FACT: Russia s Airborne Fighting Force is Second-Largest in the World
It has the transport and logistics that are key to battle.
Here s What You Need to Remember: Moscow has air-borne units and enough transport planes to get its army around Eurasia quickly.
When it comes to being air-mobile, the Russian military is second only to the U.S. military. According to the 2018 Military Balance Report, Russia fields 177 heavy to medium transport aircraft. This stands in contrast to America’s 658, China’s 84, France’s 46, and the UK’s 44. Russia’s transport fleet has proven useful in recent operations in Syria, but how did such a numerous fleet evolve in a military that has a strong focus on ground warfare? What unique capabilities does it have?