Montenegrin Air Force
The Montenegrin Air Force (Montenegrin: Vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana; V i PVO) is the air arm of the Military of Montenegro. The aircraft marking of the Montenegrin Air Force consist of a red-on-gold roundel, currently being the sole air arm using the latter colour in its official insignia.
| Montenegrin Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana | |
Emblem of the Montenegrin Air Force | |
| Founded | 2006 [1] |
| Country | Montenegro |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 5 helicopters |
| Part of | Montenegrin Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Podgorica |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | President Milo Đukanović |
| Commander | Lieutenant Colonel Nenad Pavlović |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel | |
| Fin flash | |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | Soko Gazelle Gama, Bell 412, Bell 505 |
History
In 1991–1992, Yugoslavia disintegrated, and the republics of Serbia and Montenegro established the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Air Force was renamed the Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro, (also known as the Air Force of Yugoslavia). In spring of 1999 they suffered heavy losses in NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, during the Kosovo War.[2] After years of political turmoil, Montenegro declared its independence in June 2006, bringing an end to the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.[3][4]
Aircraft inventory
This section needs to be updated. (July 2021) |
Following the dissolution of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro, the newly formed Republic of Montenegro was left with a considerable number of aircraft at the Golubovci airbase, more than required for its own needs.[1] After the break-up, speculation arose regarding the division of the aircraft, but the Serbian Ministry of Defense issued a statement declaring that the eventual division of the fleet was not in either country's interest. However, a total of 11 G-4 Super Galebs, of which 8 are airworthy, were still located at the base in 2008. An official decision regarding their fate has not been made, but most likely they will not be operated by Montenegro due to expensive operating costs.[1] The four Utva 75 trainer aircraft have a better chance to become operational, although no decision about them has been made yet.[1]
Current inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat helicopter | |||||
| Bell 412 | United States | utility | 412EPI | 3[5] | |
| Bell 505 | United States | utility | 2[5] | ||
| SA341/342 | France | utility | 6[5] | ||
Retired
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat Aircraft | ||||||
| Soko G-4 | Yugoslavia | attack / jet trainer | 4 | placed in storage in 2012 | ||
| Trainer aircraft | ||||||
| UTVA 75 | Yugoslavia | trainer | 4[6] | retired from service in 2012 | ||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | transport / utility | Mi-8T | 4[7] | retired from service in 2012 | |
| Aérospatiale Gazelle | France | utility / scout | 341/42 | 13 | placed in storage in 2019[8] | |
Aircraft markings
Early roundel used in some limited examples
Roundel used from 2006 to 2018
Roundel adopted in 2018
Reduced visibility version of the 2018 roundel
References
- ^ a b c d Force Report: Montenegrin Air Force, Air Forces Monthly magazine, December 2008 issue, p. 38
- ^ "World Air Forces 2004 pg. 83". flightglobal.com. from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ^ "Serbia-Montenegro Federal Republic of Yugoslavia". globalsecurity.org. from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ^ "Republic of Yugoslavia Air Force". globalsecurity.org. from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ^ a b c Embraer, In association with. "2023 World Air Forces directory". Flight Global. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
- ^ Montenegrin Air Force [Vazdušne snage Crne Gore] 2018-02-14 at the Wayback Machine at globalsecurity.org
- ^ "World Air Forces 2008 pg, 68". Flightglobal I. 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Veliki dosje: Može li na prostoru bivše Jugoslavije izbiti novi rat?". Slobodna Dalmacija (in Croatian). 9 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.