Serbian Air Force and Air Defence

Serbian Air Force and Air Defence

Serbian Air Force Coat of Arms
Active 1912–1918
2006–present
Country Serbia
Allegiance President of Serbia
Type Air Force
Size 6,000 personnel
Part of Serbian Armed Forces
Headquarters Air Force Command, Zemun
Motto(s) "За слободу и част Отаџбине"
"For Freedom and Honor of the Fatherland"
Anniversaries 24 December
Engagements
Commanders
Commander Major General Ranko Živak
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack J-22, G-4,
Fighter MiG-29, MiG-21bis
Helicopter Mi-8, Mi-17
Attack helicopter HN-42M GAMA, HN-45M GAMA
Utility helicopter HO-42, HO-45
Interceptor MiG-21bis
Reconnaissance INJ-22 , MiG-21M, MiG-21bis modified, HI-42 HERA
Trainer Utva 75, Lasta 95, G-4, NJ-22
Transport An-2, An-26, Yak-40

The Serbian Air Force and Air Defence (Serbian: Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздухопловна одбрана / Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazduhoplovna odbrana), is the air force of Serbia and service branch of the Serbian Armed Forces. Established on 24 December 1912 in the city of Niš,[1] it was absorbed into the various Yugoslav Air Forces between 1918 and 2006.

Role

Organization

Structure of the Air Force and Air Defence

History

The first Serbian military pilot Sgt. Mihajlo Petrović (1884–1913)[2]

The first aviation pioneer in Serbia was Lieutenant Kosta Miletić (1874-1953), trained as a balloon pilot at the Technical Aeronautical School near Saint Petersburg, Russia from 27 February 1901 to 25 November 1902.[3][4] Miletić was also trained in the use of carrier pigeons.

On the recommendation of Miletić, the Serbian armed forces posed messenger pigeon stations (in 1908 in Medosevac near Nis and in 1909 in Pirot), and bought two free spherical and one tied kite – balloon from the August Ridinger company from Augsburg. At the reception ceremony, on 19 April 1909, Kosta Miletić flew a spherical balloon called Srbija (Serbia). One balloon was provided from Russia. A gas chamber was ordered from the Dillmann company in Berlin, and a field winch from St Petersburg. A hydrogen unit was provided from the Swiss company Oerlikon. The equipment was delivered to Serbia in 1909 and 1910.

The first competition for cadet airmen in Serbia was opened in May 1911, and in the following year the first class of Serbian pilots started their flying training in France from 21 May to 8 September 1912 and got the rank of pilot. They finished the course in the beginning of the First Balkan War with aircraft and the balloons that had already been obtained prior to the outbreak of war.[5] In the autumn of 1912, Serbia got the aircraft for its armed forces. On 24 December 1912 the head of the military ministry Radomir Putnik approved the formation of the Aviation Command situated in Niš; the commander was Major Kosta Miletić. It comprised: the Aircraft Squadron which counted 12 military aircraft, the Balloon Squad, the Pigeon Post and the Base. This date is regarded in Serbia as marking the official founding of the air force. This made Serbia one of the first 15 states in the world to have an air force.

Balkan Wars

The First Balkan War broke out in October 1912; Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia waged it against the Ottoman Empire. In this war, the Serbian Aviation Command had its first combat experience. In February 1913, the High Command of Serbian Army formed an expeditionary Coastal Airplane Squadron in order to aid the Montenegrin ground force against Ottoman troops who were reinforced at the town of Skadar near the Adriatic coast. Air support for this formation was assigned to the newly established "Coastal Airplane Squad", the first Serbian air combat unit, with 4 airplanes (Blériot XI one-seater, Blériot XI two-seater, Deperdussin TT and Farman HF.20) and 5 pilots under the command of Major Kosta Miletić. In mid-March 1913, this combat air unit was relocated near the frontline at a newly built auxiliary airfield in the village of Barbalusi. The first reconnaissance flight was made on March 20 (March 7, oldstyle), by Lt. Zivojin Stanković and Sgt. Mihailo Petrović. In this combat-reconnaissance flight on his Farman HF. 20 over the Skadar Front on 20 March 1913, Sgt. Mihailo Petrović was killed, thus becoming the first casualty in the history of the Serbian military aviation and the second one in world aviation history. Mihajlo Petrović 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.[4] The next day, pilots Lt. Zivojin Stankovich and Sgt. Miodrag Tomich successfully completed their first reconnaissance flights, and in the following days, pilots Milos Ilic, Stankovich and Tomich dropped a number of small bombs and conducted reconnaissance flights. A fascinating fact represents that the pilot Tomich and Esad Pasha, the former Turkish commander at the Skadar frontline, would meet in a completely different situation two years later, during the First World War, when pilot Tomich needed help.

After Bulgaria attacked at Bregalnica in Serbia, the Second Balkan War began. The first reconnaissance mission had been performed by Miodrag Tomić, and after that Tomić and Stanković took turns and during a period of a month and a half, as the war with Bulgarians lasted, the two airmen performed 21 reconnaissance missions, of which Tomić did 14 flights. During one flight above Kriva Palanka, Tomić encountered a Bulgarian plane in the air, but neither one had weapons and they just greeted one another by hand waving.

World War I

Two men seated in a World War I-era biplane, surrounded by technical personnel
Lt. Miodrag Tomić and observer Milutin Mihailović seated in their Blériot XI-2 Génie airplane, at the Serbian Front, in May 1915
Mechanics of the Serbian Aeroplane Escadre during an training in March 1916 (Châtres or Corfu)

General mobilization in the summer of 1914 found the Serbian Aeroplane Escadre not well prepared. The Aeroplane Escadre had only 9 aeroplanes of which 7 were in flying condition. Five planes and three pilots were relocated to the auxiliary airfield at Dabića. From that airfield, Captain’s Živojin Stanković and 2nd Lieutenant Miodrag Tomić on August 13, 1914 commenced their first reconnaissance flights in the Great War. Tomić took off from the airfield at Jevremovac on August 27, at five o’clock in the afternoon. Above Mishar he encountered an enemy plane and they were quite close to each other. The enemy plane opened fire on Tomić, who did not expect this, but he avoided it with an appropriate and fast maneuver, so the plane did not sustain any hits. Fire was coming from a Parabellum. It was – probably – the first exchange of fire between aircraft in history.[6] Because of air supremacy of the K.u.K. Luftfahrtruppen over the Serbian Front, in March 1915 the French Escadrille arrived (Escadrille MF 99 S) under command of Captain Roger Vitrat to aid the weakness of the Serbian Aeroplane Escadre. The French Escadrille held the frontline from Smederevo to Loznica, and the Serbian Escadre from Smederevo to Golubac. After the conquest of Serbia by the Central Powers in the autumn of 1915 and the great retreat of the Serbian army to the island of Corfu, the Salonica Front was formed. During the invasion on Serbia in October 1915, Manfred von Richthofen was commenced its first combat flight as a pilot. Also, in the autumn of 1915, the first medical transport of the wounded and sick in world aviation history was realized in Serbia. One of the ill soldiers in that first medical transport was Milan Stefanik, a Czechoslovakian pilot-volunteer.[7] In June 1916 the reconstituted Serbian army sailed from Corfu and joined the French and British at Salonika. At the Salonica Front line, with the support of the Allied force, the Serbian Aeroplane Escadre was reorganized. From mid-1916 to 1918 at the Serbian part of the new established frontline, 5 Escadrilles (N521, N522, N523, N524 and N525) were operated, and squadrons were staffed with most of French and Serbian personnel. These air force units were officially known as the Aéronautique de l’Armée Serbe or Serbian Army Air Service and were attached to the High Command of Serbian Army which was a part of Allied Macedonian Army or Armée de l'Orient.[8] It was commanded by a French officer, Major Roger Vitrat.[9] In the beginning of 1918 the new reorganisation was started when the 1st Serbian Escadrille was formed on January 17, and the 2nd Serbian Escadrille on May 1, 1918, staffed with Serbian personnel.

World War II

Monument to 6th Fighter regiment pilots who died defending Belgrade in the air battle against Luftwaffe on April 1941.
Western Desert, North Africa. 19 February 1942. Armament personnel loading one of the seaplanes of a Royal Yugoslav Air Force unit operating in the Middle East.

The attacking forces engaged in the April War (6 to 17 April) were 2373 aircraft strong, including 1212 aircraft from Germany, 647 from Italy and 287 from Hungary, while the Royal Yugoslav Air Force had 494 airplanes, only 269 of a modern type. Thus the ratio in the beginning of operations was 5:1 in favor of the enemy, and if we count only modern Yugoslav aircraft the ratio climbs to 7:1 in favor of the Axis powers. In spite of huge logistic difficulties and acts of treason (proclamation of the so-called "Independent State of Croatia" on April 10, 1941) the Royal Yugoslav Air Force fulfilled its duties with honor. Yugoslav airmen fought with incomparable courage against an enemy superior both technically and numerically. Especially, the 5th and 6th Fighter regiment pilots showed their bravery. During the war operations (6 to 15 April) a total of 1416 take-offs was made, 993 of which were performed by fighters and 423 by bombers. During this short war 135 flight crew members and 576 ground personnel bravely lost their lives. About 300 Yugoslav Air Force personnel escaped, first to Greece then to Crete.[10] After the Battle of Crete they went on to the deserts of the Near and Middle East, where for a short time they found a safe place. Meanwhile, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel had already arrived with his Afrika Korps. In June 1941 the 20th Hydroaviation Escadrille under command of Lt Vladeta Petrovich with their no surrender war flag was renamed in the 2nd Yugoslav Squadron, attached to No. 230 Squadron RAF.[11][12]

NATO bombing of Yugoslavia

An important portion of the 1999 war between Yugoslavia and the NATO coalition involved combat between the Yugoslav Air Force, which was the predecessor of today's Serbian Air Force, and the opposing air forces of NATO. United States Air Force F-15s and F-16s flying mainly from Italian air force bases attacked the defending Yugoslav fighters—usually MiG-29s, which were in bad shape, due to lack of spare parts and maintenance. A total of six Yugoslav MiG-29s were shot down in 1999, of which three were shot down by USAF F-15s, one by a USAF F-16, and one by a RNAF F-16.[13] One aircraft, according to a Serbian documentary, was hit by friendly fire from the ground.[14] Another four were destroyed on the ground.[15] During the course of the air war, Yugoslav anti-aircraft defenses downed a USAF F-16C and an F-117 Nighthawk, the first stealth aircraft to ever be shot down in combat.[16]

Equipment

Aircraft

A Serbian Air Force MiG-29B
A Serbian SA341 on display at Batajnica Air Show 2012

The air force fleet consists of several Soviet combat aircraft, consisting of a number of MiG-21s, and MiG-29s. Serbia is looking to replace its aging fleet with new multi-role combat aircraft. Before its demise, the former Yugoslav Air Force was developing the Novi Avion project which was intended as a replacement. The project was canceled in 1991 due to the collapse of Yugoslavia.

Serbia, as the largest succeeding nation of Yugoslavia, took possession of the entire Yugoslav Air Force inventory. After the Agreement on Sub-Regional Arms Control was enacted in 1996, dozens of J-22, J-21 and G-2s have been withdrawn from service.

The air force operates from three major air bases, the 204th Batajnica Air Base and 98th Lađevci Air Base and Niš Air Base.

Aircraft Origin Type In service[17] Notes
Combat Aircraft
MiG-29 Russia multirole fighter 4 14 MiG-29Bs and two MiG-29UBs acquired from the USSR in 1987 and 1988. 10 were shot down or destoyed on the ground by NATO in 1999. One crashed in 2009. One grounded in late 2014. Six MiG-29 ready to be delivered from Russia in November 2016.
MiG-21 Soviet Union fighter 20
Soko J-22 Yugoslavia attack / reconnaissance 17
Transport
Antonov An-26 Soviet Union transport 2
Piper PA-34 United States transport 1
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8 Soviet Union transport / utility 8 Yugoslavia acquired 92 Mi-8T from the Soviet Union. The model was called HT-40. Fleet divided between factions in the Yugoslav Wars.
Mil Mi-17 Soviet Union/Russia transport / utility 3 One Mi-17 (Mi-8MT) and two Mi-17V-5 (Mi-8MTV-5) in service. Four V-5 on order.
Gazelle 341/42 Yugoslavia/France scout / anti-armor 30
Trainer Aircraft
Soko G-4 Yugoslavia advanced training, attack, target towing 23
Soko G-2 Yugoslavia flight testing 1
Lasta 95 Serbia trainer 14

Air defence

2K12 Kub SAM of the Serbian 250th Air Defense Brigade

The Serbian air force operates a variety of Soviet surface-to-air missile systems. Many are long-range with a moderate amount of short-range weapons assigned to infantry units. The 250th Air Defence Missile Brigade operates SA-3 and SA-6 surface-to-air missile systems. The military is upgrading both types with fire-and-forget ability. The air force has upgraded "Neva-M" to the "Neva-M1T" standard and "Kub-M" to "Kub-M2".[18][19][20] For defending air bases and important infrastructures Bofors 40mm L-70 in complement with M-85 Zirafa radars are used, and for engaging low flight targets 9K38 Igla or SA-18.

SA-6 were upgraded also with improved R-60 (missile) and R-73 (missile). Those Air-To-Air missiles are added on the existing SA-6 system.[21]

Name Origin Type In service Notes
SAM
S-125 (SA-3) Neva-M1T Soviet Union SAM system 32 launchers[22] Modernized.
SK12 (SA-6) Kub-M2 Soviet Union SAM system 53 launchers[23] Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system. Modernized in 2015 ().[24]
Bofors 40 mm Sweden Autocannon 4 battery per airbase[25] Used in compliment with M-85 radars.
9K38 Igla (SA-16 and SA-18) Soviet Union Handheld missile launcher Unknown

Radars

The inventory includes Marconi S-600 series radars: model S-605/654 Observation radars, and model S-613 Altitude measurement radar; AN/TPS-70 3D radar; AS-74 and AS-84 automatized systems. There are AN/TPS-63 radars out of service.

Name Origin Type In service Notes
Radars
AN/TPS-70 United States 3D Observation radar 5 Four purchased in 1983.[26] One destroyed by NATO strikes in 1999. Three radars in service were supplemented with two more, plus reserve parts, acquired from Slovenia in 2015.[27]
Marconi S-600 series Great Britain Observation; Altitude measurement N/A S-605 or S-654 (Observation) and S-613 (Altitude measurement) in inventory from late 1970s.[28]
P-12 Soviet Union 3D VHF radar N/A Serbia modernized them in 2013.
P-18 Soviet Union 2D VHF radar N/A The 250th Brigade, equipped with P-18 and S-125 missiles, shot down an US F-117 Nighthawk during the Kosovo War.[29]

Modernization (2011–present)

The Serbian Ministry of Defence intended the purchase of new multirole combat aircraft to replace its aging fleet of MiG-21 and MiG-29 combat aircraft. Reports in the media in December 2011 speculated between 12 and 16 aircraft would be ordered and listed the F-16, F-18, Rafale, JAS 39 Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon, Su-30 or the MiG-29M as possible candidates.[30][31]

Military analyst Miroslav Lazanski claimed Russia is offering Serbia 12 MiG-29M/M2 combat aircraft along with S-300PMU-2 and Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile systems, as well as two radars for its air defence.[32] In June 2013, defence minister Aleksandar Vučić suggested that Serbia might purchase six MiG-29M/M2s.[33]

In July 2013, media reports suggested that Serbia might be interested in purchasing a squadron of medium transport helicopters, preferably the Mi-17.[34]

In the summer of 2014, Serbia abandoned its plans to purchase new MiGs from Russia or any other new aircraft in order to put aside 24 million dinars for the overhaul of G-4 supergalebs. This decision depended on the level of scientific-technological knowledge and financial capacity of the state.[35] In January 2016, after Croatia's plans to purchase MGM-140 ATACMS tactical missiles from the U.S., Serbia sent requests to purchase Tor, Pantsir, and Buk air defense systems as well as MiG-29 jet fighters.[36] In November 2016, six MiG-29 are ready to be delivered to Serbia, if repair costs are covered (reportedly $50 million).[37]

Aircraft markings

The Serbian Air Force roundel was officially adopted in 2006. The roundel is an adapted version of the former Royal Yugoslav Air Force roundel which ceased to exist in 1943. It is composed of a 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 Air Force also uses a low visibility roundel of the same design only replacing the traditional roundel colours of red, blue and white with two grey colour variations of light and dark for contrast; these roundels have most recently been placed on refurbished MiG-29s. Most other aircraft continue to use the standard coloured roundel.

Serbian Air Force Centennial

The Serbian Air Force observed its centennial anniversary celebration on 2 September 2012, marking one hundred years of its existence by hosting an international air show organized by the Ministry of Defense as the central manifestation.[38] The air show featured representatives from 16 countries around the world and 27 kinds of aircraft.[39]

Ranks

GeneralsOfficers
Ranks in Serbian Генерал
General1		Генерал-Потпуковник
General-Potpukovnik		Генерал-Мајор
General-Major		Бригадни Генерал
Brigadni General		Пуковник
Pukovnik		Потпуковник
Potpukovnik		Мајор
Major		Капетан
Kapetan		Поручник
Poručnik		Потпоручник
Potporučnik
Ranks GeneralLieutenant Colonel GeneralMajor GeneralBrigadier GeneralColonelLieutenant ColonelMajorCaptainLieutenantSecond Lieutenant
1General - This rank is reserved for promotion only to chiefs of general staff and defense ministers of armed forces.
NCOsSoldiers
Ranks in Serbian Заставник I класе
Zastavnik I klase		Заставник
Zastavnik		Старији Водник I класе
Stariji Vodnik I klase		Старији Водник
Stariji Vodnik		Водник
Vodnik		Млађи водник
Mlađi vodnik		Десетар
Desetar		Разводник
Razvodnik
Ranks Warrant Officer, 1st classWarrant OfficerStaff Sergeant 1st classStaff SergeantSergeantLance SergeantCorporalAirman First Class

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Yugoslavia Air Force". aeroflight.co.uk. 12 November 2006.
  2. ↑ M. Galović (29 July 2012). "Prvi srpski piloti" (in Serbian). Politika. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  3. ↑ Boris Ciglic (Autumn 2016). The Birth of an Air Service: The Serbian Aviation Command (PDF). Cross and Cockade International Vol 47/3.
  4. 1 2 Slobodan Kljakić (2 September 2012). "Sto godina srpskog vojnog vazduhoplovstva" (in Serbian). Politika. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  5. ↑ Air Warfare: an International Encyclopedia: A-L, by Walter J. Boyne, p.66
  6. ↑ Collision of Empires: The War on the Eastern Front in 1914 by Prit Buttar
  7. ↑ L'homme-vent, special issue of L'Ami de Pézenas, 2010
  8. ↑ Boris Ciglic (Autumn 2013). Premier Serbian Fighters. Cross and Cockade International Vol 44/3.
  9. ↑ Boris Ciglic (Autumn 2013). Premier Serbian Fighters. Cross and Cockade International Vol 44/3.
  10. ↑ The Yugoslav Detachment of the 376th BG 512 sq
  11. ↑ Royal Air Force Coastal Command: A short history of the maritime air force which protected the United Kingdom′s shipping during WWI and WWII, p 205 by John Campbell 2013.
  12. ↑ Grandad's Book - From Biplanes to Concorde by John Dobson 2012
  13. ↑ Lok, Joris Janssen. "How Dutch F-16AMs shot down a Mig-29". Janes.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  14. ↑ "Niko nije rekao neću, drugi deo Predrag Milutinović pilot" (in Serbian). Radio Television of Serbia. 11 May 2009.
  15. ↑ "Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum: Losses & Ejections". ejection-history.org.uk. 17 October 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  16. ↑ "Serb discusses downing of stealth". USA Today. 26 October 2005.
  17. ↑ "World Air Forces 2016". Flightglobal. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "Serbia fields improved S-125 missile". Janes.com.
  19. ↑ http://www.armyrecognition.com/partner_2013_news_coverage_report_pictures_video/modernization_2k12_kvadrat_sa-6_gainful_ground-to-air_defense_system_yugoimport_partner_2013_0307134.html
  20. ↑ http://saidpvo.livejournal.com/138406.html
  21. ↑
  22. ↑ http://www.vs.rs/index.php?content=ba8508ec-0221-102c-a202-2f44c9235232
  23. ↑ http://www.vs.rs/index.php?content=44cf0f3f-021f-102c-a202-2f44c9235232
  24. ↑
  25. ↑ http://www.vs.rs/index.php?content=185663d0-0332-102c-8859-e480d5acdc4a
  26. ↑ "Осматрачки радар АН/ТПС-70". VS.
  27. ↑ ""Jugoimport SDPR" radare u Sloveniji kupio za Vojsku Srbije". December 2015.
  28. ↑ "Радарски систем С-600". VS.
  29. ↑ "Unconventional Weapon". Air & Space Magazine. 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  30. ↑ "Rojters: Srbija kupuje borbene avione" (in Serbian). vesti-online.com. 16 December 2011.
  31. ↑ Zoran Glavonjić (29 August 2012). "Vojno vazduhoplovstvo Srbije čeka modernizaciju" (in Serbian). Radio Slobodna Evropa.
  32. ↑ Miroslav Lazanski (1 December 2012). "Novi "migovi" i S-400 stižu u Srbiju" (in Serbian). Politika.
  33. ↑ "Serbia nears new order for MiG-29s". Flightglobal. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  34. ↑ http://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/srbija.php?yyyy=2013&mm=07&dd=16&nav_id=732919. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  35. ↑ http://inserbia.info/today/2014/12/serbia-lacks-money-to-purchase-new-equipment-for-its-army/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. ↑ https://inserbia.info/today/2016/01/serbia-eyes-buying-tor-pantsir-buk-air-defense-systems-mig-29-jet-fighters/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  37. ↑ https://sputniknews.com/military/201611111047350044-russia-serbia-mig-29/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  38. ↑ "Serbian air force marks centenary". Flightglobal.com. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  39. ↑ "One Hundred Years of the Serbian military aviation". aeromiting.vs.rs. Retrieved 23 April 2013.

Bibliography

Editors: Christopher Shores, Brian Cull and Nicola Malizia (1992). Air war for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete 1940-41. Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-09-488170-7-6. 
Editors: Aleksandar M. Ognjević, Ognjan M. Petrović and Nenad M. Miklušev (2015). Serbian Air Force Memorial – Miodrag P. Tomic. Leadensky Books. ISBN 978-86-917625-1-3. 
Boris Ciglić (2009). Wings of Serbia 1912 – 1920. Infinitas d.o.o. ISBN 978-86-6045-005-2. 
Boris Ciglić & Dragan Savić (2007). Dornier Do 17 - The Yugoslav Story: Operational Record 1937-1947. Jeroplan Books. ISBN 978-86-909727-0-8. 
Aleksandar M. Ognjević (2014). Bristol Blenheim - The Yugoslav Story: Operational Record 1937-1958. Leadensky Books. ISBN 978-86-917625-0-6. 
Boris Ciglić, Dragan Savić, Milan Micevski & Predrag Miladinović (2016). Messerschmitt Bf 109 - The Yugoslav Story: Operational Record 1939-1953. Jeroplan Books. ISBN 978-86-909727-2-2. 

Further reading

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