With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Long-Range Aviation in Russia entered a period of decline, along with the other former components of the Soviet Armed Forces. This culminated when the command was formally disbanded in 1998 as part of the amalgamation of the
Russian Air Defence Forces and the
Russian Air Force. It became the
37th Air Army of the Supreme High Command. In 2009 the 37th Air Army of the Supreme Command was disbanded as part of the
2008 Russian military reforms, reformed once more as the Long Range Aviation Command. the Long-Range Aviation Forces were being revitalized through both the modernization of aircraft as well as the incorporation of long-range supersonic and hypersonic cruise missiles. In 2020, a new stealth bomber, the
Tupolev PAK DA, was reported to be in development. The design of the PAK DA was reported to have been "finalized" in 2021 with initial delivery of the first operational aircraft projected for 2027. Since 2015-16, Russian Long-Range Aviation includes two frontline divisions: •
22nd Guards Heavy Aviation Division (formerly 6950th Airbase in
Engels deploying
Tu-160 Blackjack heavy strategic bombers and
Tu-95MSM/MS Bear strategic bombers) •
326th Heavy-Bomber Division (formerly 6952nd Airbase in
Ukrainka deploying Tu-95MS strategic bombers). and at the
Shaykovka air base (with the 52nd Heavy Bomber Regiment subordinate to the 22nd Division). In February 2017 and during 2019–2023,
Sergey Kobylash was commander of Russian Long-Range Aviation. As a result of the
Russo-Ukrainian War, the Tu-22M3 contingent at the Olenya air base in the
Murmansk region was reportedly reinforced in 2025 when bombers, likely from the Belaya air base in Siberia, were deployed to the region. Tu-95MS Bear bombers have reportedly also used Olenya in carrying out strikes in Ukraine. ==References==