Montenegrin Air Force

Montenegrin Air Force
Vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana
Emblem of the Montenegrin Air Force
Founded2006 (2006) [1]
Country Montenegro
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size11 helicopters
Part ofMontenegrin Armed Forces
HeadquartersPodgorica
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPresident Jakov Milatović
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Flag
Aircraft flown
HelicopterBell 412, Bell 505

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.

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]

Airbase

No other permanent airbases exist, but temporary forward bases are established during fire season, in Niksic .

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. In 2010 Serbia took delivery of six G-4 Super Galebs for shares in the Novi Prvoborac company, airport equipment and "various documentation".[5] In 2012 the remaining of the Soko G-4 were placed into storage. the decision to sell them also came in 2012.[6] The four Utva 75 trainer aircraft have a better chance to become operational, although no decision about them has been made yet.[1] Since 2018, the Montenegrin Air Force has significantly enhanced its rotorcraft fleet with the acquisition of three Bell 412 helicopters.[7]

Current inventory

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Helicopters
Bell 412 United States Utility 412EPI 3[8]
Bell 505 United States Utility 2[8]
Aérospatiale Gazelle  France
 United Kingdom
 Yugoslavia 		Utility 342 6[8]
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-802F United States Firefighting AT-802F 1[9]
  • 4 ordered originally
  • 4O-EAA rolled over on skadar lake on 21 July 2015[10][11][9]
  • 4O-EAB was damaged on November 22, 2020, near Sutomore; issue with propeller and right wing. Incorrect left wing part was ordered from Spain by AHJ officials[12][9]
  • 4O-EAC was severely damaged in June 2021 during firefighting in Berima; airframe damage deemed irreparable[13][9]
  • 4O-EAD was the only plane operational as of 2025
Cessna 421 Unites States Passenger Cessna 421 Golden Eagle 1

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[14] Retired from service in 2012
Firefighting aircraft
PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader Poland Firefighting / Trainer 2 Destroyed in a crash[15]

Second plane unknowed

Helicopters
Mil Mi-8 Soviet Union Transport / Utility Mi-8T 4[16] Retired from service in 2012
Aérospatiale Gazelle Yugoslavia Scout / Utility 341/42 13 Placed in storage in 2019[17]

Operational structure

The Helicopter Squadron consists of 3 sections:

Each of the three helicopter flights has its specific task consisting of close air support, transport and utility duties.

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

Incidents and accidents

  • 4O-EAC Severely damaged in June 2021 during firefighting in Berima; airframe damage deemed irreparable[13][9]
  • 4O-EAB Damaged on Nov 22, 2020, near Sutomore; issue with propeller and right wing. Incorrect left wing part was ordered from Spain by AHJ officials[12][9]
  • A SOKO SA341 Gazelle of the Montenegro Air Force Crashed in Podgorica, Montenegro. The two occupants were injured and were taken to hospital. Friday 10 June 2016 [18]
  • 4O-EAA rolled over on skadar lake on the 21 july 2015[10][11][9]
  • Three crew members died in the crash of a SOKO HS-42 Partizan military helicopter on the Luštica Peninsula, Montenegro. The helicopter hit a cliff at Boka Kotorska Bay on the Adriatic coast. The helicopter operated on a regular training flight with another helicopter. The pilot was one of the best in Montenegro, a member of Gazelle Acro Group, and a flight instructor. Friday 2 September 2011[19]
  • An Utva 75 crashed on Skadar Lake. Monday 8 September 2008[20]
  • Crashed on the north side of the airport shortly after take-off. Crew slightly injured. Wednesday 14 December 2005[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ "Two more G4 galeb air crafts from Montenegro land in Batajnica". 23 October 2010.
  6. ^ Dušica, Tomović (27 October 2012). "Last four fighter jets for sale".
  7. ^ "Two new Bell 412 EPI multi-purpose helicopters to arrive in". Government of Montenegro. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  8. ^ a b c Hoyle, Craig (2024). "World Air Forces 2025". Flight Global. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Luković, Siniša (14 August 2025). "It's a long way from a "flying firefighter": Even if the state were to order helicopters now, they would hardly arrive in the next few years". Vijesti. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  10. ^ a b Ranter, Harro. "Incident Air Tractor AT-802A Fire Boss 4O-EAA, Tuesday 21 July 2015". asn.flightsafety.org. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
  11. ^ a b "4O-EAA | Agencija za civilno vazduhoplovstvo". www.caa.me. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
  12. ^ a b "4O-EAB | Agencija za civilno vazduhoplovstvo". www.caa.me. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
  13. ^ a b "4O-EAC | Agencija za civilno vazduhoplovstvo". www.caa.me. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
  14. ^ Montenegrin Air Force [Vazdušne snage Crne Gore] Archived 2018-02-14 at the Wayback Machine at globalsecurity.org
  15. ^ "Dromader zbog kvara prinudno sletio u naselje Kakaricka gora". vijesti.me (in Serbian). Retrieved 2025-09-04.
  16. ^ "Directory: World Air Forces". Flightglobal. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  17. ^ "Veliki dosje: Može li na prostoru bivše Jugoslavije izbiti novi rat?". Slobodna Dalmacija (in Croatian). 9 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  18. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident SOKO HN-45M Gama 2 (SA 342L Gazelle) 12941, Friday 10 June 2016". asn.flightsafety.org. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
  19. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident SOKO HS-42 Partizan (SA 341H Gazelle) 12752, Friday 2 September 2011". asn.flightsafety.org. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
  20. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Utva 75 53253, Monday 8 September 2008". asn.flightsafety.org. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
  21. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Aérospatiale SA 341H Gazelle (HO-42 Partizan) 12633, Wednesday 14 December 2005". asn.flightsafety.org. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
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