It was initially established on January 26, 1965 by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet № 3230-VI[2] as the honorary title of "Merited Military Pilot of the USSR" (Russian: Заслуженный военный лётчик СССР).

[3] The honorary title of "Merited Military Pilot of the Russian Federation" is a 27mm wide by 23mm high silver and nickel polygon with raised edges.

At the top of the obverse, the relief inscription in three lines covered to the left "MERITED MILITARY PILOT" (Russian: ЗАСЛУЖЕННЫЙ ВОЕННЫЙ ЛËТЧИК), in the center, the gilt tombac image of a jet plane climbing diagonally towards the right its nose and tail slightly protruding over the edges, at the bottom, the relief inscription "RUSSIA" (Russian: РОССИЯ) superimposed over a laurel branch.

[3] The insignia is secured to a standard Russian square mount by a silver-plated ring through the suspension loop.

The mount is covered by a silk moiré tricolour ribbon of white, blue and red.