The decision to move the military air defense system to the Russian Aerospace Forces marks a turning point aimed at closing gaps in readiness and boosting the safety of military air operations. This view, expressed in an interview with the newspaper Vzglyad by Aitech Bizhev, who previously served as deputy commander in chief of the Air Force, centers on the idea that a unified command structure will give air defense a clearer battle map and smoother decision cycles. Bizhev argues that consolidating control under the Aerospace Forces will streamline how missions are planned and executed, reducing friction between different components that once operated on separate lines of authority.
The key promise of this shift is the creation of a single radar and information field that can seamlessly fuse data from all sensors and assets. Bizhev explained that when air defense forces are aligned under a common command, the country will pursue agreed goals with greater coherence. In his view, this integration will help resolve the frictions that have emerged from distributed control, enabling faster responses to air threats and better coordination with allied operations. The anticipated outcome, he suggested, is a more decisive and unified defense posture, where each element knows its role within the larger map of operations.
According to Bizhev, transferring military air defense to the jurisdiction of the Aerospace Forces will also simplify aviation support. He noted that it will become clearer not only what resources are available but also where they should be directed and how they should assist ongoing flights. This clarity, he added, will improve the predictability of missions and the reliability of support for aircraft in flight. In recent discussions, media outlets have described how the air defense system has gradually shifted away from traditional Ground Forces control toward the main command of the Air and Space Forces, signaling a broader modernization effort within Russia’s military aviation and defense architecture. The new arrangement is expected to align air defense with the broader strategic goals of integrating space and air operations, which in turn should bolster both urgency and precision in response times during contested airspace.