Serbian Air Force
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| Serbian Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1912 - 1918 2006 - |
| Country | Serbia |
| Garrison/HQ | Batajnica Airbase, Belgrade |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Fin Marking |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | J-22, G-4, Mi-24 |
| Fighter | MiG-29[1], MiG-21, G-4 |
| Trainer | Utva 75, G-4 |
| Transport | An-26, YAK-40, Mi-8 |
The Air Force of Serbia consists of a relatively large array of combat aircraft, cargo aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft,UAV, combat helicopters, and cargo/utility helicopters.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Serbian Aviation in December 1912
Serbian Air force (Serbian Aviation - Srpska Avijatika) was the fifth ever air force founded in the world in 1912. Serbian Military Aviation was created when the aviation as vital part of the ground units was the question of the prestige under the military commands of the world. When we take Serbian position into the account, it was really hard to form the aviation knowing that Serbia was very small and poor at the beginning of 20th century. The real reason why Serbia hurried to form Aviation unit was the growing tension between the Kingdom of Serbia and Austro-Hungary. Also, it was the question of preparing Balkan countries for the final driving out of the Turkey from Europe. Serbia was not only aware of all these problems but also forced to equip Serbian military with the aircraft and the balloons (of course with a great material renunciation). Serbia has purchased the first two balloons in 1909 from Augsburg; the same place where 40 years later Royal Yugoslav Air Force has purchased the Messerschmidt ME109 E3. The time of purchasing these Balloons was the time of growing crisis about annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the Austro-Hungary, which could easily cause the war with this great military force. First six military pilots were trained in France. They finished the course in the beginning of the First Balkan war. On the 24th December 1912 the head of the military Ministry Radomir Putnik signed the papers about forming the Aviation Command situated in Nis which included : the Aircraft squad which counted 11 military aircraft, the Balloon squad, the Pigeon post and the Base. This date is the date of forming Military Aviation of Serbia and as well as the whole Yugoslavia. Its first combat experience, Serbian Aviation has experienced on the March 1913 over the Skadar which was in the Central Force hands. On the first combat flight sergeant-pilot Mihajlo Petrovic was killed as the second victim of World Military Aviation. The first victim of military aviation was a Bulgarian pilot Topradzijev who was killed in 1912 when he was flying back from the reconnaissance mission over Jedrene, Turkey.
Mihajlo Petrovic was the first trained Serbian airplane pilot. He completed his training and exams at the famous Farman pilot school in France and was awarded the international FAI license no.979 in June 1912. His Serbian pilot's license carries the number 1.
[edit] Balkan wars and operations around Skadar
The First Balkan War broke out in October 1912. Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, and Bulgaria waged it against the Ottoman Empire in a final attempt to liberate the last of the territories that the Turks still occupied in Europe. The Serbian army advanced South through Kosovo and Metohija into Macedonia, then turned West toward the Adriatic coast, through central Albania. At the same time, the Montenegrin army advanced into Albania from the North and laid siege to the historic fortified city of Skadar.
In February 1913, the Serbian Army High Command formed a separate Coastal (Primorski) Army Corps in order to assist the Montenegrins on the Skadar front. Air support for this formation was assigned to the newly established "Coastal Airplane Squad", the first Serbian air combat unit, with 3 airplanes and 4 pilots under the command of major Kosta Miletic.
[edit] First world war
World War I started with Austro-Hungarian declaration of war on Serbia 28.VII.1914. S.A.F(Serbian Air Force) saw action from day one. At the beginning of the WWI Serbian pilots who were actually skilled and experienced from the Balkan wars, have succeeded to give the valuable information about the number, the movements and the position of the enemy troops. They contributed to early Serbian victories in 1914 at Cer mountain, Kolubara and Drina river. At the beginning of the 1915, armed with machine guns and bombs, Serbian pilots succeeded to fight back the enemy by attacking their aircraft flying over the Serbian sovereign territory or by bombing the important targets in the background positions.
Serbia formed one of first truly air defense units in Europe. This is due the massive onslaught of German and Austro-Hungarian aircrafts. Serbian air defense units and air warning units were formed officially at 8th of June 1915. First airplane shot down by ground fire unit in WW I happened over skies of Serbia. During German air attack on city of Kragujevac in 30th of September 1915, air defense artillerist Radivoje "Raka" Lutovac - from regiment "Tanasko Rajic", shoot from first hit, by his artillery modified gun, Ferman airplane with two crew members. Without any sophisticated cannon sights, he was aiming through the bore of his gun. This day is also a holiday of Serbian air defense. But the full control of the Serbian sky has been established in the April 1915 when one well equip and armed French squadron arrived as a help from the allied forces to Serbian Aviation. Until the beginning of "Mekenzen" offensive in October 1915, French and Serbian pilots have succeeded to establish dominance in the air and to follow the enemy movements over the Rivers Drina, Sava and Danube. They were also constantly bombing the hinder, the traffic and concentration of the enemy.
During the time of 1914-1915,first SERBIAN-made planes occur. They have been made mostly by craftsmen in various furniture factories. This early Serbian planes were used for training,since they were underpowered. While construction was Serbian,airplane motors were French-made. This aircraft design had the name 'PINGVIN', or 'Penguin class'. Only few of these were ever made. Although modest,this domestic design was inspiration for creating Serbian air industry after WWI.
In the course of the Austro-Hungarian offensive and the retreating of the Serbian military, the French and Serbian pilots succeeded to contribute to the movements and intentions of the enemy. These information were very valuable to Serbian Military Command, which was retreating under the constant and strong pressure of the enemy who also was helped by Bulgarian Army. The plan for retreating was that the solders together with the civilians go all over the Albania and Montenegro, all the way to the Adriatic Sea. In the course of the retreat, the French and Serbian pilots did the first operation of carrying the injured solders with an a/c. The French-Serbian pilots have also organized the maintenance of the connection with the units retreating through Albanian coast to Drac and Valona.
Evacuation of wounded Serbian soldiers by airplanes of S.A.F and French air force represent first Air-lift of injured soldiers in history.
Although Serbia was occupied in late 1915, by German,Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian armies, the Serbian goverment and armed force refused surrender. The entire Serbian army withdrew through Albania, into Greece, where they together with French and British forces they created the Salonika front.
French pilots have left the Skadar area in the December 1915. When the last a/c was destroyed, Serbian pilots together with the Serbian Army have crossed to Corfu Island. In the period of the WWI, Serbian pilots have succeeded to show the importance of the military aviation to all ministers and to secure the place of aviation in its modernized version. The French squadron has improved the opinion about the Air Force because it has represented the secure collaborator in all phases of the battle. In the second part of the WWI on Thessaloniki front line, the Air Force has played a big part for it was equipped and armored with the modern weapons and the modern a/c. As the war industry goes really fast, the Serbian Aviation got the modern a/c. After the re-organization on Corfu, the Serbian Aviation squadron has been moved to Mikra; not far away from the Thessaloniki. The material conditions of the Serbian Army caused that all available, trained and capable aviation staff be referenced to five French squadrons. These squadrons were added to Serbia on the Allied Forces Conference in Paris. The Serbian Command wanted to have certain level of independence over its own Air Force and it secured the independence under Command of the Serbian squadron in Mikra. There was also a strong will for the formation of an independent Serbian Aviation Squadron. These five Serbian-French squadrons formed the "Serbian Aviation" which was working as an integral part with the ground troops. Allied forces squadrons such as British, Italian and the Greek who actually had their own aviation units, also exited. In the certain phases of the WWI, the Central Force Air Forces succeeded to establish the dominance in the air, but at the end of the WWI (especially at the time of braking out the Thessaloniki's front line)allied forces commands have realized the value of this course, and the Serbian-French units, together with the allied forces Air Forces, have success to beat the enemy in everything. The year 1918 in the summer was a year of the absolute control of the sky over this area by the allied forces. Successive and strong break up which Serbian Armies did as well as their brake up in the River Vardar Valley, caused the Bulgarian capitulation when the Serbian Army after only 45 days have success to move the enemy lines for 600 km, to be the winner for the third time in this, the Austro-Hungary was defeated. German Army was very exhausted and lost the great supporter. They have been actually forced to sign the armistice. On the Thessaloniki's front Serbian Aviation did 3000 combat flights, participated at all main operations and receipted the end of the WWI in the associated unit which counted 60 modern a/c. Staff of this unit consisted of the 70 pilots,40 reconnaissance and other aviation specialists. This aviation had staff and equipment with enormous experience.
[edit] Serbian Aviation in September 12th 1918
Serbian aviation was a part of rebuilt Serbian Army, a part of the allied Eastern Army (consisted of French, Great Britain, Greece and Italian soldiers). Supreme commander of the eastern Army was a French general Franshe D'Epere. The Air Force commander were French officers and squadrons were staffed with French and Serbian personnel.
By the order dated January 17 1918 the two Serbian squadrons are to be formed staffed with Serbian personnel. In April 1918 Prva Srpska Eskadrila (First Serbian Escadrille) became operational with 12 Dorand AR type I A2 and 3 Nieuport XXIV C1 from French-Serbian composite Escadrille AR 521 and commanded by French officer (Serb national) lieutenant Mihajlo Marinkovic. During May and June from French-Serbian composite Escadrille AR 525 Druga Srpska Eskadrila (Second Serbian Escadrille) became operational. Captain Branko Vukosavljevic was the first Serbian squadron commander, appointed to lead to Prva Srpska Eskadrila (First Serbian Escadrille) on August 1918.
Below is orbat of squadrons attached to Serbian Army for the September offensive.
Commander: Major Du Perier De Larsan
Order of battle
Squadron Aircraft Type Prvi vazduhoplovni odsek (subordinated to I Serbian Army) Druga Srpska Eskadrila [Former AR 99/399/ 525 Escadrille] 12 Dorand AR type I A2, 7 Nieport XXIV C1, 5 Bregeuet 14 A2 Drugi vazduhoplovni odsek (subordinated to II Serbian Army) Prva Srpska Eskadrila [Former AR 82/382/521 Escadrille] 6 Dorand AR type I A2, 3 Nieport XXIV C1, 3 Bregeuet 14 A2 523 Escadrille [Former 87/387 Sq] 5 Bregeuet 14 A2, 11 SPAD S VII C1 No 502 Escadrille 4 Dorand AR type I A2, 3 Nieport XXIV C1, 3 Bregeuet 14 No 503 Escadrille 4 Dorand AR type I A2, 3 Nieport XXIV C1, 1 Bregeuet 14 No 507 Escadrille 11 SPAD
Airfields: Vertekop, Lembet, Jenidze Vardar
Technical depot: Vertekop [previously in Mikra]
Total of 81 airplanes.
[edit] Serbian Aviation after the WWI
With the establishment of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of SHS), an Army Aviation Department was formed with Serbian and ex-Austro-Hungarian (Croatian and Slovenian) personnel. In 1923 a major initiative was launched to replace the WW1 era aircraft still in service with more modern designs. Contracts were placed abroad and with newly established local factories. Later in 1923 the Aviation Department was renamed Aviation Command and placed directly under the control of the Ministartstvo vojske i mornarice (Ministry of War and Marine). In 1930, the Aviation Command was renamed the Jugoslovensko Kraljevsko Ratno Vazduhoplovsto (JKRV) which translated is the Yugoslav Royal Air Force. The air arm was also known as the Vazduhoplovsto vojske kraljevine Jugoslavije (Air Force of the Army of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia) - VVKJ.
[edit] Air Force of the Army of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (before the WWII)
- See Yugoslav Royal Air Force
- During 1940 Britain supplied significant military aid to the JKRV, to strengthen its forces against the increasing German threat. In early March 1941 Luftwaffe forces started arriving in neighboring Bulgaria. On 12 March 1941 JKRV units began to deploy to their wartime airfields. The overthrow of the pro-German government in Belgrade on 27 March brought an end to hopes of a settlement with Germany. On 6 April 1941 Luftwaffe units in Bulgaria and Romania attacked Yugoslavia. Equipped with a combination of obsolete equipment and new aircraft still being introduced into service, the JKRV was forced to defend the country's long borders against multiple attacks from many directions. The dubious loyalty of some military personnel did not help matters. Yugoslav fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft artillery brought down about 100 enemy aircraft, but defending forces were unable to make any significant impact on the enemy advance. On 17th April 1941 the Yugoslav government surrendered. Several JKRV aircraft escaped to Egypt via Greece, and the crews then served with the RAF.
[edit] How the Serbian Air Force is doing today
[edit] Air bases in the Serbian Air Force
The Air Force of Serbia has 4 active military airbases. They include:
- Batajnica Airbase, located near Belgrade, it is the largest Air Force base in Serbia. It is the home of all of Serbia's MiG-21s, MiG-29s and many of its G-4 Super Galebs. Also includes many different helicopters like Mi-8/Mi-17s, Mi-24s and Gazelles and cargo aircraft such as the An-26.
- Niš Airbase, located 139 miles south of Belgrade. Believed to be the home of some G-4 Super Galebs and/or Lola Utva 75s and Mi-8s
- Kovin Airbase, located in eastern Serbia. This base has a small amount of G-4 Super Galebs and Lola Utva 75s
- Lađevci Airbase, located near Kraljevo. This base has most of Serbia's recce/spy aircraft and nearly all of Serbia's J-22 Orao combat aircraft.
[edit] Current status
Once one of the largest air forces in Europe with over 400 combat aircraft and 200 armed helicopters, the air force has been severely degraded due to ten years of war and sanctions. The Air Force fleet today consists of many Russian and indigenous combat aircraft. Today, the Air Force has 22 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s and 5 MiG-29s. The MiG-29s were to return to service in 2007 or late 2008, but about three to four MiG-21s are in operation at the moment. The other 18 or 19 will be able to fly much more often as the Serbian Air Force solved their fuel shortage crisis (see below). Most of the MiG-21s were purchased in 1977 and additional recon and improved MiG-21bis versions were received at around the same time. The MiG-29s were purchased in 1987. All of these MiGs are located at the Batajnica Air Base. The Air Force is looking to replace the MiGs with a new multi-role fighter. The MiG-21s were due to be replaced in the 1990s but were not due to the civil war. Recently, Major Vladan Marjanovic, commander of the Serbian Air Force, stated that the MiG-21s in service of Serbia could continue flying all the way until 2016, maybe even later.
The Air Force also has many former-Yugoslav aircraft. These combat aircraft include the G-4 Super Galeb and the J-22 Orao. Reliable figures about the number of these aircraft still in service are hard to find but data indicates that there are 17 attack J-22s of all types, and between 10-20 G-4s. This count does not include about 100 aircraft consisting of J-22s, J-21s, G-4s, and G-2s which were withdrawn from service during the 1990s in order for Yugoslavia to conform to the CFE Treaty. The Oraos are located in Batajnica and Niš Air Bases, and nearly all of the Air Force's G-4 Super Galebs are located at Podgorica.
The Air Force consists of many cargo aircraft such as the Russian Antonov An-26, the Do-28, and the Yakovlev Yak-40. Only 1 Yak-40 is in the fleet, and it is currently being overhauled for VIP use. The Yak-40, therefore, is currently temporarily out of service. Only 1 Do-28 is left in service, and it is being used for geographic surveying. 1 or 2 An-26s are in operation today.
Combat helicopters include the SA-341/342 Gazelle, a French-designed helicopter built under license in Yugoslavia, which is armed with 2 air-to-air missiles and 4 tank-hunter missiles. Serbia has about 40 examples of these combat helicopters. The Serbian Air Force also consists of a very small amount of Mi-8 transport helicopters, and 2 Mi-24 attack helicopters. The Mi-24s were awaiting to be renovated, therefore they are temporarily out of commission, Air Force Monthly reported the Mi-24's & the Mig-29 were being considered for retirement since they think it is a pointless investment on old aircraft. A number of anti-submarine helicopters such as the KA-27 and the Mi-14 were recently withdrawn from service as well.
[edit] Fuel problems in the Air Force
In the past several years, there has been a fuel shortage problem in the Serbian Air Force. According to an Air Forces Monthly, in 2006, the Serbian Air Force is only getting about 20% of the required 1,000 tons of jet fuel per month. Because of this, aircraft don't fly often and pilots don't get enough hours in flying to have an acceptable training environment. Among those who get the worst of the problems are the J-22 Orao pilots. According to Air Forces Monthly, pilots in the "Tigers" squadron (Lead by Dejan Joksimović) of Oraos would be considered lucky to get 10-15 hours of flying in 2006. Pilots manning the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert), which consists of two MiG-21s, quoted to Air Force Monthly that they got "A few hours of flight time in 2005 and 2006." The luckier people of the Serbian Air Force of the problem are the An-26 pilots, the Gazelle helicopter pilots, and the Soko G-4 pilots. G-4 Super Galebs in the Golubovci Airbase in Montenegro were said to be the most active combat aircraft in the whole Air Force, before Montenegro seceded from Serbia on May 22. Pilots of the SA 341/342 Gazelle have been reported to get an average of 20 hours of flight per year according to Air Forces Monthly. AFM says that the An-26 by far the most active aircraft in the whole Air Force. Although most of the An-26s are stored, the aircraft that still fly are kept in great condition thanks to spare parts from retired aircraft.
January 2007 Air Force Monthly tells that the Fuel problems have not gotten any better, AFM reports that Serbia is now getting a little more jet fuel than they got in early 2006 but still not the needed amount, the figure for the last 3 months has remained at around 20% of the 1,000 tons per month required and the J-22 Orao pilots still are the worst suffering.
[edit] Montenegrin referendum
In July, the nation of Montenegro became independent from the state union of Serbia & Montenegro. Because of this referendum, all military machinery, including military aircraft, will stay in their own states rather than all being transported to Serbia. The Podgorica Military Airbase contains many of the G-4 Super Galebs and Lola Utva 75s in the former Serbia & Montenegro Air Force. However, Serbia does operate a few G-4s, including a G-4 and a Lola Utva 75 in the Batajnica Flight Test Centre and the experimental G-4M aircraft.
Shortly after the seccession of Montenegro in 2006, Serbia quickly changed the Yugoslav tricolour roundel to a Serbian tricolour by a simple repaint of the existing emblems. Later in 2006, the Serbian government portrayed a new roundel for their air force that will replace the repainted Yugoslav tricolour roundels originally adopted in 1992. The new roundel is composed of an with blue trim on the outside rim followed inward by the Serbian national colours red, blue, and white, with a white cross in the centre with blue trim. The roundel is based on the Royal Yugoslav Air Force's emblem from the late 1920s to 1940s.
[edit] Fate of Serbian MiG-29s
In January 2006, the media briefly reported that 5 MiG-29s under the possession of Serbia were to be repaired and returned to operational service since Serbian MiG-29 operations ceased since April 2004. Previous news states that the work would be carried out by Serbia's Moma Stanojlović overhaul facility along with the company of Mikoyan Gurevich. The plan previously was to repair 2 or 3 of them by fall 2006, and the rest by 2007. As of July, it is now uncertain if Moma Stanojlović will even get apart of the job and facilities in Russia are supposedly more likely to carry out the work. Either way, all MiG-29s will be returned to service latest by 2007. 1 Antonov An-26, 2 Mi-24s, and Mi-17s will be overhauled as well in a 30+ million Euro project to overhaul the Serbian Air Force, lead mostly by Mlađan Dinkić.
In January 2007, Air Forces Monthly reported that the MiG-29s are still in debate over their overhaul, some military officials argue that they are to old and not worth modernizing because of the high investment, and think that waiting until at least 2010 and probably purchasing some second hand western aircraft (Some rumored choices include leasing or even buying fighters like the F-16) is a better idea. The fate of the 5 MiG-29s looks unstable to some, and some believe it is most likely they will end up being retired. The same goes for the 2 Mi-24 helicopters; some have theorized they will be retired as well, but the 3 Mi-8s, 2 Mi-17s, and the 1 An-26 are still scheduled for overhauls. The problem is that the MiG-29s may be old, but however, they are among the newest fighter aircraft of the Serbian Air Force. The MiG-29s were delivered to the old SFR Yugoslav Air Force in 1987, which makes them a good ten years younger than the several MiG-21s that Serbia operates today. The argument that the MiG-29s are becoming too old is not a very strong one.
[edit] Future of Serbian Air Force
Reorganize and retrain air force to operate to NATO standards, Participate in Partnership for Peace Program. There are also plans to obtain new trainers to replace UTVA-75 and G-4 Super Galebs. But the main focus of the Serbian Air Force is to obtain new fighter aircraft to replace its Mig-21 fleet, although it does plan to retain its Mig-29's for some time. The most possible replacements are F-16A Fighting Falcon or JAS-39 Gripen - others say that an order for 30-35 Sukhoi Su-30MK is more likely. Plans are also being made to obtain new transport helicopters(Mi-171)
[edit] Serbian Air Force operational fleet
- Note that the amount of operational aircraft in the inventory only means that these aircraft are in fly worthy condition-it doesn't in any way state how often these aircraft actually fly. It only shows the amount of aircraft that are ready to fly when the government/air force needs them to.
| Current Aircraft | ||||
| Role | Type | Orgin | Number of Airworthy Aircraft in inventory | |
| Air Superiority | MiG-21 |  Soviet Union |
22 | |
| Air Superiority and Multi Role | J-22 Orao |  Yugoslavia |
16 | |
| Air Superiority and Multi Role | G-4 Super Galeb | Yugoslavia |
26 | |
| Recce/Spy | MiG-21M | Soviet Union |
1 | |
| Recce/Spy | IJ-22 Orao | Yugoslavia |
8 | |
| Recce/Spy | INJ-22 Orao | Yugoslavia |
2 | |
| Trainer Aircraft | MiG-21UM | Soviet Union |
2 | |
| Trainer Aircraft | G-4 Super Galeb | Yugoslavia/ Serbia |
? (Modificated to G-4M) | |
| Trainer Aircraft | Lola Utva 75 | Yugoslavia |
Unknown amount (Estimated to be 4 or more in quantity) | |
| Transport Helicopter | Mi-8 | Soviet Union |
Unknown Amount (Estimated to be between 10-29 airworthy) | |
| Multirole/Attack helicopter | SA.341/342 Gazelle GAMA |  France/ Yugoslavia |
Unknown Amount (Estimated to be between 10-30 airworthy) | |
| Cargo Aircraft | Yakovlev Yak-40 | Soviet Union |
4 | |
| UAV | IBL-2000 | Serbia |
? | |
- 2 MiG-21bis recce aircraft were withdrawn from service in the summer of 2006
**Does include all unarmed aircraft with weaponry wiring taken off from Dayton Peace Accords unless it is known under "Trainer Aircraft"
| Upcoming Aircraft | ||||
| Role | Type | Orgin | Number of Aircraft to be added in the inventory in the future | |
| Air Superiority | MiG-29 To return to service in 2007 [1] | Soviet Union |
4 | |
| Trainer Aircraft | MiG-29UB To return to service in 2008 | Soviet Union |
1 | |
| Cargo Aircraft | An-26 To return to service in 2007 | Soviet Union |
1 | |
| Assault Helicopter | Mi-24 To return to service in 2007 [1] | Soviet Union |
2 | |
| Multi Role Helicopter | Mi-17 To return to service in 2007 | Soviet Union |
2 | |
| Multi Role Helicopter | Mi-8 To return to service in 2007 | Soviet Union |
3 | |
[edit] See also
- Military of Serbia
Air Force of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro- SFR Yugoslav Air Force
Yugoslav Royal Air Force
[edit] References
- Air Forces Monthly Magazine, Aeroflight
- Vazduhoplovstvo Srbije na Solunskom frontu 1916-1918, Vladeta D. Vojinovic, 2000
- Srpska Avijatika 1912-1918; MJV, Sky, EUROSINI; 1992
- http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/yugo/jkrv/yugo-af1-home.htm
