russian 9K33 Osa.

On 6 January 2023, a Ukrainian Su-25 was recorded being shot down by a MANPAD over Bakhmut, the engines of the aircraft were recorded later on Bakhmut streets in April 2023 by Russian media.

On 10 October 2023, a Su-25 was destroyed by a ZALA Lancet drone attack on the tarmac of Dolgintsevo air base near Kryvyi Rih Air Base.

On 6 June 2024, a Su-25 was damaged beyond repair by a Lancet loitering munition drone at the Kryvyi Rih air base.

References

Bibliography

Golz, Alexander; Cooper, Rich. Ukraine's Attack Workhorse. Air Forces Monthly, June 2017. pp. 74–81. Stanford, UK: Key Publishing Ltd.

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