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
Founded2006 (2006) [1]
Country Montenegro
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size5 helicopters
Part ofMontenegrin Armed Forces
HeadquartersPodgorica
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPresident Jakov Milatović
CommanderLieutenant Colonel Nenad Pavlović
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
HelicopterSoko 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

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
Combat helicopter
Bell 412 United States utility 412EPI 3[5]
Bell 505 United States utility 2[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 Yugoslavia utility / scout 341/42 13 placed in storage in 2019[8]

Aircraft markings
  • Early roundel used in some limited examples
    Early roundel used in some limited examples
  • Roundel used from 2006 to 2018
    Roundel used from 2006 to 2018
  • Roundel adopted in 2018
    Roundel adopted in 2018
  • Reduced visibility version of the 2018 roundel
    Reduced visibility version of the 2018 roundel

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. Embraer, In association with. "2023 World Air Forces directory". Flight Global. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  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.
  8. "Veliki dosje: Može li na prostoru bivše Jugoslavije izbiti novi rat?". Slobodna Dalmacija (in Croatian). 9 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
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