| Unit Name: | Ukrainian Army Aviation |
| Native Name: | Ukrainian: Армійська авіація України |
| Start Date: | 1992 |
| Country: | Ukraine |
| Type: | Army Aviation |
| Size: | 4 Brigades |
| Battles: | |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Previous logo |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Roundel |
| Aircraft Helicopter: | Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-24 |
The Ukrainian Army Aviation Ukrainian: Армійська авіація України)[1] is a military aviation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.
The first formations of army aviation in the revived Ukrainian were formed in 1992 when the former Soviet 119th Regiment joined the Ukrainian military.[2]
During the first four months of the War in Donbas, Ukraine suffered considerable losses, including four Mi-24 gunships and two Mi-8 helicopter transports. Due the widespread availability of surface-to-air missiles amongst the separatist militias, the UAA was forced to restrict the use of its assets.
In 2014 the 16th Brigade participated in the liberation of Slovyansk.[3]
Structure:[4]
The UAA operates overhauled Soviet-era Mi-2, Mi-8, and Mi-24 helicopters. Some of them were locally modernized as the Mi-2MSB, Mi-8MSB-V, and Mi-24PU-1.
In January 2022, Key.Aero estimated that the UAA had a total of 15 Mi-2s, 60 Mi-8s, and 60 Mi-24s. Some of these were non-operational at the time, while eight Mi-8s were deployed in Congo to support the United Nations MONUSCO mission. Since then, these helicopters were recalled, while allied nations such as the United States and the Czech Republic donated helicopters to help Ukraine replenish its losses in combat.
In December 2023, FlightGlobal estimated that the UAA had a total of 103 helicopters in active service, while in February 2024, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated a total of 60 helicopters in service.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopters | |||||
| Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | Utility | Mi-8MT Mi-8MSB-V | 15 − 59 | Some modernized by Motor Sich. |
| Mil Mi-24 | Soviet Union | Attack | Mi-24/35 | 33 − 45 | |
| Trainers | |||||
| Mil Mi-2 | Poland | Utility | Mi-2 Mi-2MSB | 11 | Most were modernized by Motor Sich.[8] |
The 12th Separate Army Aviation Brigade operated 4 Mi-26 heavy transport helicopters, they were withdrawn from service and placed in storage around the 2000s. The UAA also had a number of Mi-9 flying command posts (though they were used for training or transport instead). As of 2024, none remain in service according to the IISS.