The 518th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Russian: 518-й истребительный авиационный полк; Military Unit Number 42192)[1] was a fighter aviation regiment of the Soviet Air Forces during World War II that became part of the Soviet Air Defence Forces after the end of the war.

It successively operated the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17, Tupolev Tu-128, and Mikoyan MiG-31 interceptors from Talagi before its 1998 disbandment during the reform of the Russian Air Defense Forces.

On 16 January, it joined the 140th Fighter Aviation Division of the VVS Kalinin Front and began flying combat missions.

[1] Squadron commander Junior Lieutenant Dmitry Kovtyulev gained ace status on 15 February when he claimed the last of his five victories, the only one that he was credited with as a pilot of the 518th, but was shot down in the same action and severely wounded.

[4] During the Battle of the Caucasus pilot Junior Lieutenant Sergey Shchirov claimed thirteen of his eventual eighteen victories while serving with the 518th and was made a Hero of the Soviet Union.

[5] On 3 December, it was withdrawn to the 26th Reserve IAP of the front at Sandary, Georgia to reorganize under shtat 015/284,[1] three squadrons with a total of 32 fighters including the two in headquarters flight.

[2] The regiment was sent back to the 19th Reserve IAP of the Siberian Military District at Ob to convert to the new Yak-9 fighter on 5 January 1943.

After finishing its re-equipping, the 518th returned to the active army on 8 May and on 20 May entered the Reserve of the Supreme High Command (RVGK) while based at Lyubertsy in the Moscow Military District.

On 23 June it joined 323 IAD of the 8th Fighter Aviation Corps (IAK) of the RVGK, stationed in the Steppe Military District.

The regiment resumed combat missions on 8 July with its corps and division, part of the 1st Air Army of the Western Front.

For its "exemplary performance of combat missions" in the capture of Radom and for "demonstrated valor and courage," the 518th received the Order of Suvorov, 3rd class, on 19 February 1945.

[4] During the war, the vast majority of the 518th's combat sorties – 4,222 out of 5,260 total – were to provide air cover to Soviet forces.

[8]In late 1953, the regiment received the new Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 interceptor, and was relocated to Vaskovo Airport near Arkhangelsk,[9] remaining part of 216 IAD.