Serbian Air Force and Air Defence: Difference between revisions
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[List of equipment of the Serbian Airforces and Airdefense]] |
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* [[Serbian Air Force and Air Defense Modernization|Serbian air force and air defense modernization plans and achievements]] |
* [[Serbian Air Force and Air Defense Modernization|Serbian air force and air defense modernization plans and achievements]] |
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* [[Military history of Serbia#Serbian Air Force History|Serbian Air Force history]] |
* [[Military history of Serbia#Serbian Air Force History|Serbian Air Force history]] |
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Revision as of 17:31, 26 June 2009
| Serbian Air Force and Air Defense | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1912 - 1918 2006 - present |
| Size | 3,000+ personnel 180 aircraft |
| AF HQ | Zemun, Belgrade |
| Patron | Saint Elijah |
| Motto(s) | Template:Lang-sr "For Freedom and Honor of the Fatherland" |
| Commanders | |
| Commander of AF & AD | Lt. General Dragan Katanić |
| Chief of AF & AD HQ | General Nebojša Đukanović |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Low-Visibility Roundel | File:Roundel of the Serbian Air Force 2006 (low vis).svg |
| Fin symbol |  |
| Flag | .jpg) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | J-22, G-4, Mi-24, SA.342 GAMA, |
| Fighter | MiG-29,[1], MiG-21Bis |
| Interceptor | MiG-21Bis |
| Reconnaissance | MiG-21M, IJ-22, INJ-22, SA.341 HERA |
| Trainer | Utva 75, G-4, NJ-22 |
| Transport | An-2, An-26, Do 28, Yak-40, Mi-8, Mi-17 |
The Serbian Air Force and Air Defense (Template:Lang-sr) is the air force of Serbia and the part of Serbian Armed Forces. It consists of an array of combat aircraft, cargo aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft, UAV, combat helicopters, cargo/utility helicopters, radars and SAMs.
Tasks
Air Force and Air Defense is tasked to undertake combat activities against ground and aerial targets, specifically:
- Control of the air space.
- Deterring armed threats from the air and preventing sudden attacks.
- Air Defense of the territory and Serbian Air Force.
- Providing aircraft fire support.
- Participation in peace-keeping operations and international military cooperation.
- Responding to natural disasters, catastrophes and other incidents.
History
The Serbian Air Force history began with an idea proposed in the General Army Formation Act of 1893. During the rule of Kingdom of Serbia it was determine that there was a need for an defensive air force. In 1912, a group of Serbian officers were sent to France for training. At the same time three Blériot XI-2 aircraft were purchased and by the Act of the Minister of War Marshal Radomir Putnik and an Air Force Command was established in Niš.[2] This made the Kingdom of Serbia, one of the first 15 states in the world to have an air force. On 30 September 1915, during World War I, Serbian Air Defense members shot down the first of many enemy airplanes over Kragujevac. This day was, by the Act of king Aleksandar I, proclaimed the Air Defense Artillery Division’s day. At the Thessaloniki front line Serbian-French joint escadrilles were formed, and by the end of1918 the first and Second Serbian Fighter Escadrilles were formed. As of 1924, 2 August, the Saint Elijah day was observed as the patron saint day of Serbian Air Forces, with the Saint Elijah the Lightning Bearer as a patron saint of the military.
Air Force today
The Air Force fleet consists of many Russian and indigenous combat aircraft. Today, the Air Force has 32 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s and 5 MiG-29s. Currently, only four MiG-29s which have come back from overhaul, the remainder will return in 2009. Since 2006, when only four MiG-21s were flying due to fuel problems, there are now about ten Mig-21's in active service. The two operational MiG-21UM's are heavily used as two pilots can receive the benefit of the flight. The MiG-29s were purchased in 1987, while the MiG-21Bis aircraft were purchased between 1977 and 1983. The Air Force is looking to replace the aging MiGs with a new multi-role fighter. The former-Yugoslav Air Force had plans to replace MiG-21s with Novi Avion in the 1990s but the wars stopped all projects. All of the MiG-29's are located at the Batajnica Air Base, as part of 101st Fighter Aviation Squadron (ex 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment).[3]
The Air Force also has many former-Yugoslav made aircraft. These combat aircraft included 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 15 attack J-22 and 7 attack-trainer NJ-22 aircraft and 24 G-4 light attack jet trainers. 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 Agreement on Sub-Regional Arms Control. Most of the J-22 Oraos are currently located at the Lađevci Airbase as the main strike fighters of 241st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Squadron, while a few aircraft (used previously by ex-252nd Fighter-Bomber Aviation Squadron, but currently not serviceable) are located at Batajnica AB. They will soon be relocated to Lađevci AB following overhaul at "Moma Stanojlović" air force Technical and Overhaul Institute located at Batajnica. Two to three G-4 Super Galebs are located at Lađevci as part of 241st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Squadron, while others are located at Batajnica in the 252nd Mixed-Aviation Squadron, mainly used for basic and advanced training of new pilots from the Military Academy and also used in ground-attack role. There are also 12 Utva 75 basic trainer aircraft operated by 252nd Mixed-Aviation Squadron for primary training and selection of new pilots from the Military Academy.[4]
Organization
- Air Force and Air Defense Command - Zemun
- 210th Signal Battalion
- 333rd Engineering Battalion
204th Air Base - Batajnica Air Base
- 101st Fighter-Aviation Squadron "Vitezovi"
- 252nd Mixed-Aviation Squadron-Bomber squadron "Kurjaci sa Usca"
- 138th Mixed-Transport-Aviation Squadron
- 1st Reconnaissance Aviation Section
- 24th Air Force Technical Battalion
- 17th Air Base Security Battalion
- 117th Air Force Air Defense Artillery Battalion
98th Air Base - Kraljevo-Lađevci Airport
- 241st Fighter-Bomber-Aviation Squadron "Tigrovi"
- 714th Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron "Senke"
- 119th Combined-Arms Helicopter Squadron
- 2nd Reconnaissance Aviation Section
- 24th Air Force Technical Battalion
- 161st Air Base Security Battalion
- 98th Air Base Security Battalion
- 98th Air Force Air Defense Artillery Battalion
250th Air Defense Missile Brigade - HQ Banjica
- Command Battery - Banjica
- 1st Air Defense Missile Battalion - using S-125 Neva (SA-3)s
- 2nd Air Defense Missile Battalion - using S-125 Neva (SA-3)s
- 230th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Battalion - using 2K12 Kub (SA-6)
- 240th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Battalion - using 2K12 Kub (SA-6)
- 310th Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Battalion - using 2K12 Kub (SA-6)
File:Serbian air reconnaisance Images.jpg126th Center for Air Reconnaissance - HQ Belgrade
- Command Company
- 20th Air Reconnaissance Battalion
- 31st Air Reconnaissance Battalion
- Company for air force-technical and technical maintenance and procurement
Aircraft inventory
Template:Standard table
! style="text-align: left; background: lightsteelblue;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: lightsteelblue;"|Photo
! style="text-align: left; background: lightsteelblue;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: lightsteelblue;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: lightsteelblue;"| Variants
! style="text-align: left; background: lightsteelblue;"|Number
! style="text-align: left; background: lightsteelblue;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Fighter Aircraft
|-----
| MiG-29
| .jpg)
| 
Russia
| Fighter
Trainer - Fighter
| MiG-29B / L-18
MiG-29UB / NL-18
| 4
1
|overhauled and modernized in Russia in 2009.
|-----
| MiG-21
| 
| 
Soviet Union
| Fighter
Trainer - Fighter
Recon - Fighter
| MiG-21bis / L-17
MiG-21UM / NL-16
MiG-21M / L-15
| 24
7
1
| Operational are 10 L-17, two NL-16 an one L-15.
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Ground-Attack Aircraft
|-----
| Soko Orao
| 
| 
Yugoslavia
| Ground Attack
Attack - Trainer
Recon
Recon - Trainer
| J-22
NJ-22
IJ-22
INJ-22
| 15
7
8
2
| 32 in service
|-----
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport and Liaison Aircraft
|-----
| Antonov An-2
| File:An-2 srj.jpg
| 
Poland
| Utility transport/paratroop training
| An-2TD1 / T-71
| 1[5]
|
|-----
| Antonov An-26
| 
| Russia
| Medium military transport
| An-26B / T-70
| 8
| 2 currently operational
|-----
| Yakovlev Yak-40
| 
| Russia
| VIP Transport/Navaid Calibration
| Yak-40
| 3
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Trainer Aircraft
|-----
| Soko G-4 Super Galeb
| 
| Yugoslavia
| Armed Advanced Jet Trainer
Unarmed Jet Trainer
Target Puller
Prototype
| G-4 / N-62
G-4Š / N-62Š
G-4T / N-62T
G-4M / N-62M
| 14
6
3
1
| 24 in service. 15 will be modernized to G-4MD standard.
|-----
| Soko G-2 Galeb
| 
| Yugoslavia
| Jet Trainer
| G-2 / N-60
| 1
| Non combatant, used by Technical Testing Center.
|-----
| Utva 75
| 
| Yugoslavia
| Basic/Primary Trainer
| V-53
| 12
| To be replaced with new Lasta 95[6]
|-----
| Lasta 95
| 
| 
Serbia
| Basic/Primary Trainer
| N-63
| 1
| Evaluating
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Attack Helicopters
|-----
| Soko Gazelle Gama
| 
| Yugoslavia/
France
| Anti-Tank
| HN-42m/45m
HO-42/45
HI-42 Hera
| 19
11
| Total of 61 Gazelle Helicopters.[7]
|-----
| Mil Mi-24
| 
| Soviet Union
| Attack Helicopter
| Mi-24V / HN-48
| 2
| To be overhauled and modernized in Russia in 2009.
|-----
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport and Utility Helicopters
|-----
| Soko Gazelle
| File:Soko SA-342L HERA.jpg
| Yugoslavia/ France
| Light Utility/Reccon
| HO-42/45
HI-42 Hera
| 29
2
| Total of 61 Gazelle Helicopters.[8]
|-----
| Mil Mi-8/17
| File:Mi-17 of SAF.jpg
| Soviet Union
| Medium Transport Helicopter
| Mi-8T / HT-40
Mi-17 / HT-47
| 16
2
| 5 currently operational, 3 Mi-8's and 2 Mi-17's sent for overhaul. plans to acquire 2 Mi-171sh.[9]
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | UAV's
|-----
| Orbiter UAV
| File:Mini UAV Orbiter03.jpg
| 
Israel
| Reconnaissance UAV
|
| 10[10]
|Possible 10 more on order.
|}
Anti-Air Defense
The Serbian Air Force and Air Defense system possesses a wide variety of ex-Soviet and ex-Yugoslav model surface to air missiles. Many are long range with a moderate amount of short range weapons that are employed by the infantry units. The Air Defense units are in the first phase of modernization of the Serbian AF&AD. The Radar and communication system are in need of complete replacement. Communication systems are to be purchased from France on the level of entire Serbian Military, after a recent meeting with French counter part, the defense minister has stated.
After a reorganization of the Serbian Armed Forces, all S-125 "Neva-M1T" and 2K12 "Kub-M" surface to air missile systems are in service with 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade, which consists of three battalions at Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac (equipped with "Kub-M"), and two battalions at Batajnica Air Base and Banjica (equipped with "Neva") and command battery also located at Banjica. The "Neva-M" have already been upgraded to the "Neva-M1T" standard by Lola systems. The "Kub" systems are also going to be upgraded.[11]
Each air base has its air defense battalion equipped with Bofors 40 mm guns L/70, Igla MANPADs and GIRAFFE Radars, similar to the land forces brigades air defense battalions.
SAMs
Stationary SAM systems are S-125 Neva (NATO:SA-3) and 2K12 Kub (NATO:SA-6) both of which are under modernization and being updated with a acquire fire and forget SA-17 capabilities. Theses SAMs are used by 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade.
Mobile Surface to air missiles
Vehicle based systems include the 9K31 Strela-1 (NATO:SA-9) and 9K35 Strela-10 (NATO:SA-13). The Army also has Russian Man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) such as 9K32 Strela-2 (NATO:SA-7), 9K310 Igla-1 (NATO:SA-16), and 9K38 Igla (SA-18). MANPADS are used by the 117th Air Force Air Defense Artillery Battalion and 98th Air Force Air Defense Artillery Battalion.
Anti-Aircraft Artillery
Bofors 40 mm gun L/70 is used by 117th Air Force Air Defense Artillery Battalion and 98th Air Force Air Defense Artillery Battalion:
Radars
Used by 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade, 117th Air Force Air Defense Artillery Battalion, 98th Air Force Air Defense Artillery Battalion and 126th Center for Air Reconnaissance/Intelligence and Guidance
- P-12, P-14, P-40 Observation radars
- Altitude measurement radar PRV - 11
- S-605/654 Observation radars
- S-613 Altitude measurement radar
- TPS-63 Observation radar
- AN/TPS-70 3D radar
- AS-74 and AS-84 automatized systems
- GIRAFFE Radar
Modernization
Possible Replacements/Orders
The tenders for purchases have not been pronounced yet high-ranking officials have declared the intent to purchase new Transport helicopters, replacement for the old Yugoslav era fighter jets, as well as purchase of transportation aircraft for peacekeeping missions.
Future plans
The Serbian military plans to modernize its surface to air defense systems and its radar systems, among other planned modernization efforts. The new radar systems are planned to be used by civilian as well as the military. government also plans to acquire transportation helicopters that are to be used in cases of national disasters, as well as for UN peacekeeping missions. Future goals are to reorganize and retrain the air force to operate according to NATO standards by 2010. The ministry of defense has planned more funds to be provided to assist the air force modernization. Reorganization has already been completed and plans for new aircraft are well under way. Currently, Air force and Air Defense is the most professional branch of Military of Serbia with very small percent of conscripts.
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 colors red, blue, and white, with a white cross in the center 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 gray colour variations of light and dark for contrast, these roundels have most recently been placed on refurbished MiG-29's. Most other aircraft continue to use the standard coloured roundel.
Ranks and insignia
| Generals | Officers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Ranks in Serbian | Генерал General |
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 | General | Lieutenant General | Major General | Brigadier General | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Sub-Lieutenant |
| NCOs | Soldiers | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 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 class | Warrant Officer | Senior Sergeant 1st class | Senior Sergeant | Sergeant | Junior Sergeant | Corporal | Private |
See also
- List of equipment of the Serbian Airforces and Airdefense
- Serbian air force and air defense modernization plans and achievements
- Serbian Air Force history
- Museum of Aviation in Belgrade
- Air Force of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro
- SFR Yugoslav Air Force
- Yugoslav Royal Air Force
References
- ^ News (2007). "Serbian AF restructures". Aircraft Illustrated. 40 (1): pp. 16.
{{cite journal}}:|last=has generic name (help);|pages=has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|quotes=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ http://news.webshots.com/photo/1276190535061271690VsIcIN
- ^ http://www.vs.rs/index.php?content=781f64a8-f737-102b-bdc2-a0672172d7df
- ^ http://www.scribd.com/doc/7371884/SRV-1
- ^ An-2TD
- ^ http://www.emportal.rs/en/news/serbia/78647.html
- ^ Gazelle
- ^ Gazelle
- ^ Mi-8/17
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://jmr.janes.com/public/jmr/surface_to_air.shtml
- Air Forces Monthly Magazine, Aeroflight
- Vazduhoplovstvo Srbije na Solunskom frontu 1916-1918, Vladeta D. Vojinovic, 2000
- Srpska Avijatika 1912-1918; MJV, Sky, EUROSINI; 1992
- Inventory of Air Force http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/yugo/serbaf_current_inventory.htm
- http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/yugo/jkrv/yugo-af1-home.htm
External links
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