The flight Test Sector ramp at Batalnica.

Two
252/17 - Galeb 4s (local designation N-62s) belonging to
the flight Test Sector are pictured showing two
~ different national insignia. An aircraft In old
Yugoslav federation markings is seen taxying out,
one with with the interim Serbian Insignia can be

-
seen in the background. All PHOTOS, AlEKSANDAR RADIC
~

After Montenegro voted for

independence last year, the Serbia
and Montenegro Air Force is to split
into two forces. Alexander Radic
.~,
reviews progress so far. 0-

II.iJ FTERbeing
~ 88 years, andpart of thesince
a union same2003,
federation for
Serbia and
Montenegro have become independent countries
following a peaceful 'divorce'. In a referendum on
Montenegro's independence, a small majority
voted in favour of a split from Serbia, and
the union was no more. Independence
was declared in Montenegro's capital,
Podgorica, on June 2, 2006, and the armed
Above: The Serbian Ministry of Defence considers the control of national air space to be the Serbian
forces agreed to split the assets according Air force's priority. Consequently a pair of MiG-2h are kept on constant Quick Reaction Alert. for
to territorial claims. these miuions, the aircraft are armed with four or six R-60KIR·60MK air-to-air m/ulles.
Air Force units based at 8atajnica, Ladjevci, Left: The Serbian Air force has introduced new insignia, Its third In a year - known as the Takovskl
Nis and Kovin airfields became part of the Army Crou - superimposed over the roundelln Serbian national colours.
of Serbia, bringing with them 82 combat aircraft One Air Base - One Air Force Branch Command planned to reduce the number
and 89 helicopters out of the 94 and 111 respectively The assets were initially to be divided with all of aircraft based at Golubovci, near Podgorica,
which were reported on strength on January 1, 2006. infrastructure, real estate and equipment the to create a new, one-squadron structure, and to
These Serbian forces are now part of the branch property of the member state in which they are transfer around 15 Galeb G-4s trainers and Gazelle
bearing the new official name - Vazduhoplovstvo i located. Following restructuring, on March 31, helicopters to Serbia. This was not done at the time,
protivvazduhoplovna odbrana - V i PVO (Air Force 2005, Podgorica-based 172.abr had two subordinate and after independence was declared, all the aircraft
and Air Defense). Meanwhile the Golubovci-based units, 239.mae (mesovita avijacijska eskadrila belonging to 239.mae were left in Montenegro,
172.abr (avijacijska brigada - Aviation 8rigade), with a - Mixed Aviation Squadron) and 251.lbae (Iovacko- including the unit's fixed-wing flight of 17 N-62s
mixed squadron equipped with 41 aircraft of various bombarderska avijacijska eskadrila - fighter-bomber (the air force's designation for Galeb G-4 trainer and
types, has become part of the Army of Montenegro. aviation squadron), based at Kovin airfield in Serbia. light attack aircraft). Of these, five were the N-62~

42
 (5, skolski - training) unarmed variant. These were
stripped of weapons in 1996 under the Subregional
Arms Control Agreement as being over the allowed
limit of 155 combat aircraft under the control of 1
f
I
Belgrade. Galeb G-4swere considered too expensive I)
for Montenegro's budget and their future status is
unknown: Serbia wants to take at least five of them.
Until the decision on their final status the aircraft are
grounded. In November 2006, Podgorica-based
aero club Nasa Krila (Our Wings) took over two
N-625 which were in the best technical condition.
Montenegro's Ministry of Defence gave approval
for the aero club to use the two aircraft for three
years, without any compensation, as long as trained
several armed forces' pilots free of charge.
For pilot training, 251. Ibae lent the 239. mae four
piston-engined V-53s (Utva 75). Five HT-40s (Mi-8s)
were based at Golubovci: only one is operational
- the other four were withdrawn from service and
offered for sale in 2004. There are 15 Gazelles at
Podgorica: seven SA.341Hs (six utility HO-42s and L_ '-:-:- ~--- _
one reconnaissance HI-42 Hera) and eight SA.342Ls The oldest MIG·21s In the Serbian Air force Inventory were built In 1977: the youngesrdl1f7ffij/n 1983. They are
(two utility HO-45s and six armed, anti-tank HN- flown by pilots of the 101. lae.

45M Gamas). One other Gazelle helicopter is used
by the local police.
Montenegrin pilots are likely to fly only helicopters
in the future. Gazelles will stay on the inventory,
and crews are being prepared for the arrival of
UH-1H Hueys from the US. Montenegro expected
239.mae to continue training student pilots from
both countries, but the Serbian Air Force opted
for independent pilot training and sent jet fuel to
Podgorica to complete the training of the last class
of pilots instructed by the Serbia and Montenegro
Air Force at Golubovci. In July 2006, 11 pilots from
the Military Academy's 127th Class made their first
solo flights.
Only two of them flew the Galeb G-4 in their last
~-""':':71""'!J<' :.'\;'~
_'t ..:•••••••
,
'~""~"":":~'
. ·~'1~ ._....
\ "
year at the Academy, the rest flying Gazelles. After
graduating, eight went to the Serbian Air Force and
three to the Army of Montenegro. Montenegrin
student pilots will continue to study theory at the
Military Academy in Belgrade. Only one class, the
130th student class, is expected to carry out flying
training in the 2007/08 academic year.
Serbian Air Force Reorganization
Under the Serbian Army's new structure as defined
in the June 2006 Strategic Defence Review, further
reorganisation is expected by 2010, including the
phasing out of conscripts. The greater part of the
Serbian Air Force (SAF) restructuring is due to be
completed by June 2007, with integration of flying II
"~ '

At present, 01/ five MIG·29s are grounded. The Serbian Air force expects to have them back In service fol/owlng overhaul In 2007. They will take over the QRA duty from
the MIG·21s.

11227February 43
The Oraos are expected to soldier on for the forseeable future, from the 98.ab at Lad/evc1 and the Test Centre at Bata/nica. This two-seat NJ·ll is seen taxying out fn
the later during September 1005. KEv-AIAN WARNES
204. ab. The newly-established 101.lae (Iovacka squadron) and has a new role in training student support and aerial photography etc. It ha
avijacijska eskadrila - Fighter Aviation Squadron) pilots, and target towing. N-62s, including a single An-26s, two Yak-40s and two Do-28D2s prev,
was formed by combining the 126.lae, equipped N-62T, will remain on its inventory. Under the used by the 677th Squadron, whose quarter
with MiG-21 bis/UM, and the 127.lae, which flew reorganisation, the squadron received V-53s from new unit now uses. Apart from the fixed-wi
the MiG-29. This unit has a new designation which the now disbanded 251. Ibae, which was responsible assets, 138. mtrae inherited helicopters
does not comply with SAF tradition. Technically, for screening and primary training. After the crews) from the disbanded 890th mhe (me!
101.lae has 28 MiG-21 s and five MiG-29s in its V-53s went to Batajnica, military operations at Kovin helikopterska eskadrila - Mixed Helice
inventory, but realistically only a few MiG-21 bis are airfield ended and it has since been put up for sale. Squadron), including the HT-40 (Mi-8) and the
operational, supporting the Quick Reaction Alert For helicopter pilot training, a flight equipped with 42/HO-45 Gazelle variants used by the SAF.The
along with one MiG-21 UM. utility-role Gazelles became part of the 252. mae. unit's numerical designation represents a sym
Until the latest reorganisation, 252. Ibae, equipped The SAF's new multi-role unit, 138. mtrae (mesovita connection with the 677th trae and 890. I
with seven N-62s and four ]-22/N)-22s, was based transportna avijacijska eskadrila - Mixed Transport as both units were once part of the former 1
at Batajnica. Now the unit is known as 252. mae Aviation Squadron) is responsible for airlift, VIP Brigade, disbanded on June 27, 1997. One L·
(mesovita avijacijska eskadrila - mixed aviation transport, liaison, anti-tank missions, special forces (a MiG-21 M equipped with the LORAP[Long R

The Serbian Air Forceplans to use one 1984-bullt An-16 In the long term, but it currently relies on examples built in 1976, such as this aircraft, serial 71364.
V I PVO - FLYING UNITS DECEMBER 2006 LOCAL AIRCRAFTTYPE DESIGNATIONS:
Vi PVO COMMANO I Zemun
l-15M MiG-21 M reconnaissance version

204th AVIATION BASE I Batajnica

l-17K

l-18
MiG-21bis-K

MiG-29
101st fighter Aviation Squadron l-18, Nl-18,l-17, Nl-16Sh, V-53 Batajnica
Nl-165h unarmed MiG-21UM

B8th Mixed Transport Aviation Squadron T-70, Jak-40, 00-28D2, An-2TD, HT-40, HO-42, HO-45 Batajnica Nl-18 I MiG-29UB

J-22, NJ-22, N-62, N-62T, N-62Sh, V-53, HT-40, HN-42M, HN-45M, HO-42, HO-45 J-21 Orao single seater attack version
252nd Mixed Aviation Squadron Batajnica
NJ-21 Orao two seater attack version
1st Re<onnaissance flight l-15M,l-17K, V-53 Batajnica
IJ-22 Orao single seater re<onnaissance version
98th FIGHTER-BOMBER AVIATION REGIMENT Ladjevci

I
INJ-21 Orao two seater reconnaissance version
241st fighter-Bomber Aviation Squadron J-21, NJ-21, N-62, V-53 ladjevci
N-60Sh unarmed Galeb G-2

119th HELICOPTER REGIMENT - - 1 Nis N-62 Galeb G-4

712nd Anti-Armour Helicopter Squadron HN-45M, HO-42, HO-45 Nis N-62T Galeb G-4, target tow version

714th Anti-Armour Helicopter 5quadron HN-42M, H0-42, HO-45, HI-42 ladjevci N-62Sh unarmed Galeb G-4

T-70 Antonov An- 26

i
787th Transport Helicopter Squadron HT-40 Nis
V-53 Utva-75

HT-40 Mil Mi-8

Technical Test Center's
3S3th Reconnaissance
Sect~r for flight test
Aviation Squadron t
J-2, NJ-22. N-62, N-60Sh, V-53, HO-45, HN-45M
IJ-22,INJ-22, V-53
Batajnica
Ladjevci HO-42 J SA-341H Gazelle

HI-42 Hera SA-341 H Gazelle re<onnaissance version

ARMY OF MONTENEGRO - FLYING UNITS DECEMBER 2006 HN-42M Gama SA-341H Gazelle attack version
172nd AIR FORCE BASE, Golubovci I Podgorica H0-45 SA-342l Gazelle

239th Mixed Aviation Squadron N-62, N-62~, V-53, HT-40, HO'42, HI-42, HO-45, HN-45M Golubovci HN-45M Gama SA-342l Gazelle attack version

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