Defense Ministry Lights the Afterburner on Air Power, Air Superiority

Recognizing the critical nature of Air Power in fighting against Russia’s full-scale invasion, The Defense Ministry of Ukraine is elevating aviation to be given more prominence within the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), a separate vertical for technological development and systems integration, and a billet for a Deputy Minister of Defense for Aviation.

Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, announced the creation of a separate vertical chain of command in the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff, which will focus exclusively on aviation development.

“We [are fulfilling] the task [ordered by] the President of Ukraine: strengthen our Air Force and create a separate vertical in the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff, which will focus exclusively on the development of aviation,” Umerov wrote in his official post on Facebook.

“Our goal is to increase the effectiveness of the use of existing platforms and master new technologies that will give Ukraine an advantage in the sky. We already have F-16s that have proven their effectiveness, as well as the French Mirage. This is just the beginning, and we will continue to develop this direction.”

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The defense minister named some flag and field-grade officer appointments within the newly restructured Air Force and then wrote he had nominated to the Cabinet of Ministers “Oleksandr Kozenko as Deputy Minister of Defense for Aviation.” Umerov posted: “He worked as my advisor for a long time, in particular, dealing with the issues of adaptation of F-16 and Mirage in Ukraine. Now his job is to expand these applications to the entire military aviation system.”

“Advantage in the air is protecting our people. It’s strengthening our offensive capabilities. Ukrainian warriors have to get powerful reinforcement from the sky. And we will do whatever is necessary,” Umerov concluded.