USSR Long-Range Aviation in 1950-1960-ies

Abstract

The article on the basis of new and already known sources analyses changing approaches to the development of strategic aviation in 1950-1960-ies in the Soviet Union. It is shown that in this period the progress in the development of missile armament entailed the reassessment of the role of long-range aviation in the organizational structure of the Armed forces. The research urgency is caused by necessity of understanding the experience of “Khrushchev’s” military reform in the context of Russian reforms in the military sphere with similar goals and initial conditions. The author pays attention to military-technical aspect of the development of Soviet aviation in the considered historical period. Special attention is paid to N. S. Khrushchev’s role in the transformation of the air force. The research novelty is seen in the fact that the author tries to correct the point of view established in national historiography about the voluntarism of the head of state when making decisions about changing the organizational structure of the USSR Armed forces in 1950-1960-ies. It is argued that a partial reduction in aviation was caused by very specific reasons, the main of which were the technical backwardness of the Soviet strategic bombers from their foreign counterparts and the obvious advantage of missile armament over aircraft.