Montenegrin Air Force

Montenegrin Air Force
Founded	2006[1]
Country	Montenegro
Branch	Air Force and Air Defense
Role	Defending Montenegrin Air Space
Size	41 aircraft[2]
Command HQ	Podgorica
Insignia
Roundel
Fin
Aircraft flown
Attack	G-4 Super Galeb
Helicopter	Soko Gazelle Gama
Trainer	Utva 75

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.

Equipment

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 regarding the division of the aircraft arose, but the Serbian Ministry of Defense issued a statement declaring that the eventual division of the fleet is not in either country's interest. However, a total of 11 G-4 Super Galebs, of which 8 are airworthy, are still located at the base. 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 bigger chance to become operational, although no decision about them has been made yet.^[1]

Aircraft	Photo	Origin	Type	Variants	Service entry	Number	Notes
Trainer Aircraft
Soko G-4 Super Galeb		Yugoslavia	Armed Advanced Jet Trainer	G-4 / N-62	June 2006	4
Utva 75		Yugoslavia	Two-seat basic training aircraft.	Utva 75 / V-53	June 2006	3	One crashed to Lake Skadar in 2008.
Transport and Utility Helicopters
Soko Gazelle Gama		France /  Yugoslavia	Light Utility helicopter	OH-42/45HN-42M	June 2006	15	Currently 11 operational.
Mil Mi-8		Soviet Union	Transport helicopter	Mi-8T/HT-40	June 2006	1
Air Tractor AT-802		United States	firefighting, coastal patrol airplane	AT-802A	4.6.2009	2 currently delivered of 3	government aircraft
PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader		Poland	firefighting	PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader	unknown	2	Government aircraft

Montenegrin aircraft at Golubovci airbase

Operational structure

• Helicopter squadron - HQ Golubovci^[2]
  • 1st Helicopter Flight - operating Gazelle
  • 2nd Helicopter Flight - Gazelle
  • 3rd Helicopter Flight - Gazelle

Each of the three helicopter flights has its specific task consisting of close air support, transport and utility duties. The squadron also operates one Mi-8T transport helicopters, but it is currently grounded awaiting funds for an overhaul.^[2]

Gallery

• 

  Montenegrin G-4 super Galebs at Golubovci.

• 

  Backside viev of the Montenegrin Galebs

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Force Report: Montenegrin Air Force, Air Forces Monthly magazine, December 2008 issue, p. 38
2. ^ ^{a b c} Force Report: Montenegrin Air Force, Air Forces Monthly magazine, December 2008 issue, p. 39.