Col Gen Anatoly Karnukov has replaced Col Gen Piotr Deineken as commander-in-chief of the Russian air force. Karnukov was commander of the Moscow Air Defence military district. The air force and the air-defence force, previously two separate services of the Russian armed forces, are being merged during 1998. Karnukov, a former fighter-interceptor pilot, is familiar with both components of the planned joint service.
Source: Flight International