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; 19 years ago (2006) [1]
Country	Montenegro
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	11 helicopters
Part of	Montenegrin Armed Forces
Headquarters	Podgorica
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	President Jakov Milatović
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Flag
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	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
Helicopters
Bell 412	United States	Utility	412EPI	3[5]
Bell 505	United States	Utility		2[5]
Aérospatiale Gazelle	France  United Kingdom  Yugoslavia	Utility	342	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	Yugoslavia	Scout / Utility	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