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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 |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel | .svg) |
| 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 |
TheAir 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 theAir 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 formerSerbia 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 theSerbian Air Force and Air Defence.[1]
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| This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(April 2025) |
Around 50 Yugoslav aircraft were lost during theKosovo War whenNATO aircraft attacked FRY forces in 1999. Six MiG-29s were destroyed in dogfights againstF-15s,F-16s, andF-18s. Other MiG-29s were destroyed on the ground when NATO forces attacked the FRY'sBatajnica Airfield.
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-CLieutenant GeneralSpasoje Smiljanić was promoted to the rank ofColonel General and awarded Medal of War Flag - First Degree.Deputy of C-in-C Supreme Command Headquarters for the AFColonel General Ljubiša Veličković was awarded the Medal of War Flag - First Degree. General Veličković was killed in combat.
The first Yugoslav planes in the air were the Knights of the 127th LAE (127th Fighter Squadron) with theirMiG-29s (they were the only unit operating them). Based on publicly released data one could conclude that three MiGs were scrambled fromBatajnica Air Base withLieutenant Colonel Ljubiša Kulačin,Major Nebojša Nikolić and Major Milorad Milutinović in the cockpits and two (Lieutenant Colonel Dragan Ilić, Major Iljo Arizanov) fromNiš 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 fourAWACS 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 theirR-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:
Other pilots that flew combat missions (based on data gathered so far):
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.
| Aircraft | Serial | Place | Crew | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 byNATO | |
| 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 | 23693Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci | ||
| G-4 Super Galeb | 23694Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci | ||
| G-4 Super Galeb | 23695Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci | ||
| G-4 Super Galeb | 23696Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci | ||
| G-4 Super Galeb | 23697Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci | ||
| G-4 Super Galeb | 23698Leteće Zvezde | Golubovci | ||
| G-4 Super Galeb | 23699Leteće 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 |
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
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 353rd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron "Sokolovi" 677th Transport Aviation Squadron "Rode" 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron "Pegazi" 280th Center for Electronic Reconnaissance and Jamming Flight Test CenterAviation Corps 172nd Aviation Brigade 98th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment 119th Helicopter BrigadeAir Defense Corps 359th Engineering Battalion 210th Signal Battalion 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment 126th Air Surveillance/Intelligence and Guidance Brigade250th 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 353rd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron "Sokolovi" 677th Transport Aviation Squadron "Rode" 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron "Pegazi" 280th Center for Electronic Reconnaissance and Jamming Flight Test CenterAviation Corps 172nd Aviation Brigade 98th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment 119th Helicopter BrigadeAir Defense Corps 359th Engineering Battalion 210th Signal Battalion 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment 126th Air Surveillance/Intelligence and Guidance Brigade250th 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| Aviation | Air Defense Rocket-artillery Units | Early-warning Control and Reporting System | Air Force Technical Service |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
The rank insignia ofcommissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | |||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||
The rank insignia ofnon-commissioned officers andenlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | .svg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
The successors are theSerbian Air Force and theMontenegrin Air Force.
| Leadership |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Branches | ||
| Counterintelligence | ||
| Personnel | ||
| Decorations | ||