Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro

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Yugoslav War Air Force (1992–2003)

* * *

War Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006)

Emblem of the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Founded| April 27, 1992
Disbanded| June 3, 2006
Country|  Serbia and Montenegro
Type| Air force, air defense force
Size| about 16,000 personnel
450 aircraft total
Part of|  Military of Serbia and Montenegro
Air Force HQ| Zemun, Belgrade, Serbia
Patron| Saint Elijah
Colors|   Azure
Engagements| Yugoslav Wars

* Kosovo War
* NATO bombing of Yugoslavia

Insignia
Roundel|
Fin|
Aircraft flown
Attack| J-22, G-4, Mi-24, SA.342 GAMA
Fighter| MiG-29, MiG-21Bis
Interceptor| MiG-21Bis
Reconnaissance| MiG-21M, MiG-21R, IJ-22, INJ-22, SA.341 HERA
Trainer| Utva 75, G-4, NJ-22
Transport| An-2, An-26, YAK-40, Mi-8

Military unit

The Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro (Serbian: Ратно Ваздухопловство Србије и Црне Горе, РВСиЦГ, romanized: Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo Srbije i Crne Gore, lit. 'War Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro', RVSiCG), also known as the Air Force of Yugoslavia (JRV; Serbian: Југословенско Ратно Ваздухопловство, romanized: Jugoslovensko Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo, lit. 'Yugoslav War Air Force') from 1992 to 2003, was the air force of the former Serbia and Montenegro. It had around 300 fighter aircraft, ground attack aircraft, and other aircraft. The air force, in 1998, had about 16,000 personnel. The air force was disbanded when Montenegro voted to secede from the ex-FRY in 2006. The bulk of it was inherited by the Serbian Air Force and Air Defence.[1]

## History

[edit]

### Creation and consolidation

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2025)

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### Reorganization

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2025)

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### Operation Allied Force

[edit]

Around 50 Yugoslav aircraft were lost during the Kosovo War when NATO aircraft attacked FRY forces in 1999. Six MiG-29s were destroyed in dogfights against F-15s, F-16s, and F-18s. Other MiG-29s were destroyed on the ground when NATO forces attacked the FRY's Batajnica Airfield.

#### Casualties

[edit]

The commander-in-chief of the Air Force said that Air Force and Air Defense had 40 killed and 110 wounded personnel in combat.

Air Force and Air Defense used innovative tactics to counter technologically more advanced and numerically superior opponents. AF & AD C-in-C Lieutenant General Spasoje Smiljanić was promoted to the rank of Colonel General and awarded Medal of War Flag - First Degree. Deputy of C-in-C Supreme Command Headquarters for the AF Colonel General Ljubiša Veličković was awarded the Medal of War Flag - First Degree. General Veličković was killed in combat.

##### Air combat

[edit]

Captain Zoran Radosavljević in 1997.

The first Yugoslav planes in the air were the Knights of the 127th LAE (127th Fighter Squadron) with their MiG-29s (they were the only unit operating them). Based on publicly released data one could conclude that three MiGs were scrambled from Batajnica Air Base with Lieutenant Colonel Ljubiša Kulačin, Major Nebojša Nikolić and Major Milorad Milutinović in the cockpits and two (Lieutenant Colonel Dragan Ilić, Major Iljo Arizanov) from Niš Airport. Since Germany had the same type of MiG-29 for a decade, NATO was expected to be successful in jamming radar and communication with GC center. Bearing that in mind and the fact that great numbers of enemy aircraft were in the air backed by four AWACS planes, Yugoslav pilots applied new tactics. They abandoned the usual leader-wingman formations and used fast solo dashes near ground to stay out of sight and then, when close enough to fire their R-73s (AA-11 Archer air-to-air missiles), engage in a vertical climb trying to get a firing solution with their KOLS laser - IR rangefinder/homing system.

The following pilots were awarded Bravery Medals and promoted to higher ranks:

* Major Nebojsa Nikolić
* Major Slobodan Perić (killed in car accident 30 May 2010)
* Major Predrag Milutinović
* Major Iljo Arizanov
* Captain, 1st class, Zoran Radosavljević, killed in combat

Other pilots that flew combat missions (based on data gathered so far):

* Colonel General Ljubiša Veličković
* Colonel Milenko Pavlovic, commander of 204. Fighter Aviation Regiment, killed in combat
* Lieutenant Colonel Ljubiša Kulačin
* Lieutenant Colonel Dragan Ilić
* Major Abdul Emeti
* Major Bora Zoraja
* Major Dragan Milenković

#### List of awarded units

[edit]

250\. Rocket Brigade AD received the Order of the National Hero medal, the highest military medal for their exceptional service during the war.

126\. VOJIN Brigade received the Order of the National Hero medal, the highest military medal for their exceptional service during the war.

#### List of awarded members

[edit]

* Lieutenant Colonel Života Đurić, Bravery Medal and promotion to higher rank. He was killed when his J-22 Orao hit a hill.[2]
* Colonel Bela Kis, Bravery Medal
* Colonel Goran Ostojić, Bravery Medal
* Lieutenant Colonel Sreto Malinović, Medal of Honor
* Major Srđan Vukičević, Bravery Medal
* Major Sava Milenković, Bravery Medal
* Major Rade Nikčević, Bravery Medal
* Major Aleksa Milovanović and Captain, 1st class Srđan Jovanović got Distinguished Service Medal's for rescuing downed pilot under enemy fire
* Captain, 1st class Emilijan Abrt, Bravery Medal
* Captain, 1st class Nebojša Mrvljević, Bravery Medal
* Captain Nenad Bulatović, Bravery Medal
* Captain Nenad Spasić, Bravery Medal
* Senior Sergeant, 1st class Dragan Vuković, Bravery Medal
* Sergeant, 1st class Miloš Akšić, Bravery Medal
* Sergeant, 1st class Zdravko Komazec, Bravery Medal
* Sergeant, 1st class Dragan Đuričić, Bravery Medal

#### List of destroyed aircraft

[edit]

Aircraft  | Serial  | Place  | Crew

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MiG-29 | 18103  | Batajnica  |
MiG-29  | 18104  | Niš  |
MiG-29  | 18106  | near Kruševac  | Maj. Predrag "Grof" Milutinović, shot down by Dutch F-16AM J-063 [3]
MiG-29  | 18107  | Batajnica  |
MiG-29  | 18109  | near Valjevo  | Col. Milenko Pavlović†, shot down by NATO
MiG-29  | 18110  | Ponikve  | Maj. Slobodan Tešanović, noncombat flight
MiG-29  | 18111  | near Titel  | Maj. Nebojša Nikolić, shot down by NATO
MiG-29  | 18112  | near Priština  | Maj. Iljo Arizanov, shot down by possible friendly fire
MiG-29  | 18113  | near Loznica  | Capt. 1st Class Zoran Radoslavljević†, shot down by NATO
MiG-29  | 18114  | near Bjeljina  | Maj. Slobodan Perić, shot down by NATO
MiG-29UB  | 18302  | Batajnica  |
G-4 Super Galeb | 23693 Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci  |
G-4 Super Galeb  | 23694 Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci  |
G-4 Super Galeb  | 23695 Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci  |
G-4 Super Galeb  | 23696 Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci  |
G-4 Super Galeb  | 23697 Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci  |
G-4 Super Galeb  | 23698 Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci  |
G-4 Super Galeb  | 23699 Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci  |
G-4t Super Galeb | 23604  | Batajnica  |
G-4t Super Galeb  | 23606  | Batajnica  |
J-22 Orao | 25104  | near Paraćin  | Maj.Života Đurić†
J-22 Orao  | 25204  | Ponikve  |
J-22 Orao  | 25205  | Ponikve  |
NJ-22 Orao  | 25532  | Ponikve  |
NJ-22 Orao  | 25533  | Ponikve  |
J-22 Orao  | 25174  | Ponikve  |
J-22 Orao  | 25168  | Ponikve  |
IJ-22 Orao  | 25709  | Moma center  |
NJ-22 Orao  | 25527  | Batajnica  |
J-22 Orao  | 25164  | Batajnica  |
J-22 Orao  | 25152  | Lađevci  |
J-22 Orao  | 25207  | Lađevci  |
MiG-21 Bis | 17135  |  |
MiG-21 Bis  | 17220  | Batajnica  |
MiG-21 Bis  | 17228  | Batajnica  |
MiG-21 Bis  | 17231  | Batajnica  |
MiG-21 Bis  | 17401  | Batajnica  |
MiG-21 Bis-K  | 17208  | Batajnica  |
MiG-21 Bis  | 17162  | Priština  |
MiG-21 Bis  | 17169  | Priština  |
MiG-21 Bis  | 17170  | Priština  |
MiG-21 Bis  | 17224  | Priština  |
MiG-21 Bis  | 17166  | Lađevci  |
MiG-21 Bis  | ?  | Batajnica  |
MiG-21 Bis  | ?  | Ponikve  |
MiG-21 Bis  | ?  | Sjenica  |
MiG-21 M  | ?  | Batajnica  |
MiG-21 UM  | 16151  | Batajnica  |
An-2 | 70301  | Leskovac  |
An-2  | 70374  | Leskovac  |
An-2  | 70357  | Leskovac  |
Mi-14PL  | 11351  | Golubovci  |
Mi-14PL  | 11352  | Golubovci  |
Mi-14PL  | 11354  | Golubovci  |
Ka-25PL  | 11305  | Golubovci  |
Ka-25PL  | 11306  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb | 23211  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
G-2 Galeb  | 23???  | Golubovci  |
Utva 75 | 53001  | Pančevo, Utva  |
Utva 75A  | 53263  | Pančevo, Utva  |
Utva 75AG  | 53265  | Pančevo, Utva  |
Utva 75R  | 53166  | Pančevo, Utva  |
Utva 75  | 53213  | Sombor  |
Lasta 95 | 54151  | Pančevo, Utva  |
Lasta 95  | 54153  | Pančevo, Utva  |
Lasta 95  | 54154  | Pančevo, Utva  |
Lasta 95  | 54155  | Pančevo, Utva  |
Lasta 95  | 54156  | Pančevo, Utva  |
Mi-8 | 12???  | Kosovo  |
Mi-8  | 12???  | Kosovo  |  |

## Organization

[edit]

### Structure

[edit]

#### 1992–1994

[edit]

* Air Force and Air Defense Command
*       * 333rd Engineering Battalion
* 322nd Signal Battalion
* 138th Transport Aviation Brigade
* 280th Center for Electronic Reconnaissance and Jamming
* Flight Test Center
* Aviation Corps
* 83rd Aviation Brigade
* 172nd Aviation Brigade
* 204th Aviation Brigade
* 98th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment
* 97th Helicopter Regiment
* 119th Helicopter Regiment
* Air Defense Corps
* 210th Signal Battalion
* 126th Air Surveillance/Intelligence and Guidance Brigade
* 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade
* 450th Air Defense Missile Brigade
* 60th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 230th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 240th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 310th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 311th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment

#### 1994–1996

[edit]

* Air Force and Air Defense Command
*       * 138th Transport Aviation Brigade
* 280th Center for Electronic Reconnaissance and Jamming
* Flight Test Center
* Aviation Corps
* 333rd Engineering Battalion
* 172nd Aviation Brigade
* 98th Aviation Brigade
* 119th Helicopter Regiment
* Air Defense Corps
* 359th Engineering Battalion
* 210th Signal Battalion
* 83rd Fighter Aviation Regiment
* 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment
* 126th Air Surveillance/Intelligence and Guidance Brigade
* 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade
* 450th Air Defense Missile Regiment
* 60th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 230th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 240th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 310th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 311th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment

#### 1996–1999

[edit]

* Air Force and Air Defense Command
*       *         * 353rd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron "Sokolovi"
* 677th Transport Aviation Squadron "Rode"
* 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron "Pegazi"
* 280th Center for Electronic Reconnaissance and Jamming
* Flight Test Center
* Aviation Corps
* 333rd Engineering Battalion
* 172nd Aviation Brigade
* 98th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment
* 119th Helicopter Brigade
* Air Defense Corps
* 359th Engineering Battalion
* 210th Signal Battalion
* 83rd Fighter Aviation Regiment
* 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment
* 126th Air Surveillance/Intelligence and Guidance Brigade
* 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade
* 450th Air Defense Missile Regiment
* 60th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 230th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 240th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 310th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 311th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment

#### 1999–2002

[edit]

* Air Force and Air Defense Command
*       *         * 353rd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron "Sokolovi"
* 677th Transport Aviation Squadron "Rode"
* 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron "Pegazi"
* 280th Center for Electronic Reconnaissance and Jamming
* Flight Test Center
* Aviation Corps
* 333rd Engineering Battalion
* 172nd Aviation Brigade
* 98th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment
* 119th Helicopter Brigade
* Air Defense Corps
* 359th Engineering Battalion
* 210th Signal Battalion
* 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment
* 126th Air Surveillance/Intelligence and Guidance Brigade
* 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade
* 450th Air Defense Missile Regiment
* 60th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 230th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 240th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 310th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment

#### 2002–2006

[edit]

* Air Force and Air Defense Command
*       *         * 353rd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron "Sokolovi"
* 677th Transport Aviation Squadron "Rode"
* 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron "Pegazi"
* 280th Center for Electronic Reconnaissance and Jamming
* Flight Test Center
* Aviation Corps
* 333rd Engineering Battalion
* 172nd Aviation Brigade
* 98th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment
* 119th Helicopter Brigade
* Air Defense Corps
* 359th Engineering Battalion
* 210th Signal Battalion
* 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment
* 126th Air Surveillance/Intelligence and Guidance Brigade
* 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade
* 230th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 240th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment
* 310th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Regiment

### Branches and services

[edit]

Aviation  | Air Defense Rocket-artillery Units  | Early-warning Control and Reporting System  | Air Force Technical Service

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### Ranks

[edit]

Main article: Military ranks of Serbia and Montenegro

#### Officers

[edit]

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers

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|
|

Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Генерал армије
General armije | Генерал-пуковник
General-pukovnik | Генерал-потпуковник
General-potpukovnik | Генерал-мајор
General-major | Пуковник
Pukovnik | Потпуковник
Potpukovnik | Мајор
Major | Капетан прве класе
Kapetan 1. klase | Капетан
Kapetan | Поручник
Poručnik | Потпоручник
Potporučnik

#### Other ranks

[edit]

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group  | Senior NCOs  | Junior NCOs  | Enlisted

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|
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Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Заставник прве класе
Zastavnik 1. klase | Заставник
Zastavnik | Старији водник прве класе
Stariji vodnik 1. klase | Старији водник
Stariji vodnik | Водник прве класе
Vodnik 1. klase | Водник
Vodnik | Млађи водник
Mlađi vodnik | Десетар
Desetar | Разводник
Razvodnik | Војник
Vojnik

## Inventory

[edit]

### Inventory 1998

[edit]

Aircraft  | Origin  | Type  | Variant  | In service  | Notes

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Combat Aircraft
MiG-21 | Soviet Union | fighter  | MiG-21bis

MiG-21R

| 52  |
MiG-29 | Soviet Union | multirole  | MiG-29A  | 14  |
Soko G-4 Super Galeb | Yugoslavia | attack  |  | 47  |
Soko J-22 Orao | Yugoslavia | attack  |  | 39  |
Transport
Antonov An-2 | Soviet Union | utility  | An-2TD  | 4  |
Antonov An-26 | Soviet Union | transport  |  | 12  |
Dornier Do 28 | Germany | utility  | Do 28D  | 2  |
Yakovlev Yak-40 | Soviet Union | VIP  |  | 4  |
Helicopters
Aérospatiale Gazelle | France / Yugoslavia | utility  | SOKO HO-42

SOKO HI-42 Hera

SOKO HN-42M Gama

SOKO HN-45M Gama 2

| 75  |
Kamov Ka-25 | Soviet Union | ASW  | Ka-25PL  | 4  |
Kamov Ka-27 | Soviet Union | ASW  | Ka-28PL  | 2  |
Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | utility  | Mi-8T  | 44  |
Mil Mi-14 | Soviet Union | ASW  | Mi-14PL  | 3  |
Trainers
MiG-21 | Soviet Union | conversion trainer  | MiG-21UM  | 11  |
MiG-29 | Soviet Union | conversion trainer  | MiG-29UB  | 2  |
Soko G-2 Galeb | Yugoslavia | attack / trainer  | G-2š  | 17  |
Soko G-4 Super Galeb | Yugoslavia | attack / trainer  | Soko G-4š  | 13  |

### Inventory 2003

[edit]

Aircraft  | Origin  | Type  | Variant  | In service  | Notes

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Combat Aircraft
MiG-21 | Soviet Union | fighter  | MiG-21bis

MiG-21R

| 27  | 25 destroyed during the Kosovo War
MiG-29 | Soviet Union | multirole  | MiG-29A  | 4  | 10 destroyed during the Kosovo War
Soko G-4 Super Galeb | Yugoslavia | attack  |  | 23  | 24 destroyed during the Kosovo War
Soko J-22 Orao | Yugoslavia | attack  |  | 16  | 23 destroyed during the Kosovo War
Transport
Antonov An-2 | Soviet Union | utility  | An-2TD  | 1  | 3 destroyed during the Kosovo War
Antonov An-26 | Soviet Union | transport  |  | 2  | 10 destroyed during the Kosovo War
Yakovlev Yak-40 | Soviet Union | VIP  |  | 1  | 3 destroyed during the Kosovo War
Helicopters
Aérospatiale Gazelle | France / Yugoslavia | utility  | SOKO HO-42

SOKO HI-42 Hera

SOKO HN-42M Gama

SOKO HN-45M Gama 2

| 62  | 13 destroyed during the Kosovo War
Kamov Ka-25 | Soviet Union | ASW  | Ka-25PL  | 1  | 3 destroyed during the Kosovo War
Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | utility  | Mi-8T  | 39  | 5 destroyed during the Kosovo War
Trainers
MiG-21 | Soviet Union | conversion trainer  | MiG-21UM  | 6  | 5 destroyed during the Kosovo War
MiG-29 | Soviet Union | conversion trainer  | MiG-29UB  | 1  | 1 destroyed during the Kosovo War
Soko G-2 Galeb | Yugoslavia | attack / trainer  | Soko G-2š  | 1  | 16 destroyed during the Kosovo War
Soko G-4 Super Galeb | Yugoslavia | attack / trainer  | Soko G-4š  | 8  | 5 destroyed during the Kosovo War

## Successors

[edit]

The successors are the Serbian Air Force and the Montenegrin Air Force.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Modernization of the Serbian Air Force —". 2020-10-11. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
2. ^ Manolache, D., & Chiş, C. (2015). NATO BOMBING IN THE FORMER REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA. Scientific Research & Education in the Air Force-AFASES, 1.
3. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20071017035011/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Aircraft_by_Type/mig-29.htm

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Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro

Leadership|

* Commander-in-Chief
* Minister of Defence
* Chief of the General Staff

Branches|

* Ground Forces of Serbia and Montenegro
* Navy of Serbia and Montenegro
* Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro

Counterintelligence|

Security Directorate

Personnel|

* Ranks and insignia of the Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro

Decorations|

* Orders, decorations, and medals

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