|
|
|
Batajnica, Serbia |
|
The
Serbian Air Force and Air Defence |
|
A day out at the 204. Aviation Brigade at
Batajnica, Serbian Republic
Happy faces. The family day at Batajnica Air Base on May 21st 2011
was all about happy faces. Commanders and staff of 204. Aviation
Brigade were all keen to have a wonderful day out and had invited
their relatives, the air base neighbours and a group of children
from Kosovo to their work environment at one of the main operating
bases of the Serbian Air Force and Air Defence (AFAD or
Vazduhoplovstvo I Protiv Vazduhoplovna Odbrana – ViPVO - in Serb).
Brigade commander Col. Predag Bandiç was busy shaking hands, talking
to all the different groups of guests and enjoying what his staff
had prepared. Special guests were a group of children from Kosovo,
freshly graduated cadets from the Military Academy and the official
presentation of no less than three female pilot officer-cadets. A
very small group of foreign journalists were invited as well and
KARO Aviation was priviliged to be amongst them.
 |
 |
A century of military flight
and a troubled past
AFAD is the air force of Serbia (Republika Srbija) and service
branch of the Serbian Armed Forces (SAF). It was established in
1912 and is considered to be the fifth oldest air force in the
world. AFAD is experiencing a minor revival after a decade of
decline and turbulence. The break-up of Yugoslavia in the
ninetees, the bitter fighting against former countrymen and the
NATO campaigns at the turn of the century has taken its toll on
SAF equipment and organization. Current plans will turn AFAD
into a modest, relatively modern, regional air force by the end
of this decade. Of course funding such a modernization remains a
major challenge in today's financial environment.
For the time being, the newly-reorganized air arm is capable of
securing Serbian airspace and providing limited tactical support
to SAF operations. The final chapter in the long, painful
dismantling of Yugoslavia came on 2 June 2006, when Serbia and
Montenegro terminated their union which had been in force since
2003. They both became independent countries, each with their
own military establishment and independent armed forces. Under
terms of the agreement, each country kept the material which was
on their territory at the time of implementation of the treaty.
As a result, Serbia ended up with most of the fast jets, a
considerable number of helicopters and transports and most of
the infrastructure. Montenegro ended up with a number of
helicopters and also some G4 Super Galeb jets, for which it had
shown no interest. As a result, Serbia has acquired six of these
surplus aircraft; two are being worked on and four are still in
open store at Batajnica.
The Strategic Defense Review produced in 2006 called for
consolidation of AFAD into two Main Operating Bases: Batajnica
and Ladjevci, and the establishment of an air defense
organization controlled by a new NATO-compatible command
structure. The two main bases are 204th Air Base Batajnica and
98th Air Base Lađevci. The latter base at Lađevci is located in
Central Serbia, near the city of Kraljevo, 120 km south of the
capital Belgrade. 98th Air Base has a detachment of helicopters
and transport aircraft operating from a joint civil/military
base near Niš, the countries 3d largest city, which is located
in the southeast of the country, close to the Bulgarian border.
|
 |
 |
Batajnica Air Base
Batajnica airfield is located 20 km northwest of Belgrade,
between the towns of Nova Pazova and Batajnica. It was opened in
1950-51, replacing Zemun Aerodrome which had been swallowed up
by the expanding city of Belgrade. It has two full-sized
runways, a technical area and a large number of hardened
aircraft shelters (HAS) at the northeast of the main runway,
which were damaged in the NATO bombing campaign in 1999. The
base is home to a number of units; transport, fighter and attack
squadrons and a flight test unit.
An aircraft overhaul facility "Moma Stanojlovic" is also found
at Batajnica Airbase and today, this - along with UTVA-Pancevo -
is the sole location for repair, modification and remanufacture
of combat aircraft in Serbia.
204. Aviation Brigade
The Aviation Brigade of the new Serbian Air Force was formed on
15 November 2006 as 204th Air Base. Within the new Brigade are
elements of the former 204th Hunting aviation regiment, 177 air
force base, 251 and 252nd fighter-bomber units, 890th helicopter
and 677th transport squadron. 204. Aviation Base was renamed
204th Aviation Brigade in 2010.
Four main flying units are at the heart of the Aviation Brigade:
101 Fighter Squadron, 138 Mixed Transport Squadron, 252 Fighting
Bombing Squadron and 890 Transport Helicopter Squadron. They are
supported by technical, security and air defence artillery
squadrons.
The Serbian Air Force is responsible for Serbian airspace
control and support of land forces. A fighter interceptor force
and ground attack unit is in place, limited aerial
reconnaissance capabilities, helicopter-borne air assault, air
transport and communications. |
 |
 |
|
|
Air space defence
The air force interceptor fleet consists of Russian, Soviet era combat
aircraft, consisting of MiG-21 and MiG-29 fighter aircraft. The principle
unit at Batajnica is the 101 Fighter Squadron which operates both the
MiG-29M and MiG-21bis.
The MiG-21 has flown in numerous variants with the Yugoslav Air Force since
the 1960s. Around thirty MiG-21bis and UM versions are reportedly
operational today with AFAD. The MiG-21bis is rumoured to be withdrawn from
use at the end of 2011, leaving a serious gap in QRA duties. There seems to
be a standoff between the military and politicians on a replacement
aircraft, with (a lack of) funding in the middle. The MiG-21UM will soldier
on for a few more years.
Received in the late eighties, 16 MiG-29s were in the inventory at one time.
In 1999 a total of eleven MiG-29s were lost, of which six in air combat. The
type was withdrawn from use soon after hostilities ended. While having to
wait for a new multirole aircraft to be introduced, it was decided to bring
a small number of aircraft back from retirement. Four single seaters and one
trainer were upgraded between 2007 and 2009. Unfortunately, one upgraded
single seater was lost in 2009. Unconfirmed reports state an interest from
Serbia in the recently retired MiG-29 fleet of the Hungarian Air Force,
which has been in store at Kescemet Air Base since the end of 2010.
Recently, talks have stalled over conditions; it remains to be seen whether
additional airframes for air defence duties will be found and introduced.
|
|
 |
 |
Ground attack and transport
graduated pilots to ‘fight’. The J-22 Orao’s of the squadron
have been phased out and the serviceable airframes went to 98.
Brigade. The ab-initio trainer is the UTVA 75 propeller aircraft
which has side-by-side seating. Follow-on training on jets and
use of weapons is done on G-4 Super Galebs. This light attack
plane, designed and built in former Yugoslavia, is also in use
as a lead-in trainer for fighter units. Performing general transport duties both for the
government as well as for SAF and AFAD are two An-26s and two
Yak-40s of the 138 Mixed Transport Squadron, which also operates
Mi-8 helicopters and training new pilots on Gazelle
The final combat unit is the 890th Transport Helicopter
Squadron, operating Mi-8 and Gazelle helicopters. Mi-8s were
once available in large numbers, but after the break-up of
Yugoslavia, all independent countries wanted to keep their
Mi-8s, famous for reliability and durability. Therefore less are
now available to AFAD.
The fleet of Mi-8s and locally produced Gazelles will soon be
joined by the first additions to AFAD inventory in almost 20
years: two overhauled Mil Mi-17 transport previously flown by
the Serbian ministry of interior's special operations unit. The
helicopters have been declared operational recently and crews
are about to receive type certification in Ukraine mid-2011.
A small and versitile unit located at the air base is the
Airforce Test Centre (VOC). They have a few dedicated aircraft
and operate a variety of aircraft for test and development
purposes. Several G-4 Super Galebs are assigned, including the
famous black and white Orao with Serbian national insignia and
the new Lasta 95 turboprop trainer is being test-flown by the
unit as well.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
101 fighter squadron |
138 Mix Transport Squadron |
252th Fighter-bombing Squadron |
890th Transport Helicopter Squadron |
The road ahead
Coming back to the family ‘action’ day, one of the highlights for many was
the tactical air display, performed by all different types based. A
simulated airfield attack by G-4 Super Galebs, with cover from MiG-21
fighters was performed. Two MiG-29s were scrambled to chase the attacking
aircraft away. After the jets had cleared, a Mi-8 helicopter and Gazelles
brought in ‘ground forces’. A small demonstration of the capabilities of
AFAD in the space of a family day. Serbia is looking to modernize its air
force and also to attract new cadets and technical staff. They were proud to
show the first female pilots of AFAD who had recently graduated (one on
Gazelle helicopter and two on Super Galeb). Together with new cadets and the
pilots performing the tactical display they posed in front of their aircraft
at the end of the day. A perfect picture to make young people want to join
their aspiring country’s air force.
|
|
We thank the Serbian Air Force HQ in Zemun
for arranging our visit to the family day at Batajnica and especially Col.
Bandiç and staff of 204. Aviation Brigade for their hospitality. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
