PECULIARITIES OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL READINESS OF TACTICAL AVIATION PILOTS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE TO PERFORM ASSIGNED MISSIONS

Abstract

The article aims to provide a theoretical rationale for and examine the specific characteristics of the psychological readiness of tactical aviation pilots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to perform their assigned missions during the War for Ukraine's Independence, as well as to identify the key psychological factors ensuring the effectiveness of their professional performance in combat conditions. The research methodology is based on a combination of general scientific methods – specifically analysis, synthesis, generalization, systematization, and comparison – applied to scholarly sources concerning the psychological readiness and professional activity of military pilots, as well as the psychology of performance under special conditions. The scientific novelty lies in the comprehensive theoretical generalization of the characteristics of psychological readiness among tactical aviation pilots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for executing combat missions in the context of a new type of warfare. It is substantiated that psychological readiness is an integral, professionally significant attribute of the military pilot's personality, ensuring the maintenance of operational effectiveness amidst combat stress, uncertainty, time constraints, intense information loads, and multifactorial threats. The key psychological factors influencing the readiness of flight personnel have been identified, including motivation, psychological stability, resilience, professional identity, cognitive flexibility, emotionalvolitional self-regulation, and the ability to make rapid decisions. It has been demonstrated that the experience of Ukraine’s War of Independence has significantly underscored the importance of military pilots' psychological readiness as a decisive factor in the successful employment of tactical aviation. Conclusions. It has been established that the psychological readiness of tactical aviation pilots is determined by the specific nature of their professional activity, characterized by extreme conditions, multifaceted combat threats, a constantly changing operational environment, significant psychophysiological strain, and time constraints for decision-making. This readiness ensures the ability to maintain professional performance, rapidly adapt to changes in the combat situation, and preserve psycho-emotional stability and reliability in executing combat missions under high-risk conditions