Fortunately, we live in peacetime: despite local conflicts that periodically arise in "hot spots", we can be more or less calm about our safety, that an enemy missile will not fly over our heads, the fact that from enemy fighters they will not suddenly shower us with a hail of bullets, because we will not hear the panic-inducing whistle of a bomb falling on our land.
However, only we, ordinary inhabitants, as the employees would say, can be so calm. Military people are always on the alert, even in such a quiet and peaceful time they are ready for anything: for threats from the sea and from the air, for attacks, even from the west, even from the east. Russian troops are not only ready to protect the civilian population in case of martial law, they protect our peace of mind, stand guard over our security, prevent possible attacks in our direction.
In the modern world, technology is so advanced that to attack anyterritory and bring colossal damage to another country, even if it is located on another continent, you can, so to speak, without leaving your home. Sophisticated installations are capable of delivering a warhead by air in a matter of fractions of a second, thousands of kilometers from the starting point. Therefore, the development and improvement of air defense has now acquired particular relevance.
And you must admit, the more we know about this, the calmer we will be - because then we will be one hundred percent sure that a modern and reliable air defense system is protecting our security.
If this topic has become interesting to you, then you should visit the Air Defense Forces Museum, which is located not far from Moscow, in a small Balashikha.
What is air defense?
Air defense, or air defense for short, is a whole range of means that ensure the security of the airspace over the state, that is, they prevent and prevent attacks from the air. It is important to note that anti-aircraft weapons are by no means a means of attack, they are designed solely to protect the country from enemy interference.
History of air defense in Russia
In Russia, for the first time, they thought about the need to protect their territory not only from ground attack and invasion from the water, but also to prevent attacks from the air back in 1891. It was then that in Krasnoye Selo, which is located near St. Petersburg, the first military exercises were held, induring which the shooters had to hit aerial targets (horse-drawn balloons).
At the same time, it was decided to design a special gun, which would be intended specifically for shooting down enemy aircraft. It was the first anti-aircraft installation. Its invention was timely - the weapon came in handy during the First World War.
Over the years, combat aircraft and methods of defeating the enemy from the air have been improved, which also led to the need for progress in the air defense system.
You can follow the development of air defense in Russia by visiting the Balashikha Museum.
Museum of Air Defense Forces
This institution is unique in the world and is the only museum dedicated to the air defense forces in Europe. The collection of the cultural and historical complex has about sixteen thousand items, four hundred of which are real combat units of equipment and weapons.
There are so many exhibits that they do not even fit under the roof of the main two-story building - part of the museum of the missile defense forces is presented on an open-air observation deck.
Exposure
In order for the viewing of the exposition to be logical, and for visitors to have a holistic picture of ideas about the development of air defense in Russia, the halls are arranged in chronological order according to the stages of the history of our fatherland. So, the exhibition of the first room you enter is dedicated to the history of the Air Defense Forces,starting from 1914 and ending in 1945, that is, it includes both World Wars. The second hall is dedicated to the post-war period, followed by the present.
The museum presents not only weapons and equipment, here you will also learn about the famous design engineers of missile defense systems, get acquainted with the biographies of heroes from the air defense forces.
Unique exhibits
In addition to modern air defense systems that protect the borders of our state now, the museum also presents the weapons that were used to defend in ancient times. One of the most ancient installations exhibited in the museum is the Schneider system mountain gun, which was used at the very beginning of the twentieth century; the stamp put on the gun indicates that it was produced at the Putilov factory.
Another unique exhibit presented at the exhibition is a huge diorama "Air defense of the city of Moscow, July 1941" by the famous Soviet artist Alexander Mikhailovich Semenov. The work is dedicated to the reflection by the Soviet troops (at that time they did not yet have a special name) of the first massive strike of fascist aviation on Moscow at night from July 21 to 22, 1941. The picture completely immerses in the atmosphere of wartime.
Also, the director of the Museum of the Air Defense Forces ensured that the exposition included materials from recently declassified documents - you will not see them anywhere else.
Historymuseum
A lot is connected with the name of Pavel Fedorovich Batitsky in the life of the Air Defense Forces of the Russian Federation. So, in 1978, the Air Defense Forces Museum was organized by the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces, Marshal of the Soviet Union (namely, such an honorary and high title was worn by the founder of the museum). Of course, he was not alone at the origins of the cultural complex; historians, political figures and, of course, those serving in this branch of the military came to the aid of Pavel Fedorovich.
At the moment, the museum is successfully functioning and developing under a different direction. Now he is the director of the Museum of Air Defense Forces Yuri Knutov, historian and military expert.
How to get there? Address of the Air Defense Forces Museum
The museum is not far from the capital of our state, in the city district of Balashikha, in the Zarya microdistrict on Lenin Street, house number 6.
From Moscow to the destination can be reached by electric train from the Kursk railway station along the Gorky direction. You need to go to the Zarya station.
If you are not afraid of traffic jams, then go on a tour by car. In this case, you should turn off the Moscow Ring Road either onto Nosovikhinskoye Highway or Gorkovskoye and go to the Zarya microdistrict.
Museum opening hours
Anyone can get into the Museum of Air Defense Forces of Balashikha daily from ten in the morning to five in the evening, excluding the lunch break, which is from one to two in the afternoon. Weekends in the museum are Monday and Tuesday. In addition, on the last Friday of each month, the museumalso does not work - employees spend a sanitary day.
Ticket prices
A standard entrance ticket to the Museum of the Air Defense Forces costs 100 rubles, for pensioners, schoolchildren and students there is a discount - the ticket price will be half that - only 50 rubles. There are also categories of citizens who are served free of charge (you can find a list of them on the official website of the museum).
Every third Sunday of the month for children (under 18), students of higher educational institutions, as well as for large families, admission is free.
However, remember that in order to receive a benefit, you must present a document confirming your right to it.
Free cheese not only in a mousetrap
But even if you are not included in any preferential category, you can still visit the Air Defense Forces Museum without paying a dime. You can do this on special days:
- February 23 - Defender of the Fatherland Day,
- May 9 - Victory Day,
- May 18 International Museum Day,
- June 12 Russia Day.
Another holiday in the museum is Air Defense Forces Day, which is celebrated on the second Sunday in April.
Tours
If a simple inspection of the expositions in the museum of the Air Defense Forces (the photo of one of them is posted above) is not enough for you, then you can order a fascinating tour, during which the museum employee will tell, first of all, what air defense is and why it is needed, will tell a storyAir defense in Russia, the museum itself will describe, how it arose. You will also hear interesting facts about how the missile defense system works in our country, learn a lot of new and interesting things about how the missile defense forces protect Russia.
This tour must be booked in advance, the staff will be happy to conduct it for a group of five to 25 people, but for this you will have to pay an additional 500 rubles in addition to the price of the entrance ticket.
But, believe me, it's worth it, because the reviews about the Air Defense Forces Museum are mostly positive.
