A flight of aircraft over Red Square in Moscow ended the parade on the 76th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, a TASS correspondent reports.
A total of 76 aircraft and helicopters were involved in this year's parade. Almost all types of aircraft in service with the Russian Air Force were represented in the air part of the parade.
For the first time this year, three heavy military transport helicopters Mi-26 opened the flight of the air group. Leading a group of three such heavy machines in a single formation is a formidable task. The following five multipurpose Mi-8 helicopters appeared in the sky. They are famous for their universality and ability to work in different climatic conditions. The flight of army aviation was closed by the modern attack helicopters Mi-35 of the pilot group "Berkuty", and also Ka-52 "Alligator" and Mi-28N "Night Hunter".
Then a group of three IL-76 aircraft, the backbone of Russia's military transport aviation, appeared over Red Square. The parade formation included strategic bombers Tu-160 and Tu-95MS, capable of carrying cruise missiles. Two IL-78 refuelers followed them, demonstrating aerial refueling. One of the Tu-160 flew in close formation with four fighters.
Next in the sky appeared modern fighters to gain air supremacy, the Su-35S. One could also see Su-24 frontline bombers, which were, in fact, the main strike force of the counter-terrorist operation in Syria, and four supersonic MiG-31K aircraft with modern hypersonic Kynzhal missiles. Then came the latest Su-57 fighters in a group of four machines. They were followed by a mixed group of ten Su-34s, Su-30SMs and Su-35Cs from the Lipetsk air center.
Following in the penultimate act the famous "Cuban diamond", a lozenge of MiG-29 and Su-30SM planes from "Strizhi" and "Russian Knights" aerobatic groups flew over Red Square. At the end of the parade, six Su-25 attack planes painted the sky over the city in the colors of the Russian flag.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS