Yugoslav Air Force The Yugoslav Air Force ( ) , was the air force of Yugoslavia , and functioned as one of three branches of the Yugoslav People ' s Army ( JNA ) , the Yugoslav military . The full name of the branch was Air Force and Anti - Air Defence ( " Ratno zrakoplovstvo i protuzračna obrana " , RZ i PZO or " Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana " , RV i PVO ) . At its height , it was one of the largest air forces in Europe . The SFR Yugoslav Air Force was disbanded following the war in Yugoslavia 1991 - 1995 . History . World War II , Soviet influence . By early 1945 , Yugoslav Partisans under Marshal Tito had liberated a large portion of Yugoslav territory from the occupying forces . The NOVJ partisan army included air units trained and equipped by Britain ( with Supermarine Spitfire s and Hawker Hurricane s , see Balkan Air Force ) and the Soviet Union ( with Yak - 3 , Yak - 7 , Yak - 9 and Ilyushin Il - 2 aircraft ) and a number of ad - hoc units equipped with aircraft captured from German Luftwaffe and Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia ( Messerschmitt Bf - 109G , Junkers Ju 87 Stuka and many others ) . On 5 January 1945 the various air units of the NOVJ were formally incorporated into a new Yugoslav Air Force ( Jugoslovensko Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo - JRV ) . At the same time , a Yugoslav fighter group which had been under Soviet instruction at Zemun airfield became operational . From 17 August 1944 , when the first Yugoslav Spitfire Squadron became operational , until the end of the war in Europe , Yugoslav aircraft undertook 3 , 500 combat sorties and accumulated 5 , 500 hours operational flying . Thus , when peacetime came , the JRV already possessed a strong and experienced nucleus of personnel . On 12 September 1945 the Military Aviation Academy in Belgrade was established to train future pilots . The development of the JRV was further helped in late 1945 with the creation of the Aeronautical Union of Yugoslavia ( Vazduhoplovnni Savez Jugoslavije - VSJ ) . This comprised six aeronautical unions - one for each constituent republic - with the joint aim of promoting sport flying and aeronautical techniques amongst the nation ' s young people . In June 1947 the first VSJ flying school at Borongaj ( near Zagreb ) started training pupils . Break - up in relations with Soviets , US help . The organization of the post - war JRV was based on the Soviet pattern of divisions , regiments and squadrons . Virtually all of the initial equipment was supplied by the Soviet Union – the aircraft captured during the war had quickly been retired . By the end of 1947 , the JRV had reached a strength of some 40 squadrons of aircraft , and had become the most powerful air arm in the Balkans . In June 1948 Yugoslavia broke off relations with the Stalinist Soviet Union . The country was immediately subjected to extreme political pressure from the Soviet Union and its Balkan neighbors , and the JRV ' s previous sources of aircraft , spares and fuel were cut off . The possibility of an invasion was taken seriously . The serviceability of JRV aircraft fell rapidly , with some aircraft being cannibalised to provide spares for the remainder . Renewed efforts to expand the small domestic aircraft industry met with some success – the Ikarus Aero 2 and Ikarus 213 Vihor trainers were followed into service by the Ikarus S - 49 single - seat fighter and first Yugoslav - maiden jet aircraft Ikarus 451M . However , the first - line strength of the JRV was still declining , so in 1951 the Yugoslav Chief of Staff , Colonel General Koča Popović , visited the United Kingdom to discuss the situation . It was agreed that a substantial shipment of aircraft would be forthcoming . In October 1951 , the first de Havilland Mosquito F . B . 6 fighter - bombers were supplied . The following year , 150 Republic F - 47D Thunderbolt fighter - bombers were delivered from the USA under a Mutual Assistance Pact . The first jet aircraft to be operated by the JRV , four Lockheed T - 33A jet trainers , arrived on 10 March 1953 and were soon followed by the first of 229 Republic F - 84G Thunderjet fighter - bombers . Serials for the Thunderjets were from 10501 to 10729 . The first eight Thunderjets , all former 48 TFW aircraft , arrived at Batajnica on June 9 , 1953 . At the same time , a number of Yugoslav pilots underwent jet flying training in Germany . These deliveries substantially improved the combat effectiveness of the JRV . Ten Westland Dragonfly helicopters were obtained in 1954 , and in 1956 , after numerous delays due to political considerations , 121 F - 86E / Canadair CL - 13 F . 4 Sabres interceptors were delivered . Rebuilding Soviet support . In 1959 the JRV was merged with the air defence units operated by the Army and became known as the Air Force and Air Defence ( Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo i Protivvazdushna Odbrana - JRViPVO ) . Relations with the Soviet Union had drastically improved after Nikita Khrushchev became Soviet leader , and in September 1962 this led to the first MiG - 21F - 13 interceptors being delivered . Lack of possible aircraft for replacement of US - made fighter - bomber jets and trainers induced Yugoslav domestic aircraft industry ( Soko , Utva ) to make new jet trainers and fighter - bombers . After a number of prototypes , Yugoslav aircraft industry made Soko G - 2 Galeb light - attack trainer jet , which partly replaced a number of Lockheed T - 33 aircraft , and Galeb ' s single - seat version , Soko J - 21 Jastreb light attack aircraft . The Galeb was big successes , and it was better than Aero L - 29 Delfín which was the main trainer aircraft in the Warsaw Pact and a number of another air forces . Thus , the Galeb was exported only to Libya . The JRViPVO also purchased a number of domestic UTVA - 66 utility aircraft . Twenty - five Mi - 4 medium transport helicopters were also obtained for helicopter units from USSR . At the end of 60 ' s JRViPVO purchased a number of Soviet MiG - 21 ' s in MiG - 21PFM fighter , MiG - 21R reconnaissance and MiG - 21U and US trainer versions , fifteen Polish Mi - 2 light helicopters , twenty five Zlin Z . 526M Trainer Masters for Aviation Military Academy at Zemunik airport and the delivery of Mi - 8 T medium transport helicopters had started . Evolution . During the 1970s almost all the American jets were replaced by Soviet MiG - 21 fighters and domestic attack / trainer jets . Many new projects , like new Utva 75 trainer , G - 4 Super Galeb light attack / trainer jet commenced . The biggest project , Soko J - 22 Orao attack aircraft made in cooperation with Romanian IAR , also started . 21 French - built Aérospatiale Gazelle were bought , and after that the Soko factory in Mostar started serial production of the license - built Soko SA . 341H which was later built in many other versions . Mi - 8T helicopters replaced old Mi - 4 , Dragonfly , Whirlwind and Mi - 2 helicopters . Fighter aviation was also modernized with new MiG - 21 versions , MiG - 21M , MiG - 21MF and MiG - 21UM . Transport capability grew with the acquisition of seventeen An - 26 ' s . Reorganization . The focus in the 1980s was a partial replacement of J - 21 and G - 2 aircraft with younger Orao and Super Galebs . The air force purchased the latest version of MiG - 21 , MiG - 21bis , which was the last MiG - 21 model . All 103 Mi - 8T transport helicopters were delivered and the Soko factory had produced about 140 license - built Gazelles in various variants . JRV created its display team , " Leteće Zvezde " ( Flying Stars ) with seven Soko J - 21 Jastreb aircraft which were later replaced with seven Super Galebs . In 1987 , the first squadron of new modern MiG - 29 fighters was purchased from USSR , making Yugoslavia the first purchaser of it . They were a temporary solution until planned production of new Novi Avion multirole aircraft . In 1986 the JRViPVO underwent a limited reorganization which saw its operational units grouped into three regional Corps instead of the five Corps used previously . The primary air force missions were to contest enemy efforts to establish air superiority over Yugoslavia and to support the defensive operations of the ground forces and navy . The main organization were the three corps of Air Force and Air Defence ; 1st Corps of AF and AD , 2nd Corps of AF and AD and 3rd Corps of AF and AD . Fighter aviation . The main component of JRV was the fighter aviation . Most fighter aircraft were Soviet - made MiG - 21 aircraft of different versions MiG - 21M , MiG - 21MF and MiG - 21PFM from the 1970s and MiG - 21Bis from the early 1980s . In 1986 , JRV had purchased from USSR one squadron of MiG - 29 fighter aircraft . In that period MiG - 29 was one of the most advanced fighters , and Yugoslavia has become one of the first countries which bought MiG - 29 . Each Corps of AF and AD had one Fighter Aviation Regiment ( Lovački Aviacijski Puk - LAP ) . The First Corps of AF and AD had the 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment . The role of this regiment was the guarding of the First Corps of AF and AD aerospace from possible aggression , especially protecting the Yugoslav capital , Belgrade , and then support of Yugoslav Peoples Army ground forces . The 204 . LAP composed two fighter squadrons , 126 . LAE equipped with MiG - 21 Bis aircraft and 127 . LAP equipped with new MiG - 29 ' s . The base of the 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment was Batajnica Airbase near Belgrade . The Third Corps of AF and AD had the 83rd Fighter Aviation Regiment ( 83 . LAP ) based at Slatina Air Base near Priština . 83rd units were equipped with MiG - 21 aircraft , 123rd with older MiG - 21M and MF and the 130th with MiG - 21Bis . The Fifth Corps of AF and AD had the 117th Fighter Aviation Regiment at Željava Air Base . Željava was one of the best airbases in Europe , with underground runway , hangars , facilities for technical support , most advanced radars and communication equipment , sources of electricity , drinking water , fresh air , food , equipment , arms and fuel for staying 30 days without any connections with outside world . Units at Željava were 124th and 125th equipped with MiG - 21 Bis fighter aircraft and 352nd equipped with MiG - 21R reconnaissance - fighter aircraft . Ground attack aviation . Ground Attack Aviation or Fighter - Bomber Aviation ( Lovačko - Bombarderska Aviacija ) was in the second plan of JRV . All attack aircraft were home - made . The new aircraft like J - 22 Orao attack aircraft and G - 4 Super Galeb light - attack trainer were replacing older J - 21 Jastreb light - attack and G - 2 Galeb light - attack trainer aircraft . The First Corps of AF and AD had two fighter - bomber squadrons and one reconnaissance squadron equipped with ground attack reconnaissance aircraft . 252nd from Batajnica Airbase was under direct command of its Corps of AF and AD ( unlike other squadrons which were under the command of their Regiments / Brigades ) . It was equipped with older J - 21 Jastreb light attack aircraft and G - 2 Galeb trainer / attack aircraft , Utva - 66 utility aircraft and new G - 4 Super Galebs . Under command of the 97th Aviation Brigade ( which was in 1st Corps of AF and AD ) there was one fighter - bomber squadron , 240th , equipped with Jastrebs and one reconnaissance squadron , 353 . IAE , equipped with IJ - 22 Orao reconnaissance - attack aircraft . The Third Corps of AF and AD had two major fighter - bomber aviation units , 98th Aviation Brigade and 127th Fighter - Bomber Aviation Regiment . 98th Aviation Brigade from Skopski Petrovac in Macedonia had three squadrons , two fighter - bomber squadron and one reconnaissance squadron . Fighter - bomber squadrons were 241st equipped with J - 22 Orao attack aircraft , 247th with Jastrebs and 354th IAE was equipped with IJ - 21 Jastreb reconnaissance aircraft . 127th Fighter - Bomber Aviation Regiment at Golubovci Airbase comprised two fighter - bomber squadrons , 239th equipped with G - 4 Super Galebs and 242nd equipped with Jastrebs and J - 22 Orao aircraft . The Fifth Corps of AF and AD had most fighter - bomber aviation units , one Aviation Brigade and two Fighter - Bomber Aviation Regiments . 82nd Aviation Brigade , at Cerklje Airbase , Slovenia , had two fighter - bomber squadrons and one reconnaissance squadron . Two fighter - bomber squadrons were 237 . LBAE equipped with J - 21 and NJ - 21 Jastrebs , and 238th equipped with J - 22 and NJ - 22 Orao aircraft . Reconnaissance squadron was 351st equipped with IJ - 21 Jastreb and IJ - 22 Orao reconnaissance - attack aircraft . 105th Fighter - Bomber Aviation Regiment at Zemunik - Zadar Airbase comprised two fighter - bomber aviation squadrons , 249th equipped with Super Galebs , 251st with Galebs and one aviation squadron , 333rd equipped with Utva 75 training aircraft , An - 2 transport aircraft , Gazelle helicopters and Super Galebs . 185th Fighter - Bomber Aviation Regiment at Pula Airport has compos of one fighter - bomber squadron , 229th equipped with G - 4 Super Galebs and one fighter squadron , 129th equipped with MiG - 21 aircraft in versions MiG - 21PFM , MiG - 21US and MiG - 21UM . Training units . The Air Force Military Academy " Maršal Tito " used the 105th Fighter - Bomber Aviation Regiment from Zadar , 107th Helicopter Regiment from Mostar , 127th Fighter - Bomber Aviation Regiment from Golubovci Airbase and 185th Fighter - Bomber Aviation Regiment from Pula for training of its cadets . Cadets first learned how to fly on utility aircraft like the Utva 75 . The main base was in Zadar , in 105th Fighter - Bomber Aviation Regiment , where young pilots made their first flights on Utva 75 aircraft . After they learned basics about flying in 333rd , they learned how to fly on jet aircraft in 251st on G - 2 Galeb jet - trainers . When cadets mastered flying on Galeb jet trainers , they developed their flying on jet aircraft in 249th on Super Galeb trainers . After learning how to fly on jet aircraft , cadets continued their pilot education in other units dependent upon whether they became helicopter , fighter or fighter - bomber pilots . Cadets to become helicopter pilots , continued their education in the 107th Helicopter Regiment at Mostar , flying on Gazelle helicopters in 782nd and 783rd or on Mi - 8 helicopters in 782nd . Fighter - bomber pilot cadets continued their education in 127th Fighter - Bomber Aviation Regiment at Golubovci flying first on Super Galebs in 239th and later on J - 21 Jastreb and J - 22 Orao attack aircraft in 242nd Fighter pilot cadets continued their education in 185th Fighter - Bomber Aviation Regiment at Pula where they first fly on Super Galebs in 229th and later in 129th on MiG - 21PFM and MiG - 21UM / US they made they first super sonic flights . After finishing studies , cadets of Air Force Military Academy " Maršal Tito " become pilots and joined their service units . Transport units . The major transport aviation unit was the 138th Transport Aviation Brigade at Batajnica Airbase . The 138th was a separate unit under direct command of JRViPVO HQ . It consisted of three squadrons , two VIP transport aviation squadrons and one transport helicopter squadron . Transport aviation squadrons were 675th equipped with Yak - 40 , Falcon 50 and 678th equipped with YAK - 40 VIP aircraft and Mi - 8 helicopters in VIP transport version . There were also few transport aviation units from non - Transport Brigades / Regiments . In 119th Aviation Brigade aviation brigade at Niš there was 677th equipped with An - 26 and An - 2 aircraft which were used for training of the 63rd Paratroop Brigade . At Pleso , in 111th Aviation Brigade was 676th was also equipped with An - 26 and An - 2 transport aircraft . There was also one aviation squadron , 333 . AE from 105th Fighter - Bomber Aviation Regiment at Zadar which was equipped with one An - 2 aircraft used for parachute training of cadets of Air Force Military Academy " Maršal Tito " . Helicopter units . Helicopter units of JRV were equipped with about 200 home - made Gazelle helicopters in utility , attack , rescue and scout versions , 100 Soviet - made Mil Mi - 8T Hip - C cargo helicopters and 12 Soviet anti - submarine helicopters . Each Corps of AF and AD had a Special helicopter squad ( Specijalno Helikoptersko Odeljenje - SHO ) equipped with four Mi - 8 helicopters unless Special helicopter squad of First Corps of AF and AD , which was equipped with two Aérospatiale Alouette III light utility helicopters and two Mi - 8 transport helicopters . In the 138th Transport Aviation Brigade which was separate unit under direct command of JRViPVO HQ there was one transport helicopter squadron , 890 . TRHE equipped with Mi - 8 and Gazelle helicopters . The First Corps of AF and AD had the 107th Helicopter Regiment from Mostar ( BiH ) , which consisted of two squadrons , 782 . HE equipped with Gazelle helicopters in SA . 341 and SA . 342 Gama versions and Mi - 8 , and 783 . HE equipped with Gazelle helicopters . Squadrons of the 107th Helicopter Regiment were used by Air Force Military Academy " Maršal Tito " . Also there were three helicopter squadrons of the 97th Aviation Brigade at Divulje ; 676 . PPAE equipped with Gazelle helicopters and CL - 215 firefighting aircraft , 784 . PPHE equipped with 12 Mi - 14 , Ka - 25 and Ka - 28 anti - sub helicopters and 790 . TRHE equipped with Mi - 8 cargo helicopters . In the Third Corps of AF and AD there were three helicopter squadrons in 119 . Aviation Brigade ; 712 . POHE equipped with Gazelle Gama attack helicopters , 714 . POHE also equipped with Gazelle Gama helicopters and 787 . TRHE equipped with Mi - 8 transport helicopters . In Fifth Corps of AF and AD there were also three helicopter squadrons ; 711 . POHE equipped with Gazelle Gama , 713 . POHE also equipped with Gazelle Gama attack helicopters and 780 . TRHE equipped with Mi - 8 cargo helicopters . There was also one mixed - aviation squadron , 333 . AE from 105 . LBAP which had few Gazelle helicopters used for training by Air Force Military Academy " Maršal Tito " . The Army command regions also had their helicopter squadrons equipped with Gazelle Hera scout helicopters . EIV of 1st Army region was at Batajnica Airbase , EIV of 2nd Army region was at Skopski Petrovac , EIV of 3rd Army region at Pleso and EIV of Navy region was at Divulje . Yugoslav wars , downfall . In 1991 the deep rooted grievances that had been threatening the unity of the Federal state for some time finally came to a head when Slovenia initiated moves towards independence . At the end of June 1991 the JRViPVO was tasked with transporting soldiers and federal police to Slovenia . The Slovenes resisted this re - imposition of central control , which rapidly escalated into an armed conflict . Two air force helicopters were shot down , while the JRViPVO launched air strikes on TV transmitters and Slovenian territorial defence positions . After a political agreement , the federal forces left Slovenia . Meanwhile , armed conflict had broken out between Croatian and Serbian forces in Croatia . The JRV flew several low passes in a show of force against Croatia and launched a number strikes . In August 1991 Serbian dominated federal government began an open war campaign against the Croats . The JRV was active providing transport and close air support missions to ground forces , but was gradually forced to abandon air bases outside of ethnic Serbian held areas . The hostilities were ended by a truce on 3 January 1992 . The JRV equipment in Bosnia and Herzegovina was given to the new Republika Srpska Air Force and used during War in Bosnia . The bulk of the SFRY air force was inherited by the FR Yugoslavia Air Force . Aircraft type designation system . In 1962 the Yugoslav Air Force introduced a new aircraft designation system to identify specific aircraft types . Prior to this time , the Air Force had been mainly equipped combat aircraft of US origin , such as the F - 84G and T - 33A , and the US designation was commonly used . However , aircraft locally modified to fulfill the reconnaissance role , such as the F - 86D and T - 33A , were referred to as the IF - 86D and IT - 33A . The selection of the MiG - 21 , which lacked similar designation , as the new front - line fighter led to the introduction of a formal aircraft designation system . The main designation consisted of a prefix letter signifying the principal role of the aircraft , and a two - digit individual type number , e . g . : J - 22 . The role prefixes are : In addition , various role modification prefix and suffix letters are used , to indicate trainer , reconnaissance etc . variants of the basic design . The role modification letters are :