Russian Air Force Stations

Frequency (MHz) Signal Mode Callsign Note
2.737 CW / Digital REA4 Air Force HQ Moscow
3.633 CW CEJX  
4.179 CW / Digital REA4 Air Force HQ Moscow
4.672 USB Vologda Radio Sometimes call checks Il-76
4.755 USB Blesk 37 Ja Skat 07 Possible Air Force use
5.312 CW Russian Strategic Air Force TU-95 ground CW frequency
5.620 CW Russian Strategic Air Force CW Ground Frequency
5.832 CW RICARJ 72131, 72132-TU-22 from Renchovo
5.835 CW Russian Strategic Air Force TU-95 CW ground frequency
6.685 USB PROSELOK
KORSAR
KLARNETIST
Traffic control comms air force
Chkalvosky Moscow Region
7.940 CW REA4 Air Force HQ Moscow
8.029 CW Russian Strategic Air Force Bombers TU-95 CW Ground Spring Primary Frequency
8.090 USB NABOR

SHAPORA

Russian Strategic Air Force Bombers TU-95  Spring Frequency
8.033 USB Russian Strategic Air Force Bombers TU-95 Autumn Frequency
8.112 CW BALANS KATOLIK Russian Strategic Air Force TU-95 CW Winter ground frequency 
8.131 USB BALANS KATOLIK Russian Strategic Air Force Bombers TU-95 Winter Frequency
8.162 CW Russian Strategic Air Force Bombers T-95  Ground Autumn Primary  Frequency
8.170 CW  6PLS D2WD Russian Strategic Air Force Bombers TU-95 Spring Air CW Frequency
8.816 CW Naval Air Transport
8.847 USB Traffic control comms air force
Chkalvosky Moscow Region
8.895 CW Russian Strategic Air Force TU-95 Summer CW Ground Frequency
8.909 USB  OCHISTKA, PROCELKA Russian Strategic Air Force Summer TU-95 Frequency
8.252 USB Russian Air Force Unknown Unit
9.027 CW Russian Strategic Air Force TU-95 Bombers Autumn CW Air Frequency
9.128 CW  P7YR W6SY QYYI Russian Strategic Air Force TU-95 Bombers Summer Air  CW Frequency
11.072 CW REA4 Air Force HQ Moscow
11.354 USB RJF94 / NOVATOR
PRIBOJ
KROCKET
Russian Naval Air Transport Command
11.360 USB PROSELOK
KORSAR
Traffic control comms air force
Chkalvosky airfield
Moscow Region
18.030 USB  KORSAR Traffic control comms air force
Chkalvosky Moscow Region

 Known Russian Strategic Bomber VHF frequencies:  124.000 128.500 136.250 138.550 284.650 289.000 358.125

Notes on TU-95  and TU-160 Strategic bombers communications

If the TU-95 CW markers are active, its an indication that bombers are in the air and its possible to monitor USB frequencies. Every 20 minutes lasting for 2 minutes a single letter will be repeated by CW. Its always on the H+00, H+20, H+40 and normally handset. Marker W is commonly heard probably from Moscow Strategic and Long Range aviation headquarters.

The G marker possibly comes from Russian Ukrainka Air Base in Amur District in Far East Russia. Other undefined markers are Q, R and Z. C marker is used by TU-95 bombers used by Russian Navy from Moscow Naval HQ. Arkhangelsk Severomorsk naval base use S marker.

The bomber formations use callsigns. Known callsigns are TRL5 – Spring TV6P, IZ2J and KFE4 – Summer 4ASU, QZ6Y and PUO7 – Autumn IWV4 – Winter. Three figure groups are used in messages, although it’s speculated that five-figure groups are actually used.

The ground communications to aircraft using USB voice use callsigns such as NABOR, BALANS and KATOLIK that are fixed and are not affected by the seasonal changes. 

Usual message format callsign, then the air unit number and coded numbers group that holds itself navigational directions.

KATOLIK for 48123: (unit number) / 694 062 405 274 527 /

During the flight, these navigational readings are sent frequently, because of bad readability the radio operator must repeat the message groups frequently. The female operator heard often is operator from the ground stations.

However, it’s been observed that also Monolith type messages similar to those used by ground forces are used.  In this case, the format and reading conduct are similar to command message send on S30 the Pip.

1 ЩРФ 56555 ПЛЮМАЖНЫЙ 2961 9651ВВ 09147 УШИБОХАЛЛ 6029 8105

1 ЩРФ 86312 УШИБОХАЛЛ 6029 81051 ЩРФ 56404 КРИЗОЛЮК 3525 2278

1 ЩРФ 80013 СЧЕТОКУБ 9492 4148 ЧАЕВОД 0264 2102 МЫШЕЧНЫЙ 1909 0741

January 16 2017 recording and transcripts – Запись кодировок на частоте 8131 (17.01.2018)

 

Sources

1.) http://milavia.blogspot.com/
2.) https://sites.google.com/site/russianradiodx/the-frequencies-of-the-air-force
3.) http://johngaltfla.com/wordpress/2014/03/01/russian-and-ukrainian-shortwave-civilian-and-military-frequencies-to-monitor-during-conflict/
4.) http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2014/11/russian-tu-95ms-bear-net-heard-on-new.html
5.) https://planesandstuff.wordpress.com/2015/01/31/bear-hunting/
6.) Roper,Tony. Bear Hunting: Tracking Russian Air Force Flights via CW and SSB. Spectrum Monitor. 2014. October Nr.10
7.) Roper.Tony Monitoring Russian HF Military Networks. Spectrum Monitor. 2016. June Nr,6