Aviation Department

colonel Volodymyr Gerasimenko
Head of Aviation Department, Doctor of Military Sciencescolonel
Volodymyr Gerasimenko

colonel Oleksii Martyniuk
Deputy Head of Aviation Department, Candidate of Engineering Sciences (PhD), Associated Professorcolonel
Oleksii Martyniuk

The Department of Aviation was established on 1 March 2010 in accordance with the Decree of the President of Ukraine of 30 December 2008 No. 1217/2008, Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of 28 January 2009 No. 39 on the reorganisation of the National Defence Academy of Ukraine into the National Defence University of Ukraine. The department is one of the main structural unit of the Institute of Aviation and Air Defence and is the successor of the departments of Combat Use and Control of Aviation, Combat Support of Aviation Aviation Engineering, founded in 1999.

Currently, the Department of Aviation is headed by a military pilot, Doctor of Military Sciences, Colonel Volodymyr Herasymenko. The Deputy Head of the Department of Aviation is Candidate of Technical Sciences Associate Professor, Colonel Oleksii Martyniuk. The Department of Aviation has an educational and laboratory complex.

The Department of Aviation provides training for obtaining a master's degree in the field of knowledge 25 "Military Sciences, National Security, State Border Security" in the following specialities:

  • 253 "Military management (by types of armed forces)" – for specialists in combat missions and command and control of combat aviation units; combat missions, support and command and control of unmanned systems;
  • 254 "Support of troops (forces)" – for specialists in the organisation of engineering and aviation support for the Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and other military formations of the state.

The main tasks of the Aviation Department are:

  • teaching students the basics of combat missions of combat aviation units, the basics of command and control the missions of combat aviation units, the methodology of training of combat aviation units, the organisation of navigational support for aviation, the organisation of aircraft operation, the organisation of aviation engineering support, the organisation of missile and technical support;
  • training students in the basics of combat missions of unmanned military aerial vehicles, basics of command and control of unmanned aerial vehicles, methods of training of unmanned aerial vehicles units, organisation of navigational support of unmanned aerial vehicles, organisation of operation of unmanned aerial vehicles, organisation of engineering and aviation support of unmanned aerial vehicles, organisation of missile and technical support of unmanned aerial vehicles;
  • ensuring educational, methodological, scientific and scientific-technical activities, providing conditions for military specialists of structural subdivisions of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, other military formations of the security and defence sector of Ukraine involved in the performance of tasks in the interests of national security and defence in peacetime and in a special period;
  • improving the content of students' training, taking into account changes in the structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the peculiarities and conditions of performing their tasks, experience of troops missions in international peacekeeping and security operations, local wars and armed conflicts;
  • ensuring advanced training and professional development of researchers and academic staff;
  • conducting research on the use of military aviation units and unmanned aerial systems;
  • fostering in students the qualities of a commander-leader based on the best traditions of the Ukrainian army, the Ukrainian Cossacks, officers of previous generations and the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people, a high level of patriotism, dedication to military service and service to the Ukrainian people, ensuring their physical, cultural and spiritual development;
  • introducing the results of scientific research on the use of aviation and unmanned aerial systems and innovative methods of training military specialists for the Armed Forces of Ukraine into the educational process;
  • development of proposals to improve educational and scientific programmes for the training of military specialists, adjustment of the content of curricula, programmes (work programmes) of academic disciplines, teaching materials for the prompt implementation of modern views on the training, use, management and support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in educational activities based on the experience of the anti-terrorist operation, the Joint Forces Operation and the russian-Ukrainian war;
  • active introduction of modern information learning technologies, distance learning systems and further implementation of the concept of blended learning into the educational process;
  • introduction of active forms and methods of teaching (lectures-discussions, lectures-conversations, work shops, projects, case studies) into the educational process;
  • increasing the efficiency and practical orientation of research, taking into account the experience of the anti-terrorist operation, the Joint Forces Operation and the russian-Ukrainian war;
  • enhancing the role of the Department as a centre of educational, methodological, scientific and educational activities;
  • improving interaction between the department and customers of scientific and technical products;
  • directing the work of inventors and innovators to the modernisation of the weapons and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, improving the material and technical base of the university;
  • ensuring compliance with secrecy measures in all types of work related to state secrets;
  • ensuring unconditional compliance with the requirements of regulatory and guiding documents on the technical protection of classified information.

Scientific potential of the department

The Department of Aviation has a Doctor of Military Sciences, 3 Candidates of Technical Sciences, 2 Doctors of Philosophy and 2 senior lecturers. The department of Aviation provides training for adjuncts. At present, 50% of the department's academic staff are trained and able to conduct classes in English, and have studied operations planning and decision-making in accordance with NATO standards at foreign military educational institutions.

The entire staff of the department has experience in combat and peacekeeping operations.