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 - V i PVO
Montenegrin Air Force emblem
Founded2006[1]
Country Montenegro
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size19 aircraft [1]
Command HQPodgorica
Commanders
Lieutenant colonelNenad Pavlović
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
HelicopterSoko Gazelle Gama, Bell 412, Mi-8
PatrolSoko G-4 Super Galeb
TrainerUtva 75

History

The Kingdom of Montenegro entered the era of flight with the opening of its first airport in the capital city of Cetinje. Its military followed suite with the use of aircraft in the Balkan Wars and in World War I.

After the Second World War, Montenegro was absorbed into Socialist Yugoslavia, and the armed forces came under a new command. In 1991 the country was dissolved, thus 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, putting an end to the Serbia and Montenegro state union.[3][4]

Aircraft inventory

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]

A pair of SA342 helicopters on lift off

Current inventory
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Helicopters
Bell 412 United States utility 412EPI 3[5]
Aérospatiale Gazelle France utility / scout 341/42 6[5] manufactured under license by SOKO

Retired
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Soko G-4 Yugoslavia attack / jet trainer 15 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

References
  1. Force Report: Montenegrin Air Force, Air Forces Monthly magazine, December 2008 issue, p. 38
  2. "World Air Forces 2004 pg. 83". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  3. "Serbia-Montenegro Federal Republic of Yugoslavia". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  4. "Republic of Yugoslavia Air Force". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  5. "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  6. Montenegrin Air Force [Vazdušne snage Crne Gore] Archived 2018-02-14 at the Wayback Machine at globalsecurity.org
  7. "World Air Forces 2008 pg, 68". Flightglobal I. 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
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