The Honorary Title of "Merited Military Pilot of the Russian Federation" (Russian: Заслуженный военный лётчик Российской Федерации) is a state award of the Russian Federation that can trace its history to the Soviet Era. It was initially established on January 26, 1965 by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet № 3230-VI as the honorary title of "Merited Military Pilot of the USSR" (Russian: Заслуженный военный лётчик СССР). Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the title was retained by the Law of the Russian Federation 2555-1 dated March 20, 1992 and renamed "Merited Military Pilot of the Russian Federation". Source: Wikipedia (en)