Russian Space Forces

Russian Space Forces
Космические войска России
Kosmicheskie voyska Rossii
Emblem of the Russian Space Forces
Active
  • 1992–1997
  • 2001–2011
  • 1 August 2015 – present
Country Russia
TypeSpace force
RoleSpace warfare
Part of Russian Aerospace Forces
March14 минут до старта ("14 Minutes Until Start", official march)
Anniversaries4 October (Space Forces Day)
EngagementsRussian military intervention in the Syrian civil war
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces Viktor Afzalov
Commander of the Space Forces Aleksandr Golovko
Insignia
Flag
Middle emblem
Insignia

The Russian Space Forces (Russian: Космические войска России, romanized: Kosmicheskie voyska Rossii, KV) is the space force branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces. It was reestablished following the August 1, 2015 merger between the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces, after the independent arm of service was dissolved in 2011.

Formed on August 10, 1992 alongside the creation of the Russian Armed Forces, the Russian Space Forces was the first independent space force in the world. The organization shared control of the Baikonur Cosmodrome with Roscosmos, the Federal Space Agency. It also operated the Plesetsk and the Svobodny Cosmodromes. However the Russian Space Forces was dissolved in July 1997 and incorporated into the Strategic Missile Forces.

The Russian Space Forces was once again reformed as an independent troop on June 1, 2001, under a military reorganization. However, by December 2011, it was dissolved once again and this time replaced by the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces.

On August 1, 2015, the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces were merged to form the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Russian Space Forces was reestablished as a result, and is now one of three sub-branches of the new military branch.