Montenegrin Air Force
{{Short description|Air arm of the Military of Montenegro}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Montenegrin Air Force
| native_name = Vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana
| image = Montenegrin Air Force emblem.svg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Emblem of the Montenegrin Air Force
| start_date = {{start date and age|2006|df=yes}} Force Report: Montenegrin Air Force, Air Forces Monthly magazine, December 2008 issue, p. 38
| country = {{flag|Montenegro}}
| allegiance =
| branch =
| type = Air force
| role = Aerial warfare
| size = 11 helicopters
| command_structure = Montenegrin Armed Forces
| garrison = Podgorica
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto =
| colours =
| colours_label =
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles =
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| battle_honours_label =
| flying_hours =
| website =
| commander1 = President Jakov Milatović
| commander1_label = Commander-in-Chief
| commander2 =
| commander2_label = Commander
| notable_commanders =
| identification_symbol = 80px 80px
| identification_symbol_label = Roundel
| identification_symbol_2 = 80px
| identification_symbol_2_label = Fin flash
| identification_symbol_3 = 150px
| identification_symbol_3_label = Flag
| aircraft_attack =
| aircraft_bomber =
| aircraft_electronic =
| aircraft_fighter =
| aircraft_helicopter = Bell 412, Bell 505
| aircraft_helicopter_attack =
| aircraft_helicopter_cargo =
| aircraft_helicopter_multirole =
| aircraft_helicopter_observation =
| aircraft_helicopter_trainer =
| aircraft_helicopter_utility =
| aircraft_interceptor =
| aircraft_patrol =
| aircraft_recon =
| aircraft_trainer =
| aircraft_transport =
| aircraft_tanker =
| aircraft_general =
}}
The Montenegrin Air Force ({{langx|cnr|Vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana|italics=yes}}; 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%202376.html |title=World Air Forces 2004 pg. 83 |publisher=flightglobal.com |access-date=10 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218205421/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%202376.html |archive-date=18 February 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} After years of political turmoil, Montenegro declared its independence in June 2006, bringing an end to the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/serbia/fry.htm|title=Serbia-Montenegro Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|publisher=globalsecurity.org|access-date=10 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218213916/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/serbia/fry.htm|archive-date=18 February 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/serbia/air-force-fry.htm|title=Republic of Yugoslavia Air Force|publisher=globalsecurity.org|access-date=10 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218213948/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/serbia/air-force-fry.htm|archive-date=18 February 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
Aircraft inventory
{{update-section|date=July 2021}}
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. 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. The four Utva 75 trainer aircraft have a better chance to become operational, although no decision about them has been made yet.
File:Military Montenegro 29 (cropped).jpg helicopters on lift off]]
= Current inventory =
| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Origin ! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;"|Type ! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Variant ! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|In service ! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Notes |
| colspan="6" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | Helicopters |
|---|
| Bell 412
| Utility | 412EPI | |
| Bell 505
| United States | Utility | | |
| Aérospatiale Gazelle
|{{FRA}} |Utility |342 | |
= Retired =
| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Origin ! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;"|Type ! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Variant ! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|In service ! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Notes |
| colspan="6" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | Combat aircraft |
|---|
| Soko G-4
| Yugoslavia | Attack / Jet trainer | |4 |Placed in storage in 2012 |
| colspan="6" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | Trainer aircraft |
| UTVA 75
| Yugoslavia | Trainer | | Retired from service in 2012 |
| colspan="6" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | Helicopters |
| Mil Mi-8
| {{flag|Soviet Union}} | Transport / Utility |Mi-8T | Retired from service in 2012 |
| Aérospatiale Gazelle
| Yugoslavia | Scout / Utility | 341/42 | 13 | Placed in storage in 2019{{cite news|newspaper=Slobodna Dalmacija|date=9 November 2021|title=Veliki dosje: Može li na prostoru bivše Jugoslavije izbiti novi rat?|language=hr|url=https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/vijesti/regija/veliki-dosje-moze-li-na-prostoru-bivse-jugoslavije-izbiti-novi-rat-sudeci-po-nekim-izjavama-dio-politicara-ga-i-prizeljkuje-evo-cije-su-vojske-najopremljenije-a-tko-ima-muzejske-eksponate-1141721|accessdate=18 November 2021}} |
Aircraft markings
File:Montenegro-Air-Force-trial-roundel.svg|Early roundel used in some limited examples
File:Roundel of Montenegro (2006–2018).svg|Roundel used from 2006 to 2018
File:Roundel of Montenegro.svg|Roundel adopted in 2018
File:Roundel of Montenegro – Low Visibility.svg|Reduced visibility version of the 2018 roundel
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Montenegro topics}}
{{Military of Montenegro}}
{{Air forces in Europe}}
{{Air forces}}
{{Allied Air Command}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Military of Montenegro
Category:Military units and formations established in 2006