07.08.2020.
Air Force and Air Defence stronger than ever
With the state’s investments in the procurement of new assets, the modernization of the existing ones, and the improvement of the financial status and standard of the members, the Air Force and Air Defence of the Serbian Armed Forces have undergone something of a revival in recent years, after a long period during which this highly manoeuvrable branch of the Serbian Armed Forces was systematically devastated and left to decay.
Thanks to the procurement Mig-29 aircraft, modern Мi-17 and H-145 multi-role helicopters, Mi-35 attack helicopters, LASTA aircraft, CH-92A remotely piloted aircraft, as well as the aircraft maintenance tools, pilots of the Air Force can proudly say that they actively contribute to the fact that Serbia is capable of defending its own land, waters and the sovereignty of its skies on its own.
By procuring state-of-the-art AD medium-range missile artillery system “Pantsir S1” and modernizing the existing missile systems, members of the Air Defence have significantly enhanced their operational capabilities and they are a guarantor of security and protection of our sky and units from aerial attacks.
Years of uncertainty, when it was questioned whether our aircraft would take off from the runways of military airports due to malfunctions, lack of fuel, tyres and spare parts, are just a bad memory now for the pilots and aviators of the Serbian Forces whose number of flights has increased considerably and who now have all necessary conditions to develop professionally.
The financial status of pilots and aviators in the Air Force has been directly improved by increasing salaries, so, as of this year, the salaries of military pilots have been equalized with the salaries of pilots in the Ministry of the Internal Affairs. Also, better employment elements for pilots and technicians were determined, which made advancement in service faster.
Amendments to the Rulebook on Resolving Housing Issues in the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces have improved housing opportunities for professional military pilots who conduct the flight training program.
The most modern flight equipment including pilot coveralls, boots, gloves, active underwear and new pilot caps that all pilots and aviators received at the beginning of 2020, are just some of the innovations that contributed to the visible improvements of the Serbian Air Force.
The process of training and advanced training of military pilots for MiG-29 aircraft, H-145 and Mi-17 helicopters abroad, as well as the training of NCOs in the re-established Secondary Vocational Military School, which was abolished in 2005, also contributed to enhancing the operational capabilities of the Air Force.
The status of members of the Air Force was also raised by improving nutrition of technicians who carry out maintenance of complex combat equipment and reintroducing pilots’ entitlement to R&R, which they did not have for many years. Since two years ago, pilots have been enabled to spend their R&R leave on Kopaonik, with a ski pass provided.
A significant contribution to the improvement of the general situation in the Air Force was also made by investing in the construction of new infrastructure and the renovation of the existing one at military airfields throughout Serbia.
Twenty-one years after it was bombed during the NATO aggression, the military airport in Batajnica, which was named in 2019 after the hero Colonel-pilot Milenko Pavlović, received a modern lighting system on Runway 1, which enabled its safe use at night and in conditions of reduced visibility. Works on the installation of the lighting system consisting of modern lamps, which is applied everywhere in the world and meets both civil and military standards, will be carried out on Runway 2 as well, and the construction of a canopy for the duty unit and reconstruction of the water supply network at that airport are in progress.
A hangar for housing aircraft was constructed at the military airport "Sergeant-pilot Mihajlo Petrović" in Niš, and at the civil-military airport "Morava" near Kraljevo, after the reconstruction of the runway and the installation of the lighting system, the reconstruction of hardened aircraft shelters is in progress.
At the beginning of 2019, a facility was built on the heliport of the Military Medical Academy, on Banjički Vis, for accommodating aircraft crew members, medical staff and persons transported by helicopters. Also, with the introduction of lighting, it is possible to take off and land on the heliport at night.
Thanks to the measures taken by the state and military leadership, the Air Force and Air Defence have been equipped with new and most modern materiel, working conditions and the standard of all members have been improved and our Air Force and Air Defence are stronger than ever.