North Macedonia Air Brigade
North Macedonia Air Brigade | |
---|---|
Воздухопловен ВИНГ | |
Army of the Republic of North Macedonia | |
Garrison/HQ | Skopje International Airport, Skopje |
Motto(s) | "On the way to the stars" [1] |
Engagements |
|
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel UH-1 |
The North Macedonia Air Brigade
History
The development of the Macedonian Air Brigade began in 1992.
The
After full-scale conflict began in 1991 in the newly independent republics of
Four
In recent years, rumours have surfaced about possible fresh acquisitions by the Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defence Forces. However, all of these rumours appeared either to be untrue or the acquisitions failed to materialise. The Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defence Forces will not take delivery of new build
During the
After the withdrawal of
The crisis between ethnic Albanian insurgents and Macedonian government forces broke out in March 2001. During the fighting, the Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defence Forces rapidly expanded itself through the delivery of an additional twenty aircraft. The first large-quantity delivery of new aircraft to the Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defence Forces was made on March 23 with Ukraine donating four Mi-8MT combat helicopters, that served with Ukrainian contingent of KFOR on Kosovo, as well as an additional two Mi-24V Hind-E attack helicopters. The Greek government delivered two
On the dawn of 25 March, as a response to assaults by Albanian insurgents on the town of Tetovo in northern Macedonia, government security forces launched a full-scale offensive in order to neutralize and eliminate them. In this operation, Macedonian Security forces used Mi-17 transport helicopters and recently acquired Mi-8MT combat helicopters. This was the first time that Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defence Force aircraft were involved in combat operations. On June 23, one Su-25 took off from Petrovec Air base and conducted a reconnaissance over Arachinovo village where heavy fighting was underway. This was the first time in the history of Macedonia that a fixed wing Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defence Forces combat aircraft had operated from a Macedonian air base.
According to the Macedonian Ministry of Interior Affairs, Albanian insurgents in Macedonia were in possession of large stockpiles of anti-aircraft weapons that included a number of
During the fighting, a number of rumors circulated about possible acquisitions by the Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defence Forces. This included the reports that Macedonia was attempting to acquire six
As a part of succession of property and equipment of the former Yugoslav People's Army, on October 18, Yugoslavia offered Macedonia a litany of weapons and equipment that the country was ready to deliver to the Macedonian Army. According to initial Macedonian media reports, the country, among others, would receive four
In December 2001, a new organizational structure of the Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defence Forces was implemented. Until then, the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces Aviation Brigade (Avio Brigada) was organized in three squadrons: 101. AE, 101 Attack Fighter Squadron (101. Avijaciska Eskadrila), 201. POHE, 201 Anti Armour Helicopter Squadron (201. Protiv Oklopna Helikopterska Eskadrila) and 301. TRHE, 301 Transport Helicopter Squadron (301. Transportna Helikopterska Eskadrila). With the latest changes in the organization of the Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defence Forces, Aviation Brigade (Avio Brigada) became Airborne Battalion (Avio Bataljon), and Squadron (Eskadrila) became Company (Cheta), and AE became 101. ACh, 101 Aviation Company (101. Avijaciska Cheta), 201. POHE became 201. POHCh, 201 Anti Armour Helicopter Company (201. Protiv Oklopna Helikopterska Cheta) and 301. TRHE became 301. TRHCh, 301 Transport Helicopter Company (301. Transportna Helikopterska Cheta). As part of this reorganization of the Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defence Forces, new companies were also established. Named as 401. ShTCh, 401 Training Company (401, Shkolsko Trenazna Cheta), this company now operates four Zlin 242Ls, a single Zlin 143L and two UH-1Hs. Before coming part of the 401. ShTCh, the four original Zlin 242L two-seat trainers were part of the 101. AE and UH-1H helicopters were part of the 301. TRHE. In 2003 a four-seat Zlin 143L and one more two-seat Zlin 242L were acquired from the Macedonian Authority for Civil Aeronautical Transport and Traffic. Training on the new Zlins will start early 2004 when the original three Zlin 242s will go to Moravan Aeroplanes in the Czech Republic for overhaul.
The Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defense Forces elite 501st Special Parachute Detachment (501. Padobransko Diverzantski Odred) or "501. PDO" called "Falcons" (Sokoli) was officially revealed during a military exercise that took place at the Cojlija military range, near Petrovec Air Base, on May 28, 2002.
The exercise activities of 501 Special Parachute Detachment" The "Falcons" encompassed a technical presentation of the equipment and the weaponry, combat search and rescue (CSAR) of pilots in hostile territory with a tactical operation called "Small Diamond. The 501 Special Parachute Detachment" The "Falcons" also demonstrated the capability of directing Macedonian Air Warfare aircraft and cannon/rocket artillery fire towards enemy positions as a Joint Operations Terminal Attack Control (JOTAC) Team, marksmanship skills from Mi-8MT and Mi-24V helicopters, parachute jumps using static line and high-altitude low-opening (HALO) parachutes, and concluding with a simulated raid and capture of air base facilities.
The 501. PDO is under the command of the Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defence Force and its main task is search and rescue, medical evacuation of downed aircrew, and pathfinding for follow on air mobile and vehicle mounted forces. In the event of a natural disaster, its objective is to assist the civilian population. Members of the 501. PDO are all experienced professional soldiers who have participated in missions involving NATO and Partnership for Peace member states. According to Major Goran Grujevski, the 501.PDO aim is to become the most elite unit of the Macedonian Army.
The creation of 501. PDO has resulted in the need for equipping the Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defence Forces with transport aircraft. Macedonian media reported that the Macedonian government, on its session held on April 2, 2002, decided to refuse the initiative for buying one
North Macedonia was one of nine Central and Eastern European countries that are actively seeking membership in NATO. In a desire to meet all obligations for full integration and membership in NATO, North Macedonia equipped its Air Warfare and Air Defence Forces with fighters and helicopters with NATO compatible communication systems. For better protection of its borders with Kosovo and Albania, especially at night, North Macedonia plans to equip a few Air Force and Air Defence Forces helicopters with FLIR equipment. Priority in acquisitions for the North Macedonia Air Brigade and Air Defence Forces in the future will be equipping utility helicopters. The four Su-25 Frogfoots were withdrawn from use in 2004. North Macedonia has no intention of operating jet fighters in the future and will depend on its NATO allies for air cover.[4]
Structure
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2001 Organization
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Aircraft
Current inventory
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
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Helicopters
| ||||||
Mil Mi-17 | Soviet Union | armed transport helicopter | 6[5] | |||
Mil Mi-24 | Soviet Union | Attack helicopter | 4[5] | to be donated to Ukraine[6] | ||
AW149 | Italy | utility/transport | 4 on order[7] | |||
AW169 | Italy | utility/transport | AW169M | 4 on order[8] | ||
Trainer aircraft
| ||||||
Zlín Z 42 | Czechoslovakia Czech Republic |
trainer
|
242 | 5[5] | ||
Zlín Z 43 | Czechoslovakia Czech Republic |
trainer | 143 | 1[5] | ||
Bell 206 | United States | trainer helicopter | 4[5] |
Retired
North Macedonia purchased four
Utva-75 and 66 trainers were once on loan from the local aeroclubs.[citation needed] Two UH-1H/D Hueys were donated by Greece in 2001 and retired by 2009.[citation needed] North Macedonia bought 2 Ka-52 Alligators in June 2001.[13]
See also
- SFR Yugoslav Air Force
- 2008 Macedonian Armed Forces Mil Mi-17 crash
- Special Forces Battalion
- The Rangers Battalion
- Military Service for Security and Intelligence
References
- ^ "Image". Archived from the original on 2020-05-02.[unreliable source?]
- ^ "Air Brigade – ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA". АРМИЈА НА РЕПУБЛИКА СЕВЕРНА МАКЕДОНИЈА. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
- ^ "Воздухопловен ВИНГ – АРМИЈА НА РЕПУБЛИКА СЕВЕРНА МАКЕДОНИЈА". АРМИЈА НА РЕПУБЛИКА СЕВЕРНА МАКЕДОНИЈА (in Kyrgyz). Retrieved 2021-09-20.
- ^ "The Macedonian Air Force - A New Dawn". Archived from the original on 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ^ a b c d e Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Božinovski, Igor (2023-03-28). "Makedonija ukida borbenu komponentu vojnog vazduhoplovstva, kupuje nove višenamenske helikoptere". Tango Six (in Serbian). Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ "North Macedonia signs almost €250m contract for Leonardo military helicopters". Flight Global. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
- ^ "North Macedonia signs almost €250m contract for Leonardo military helicopters". Flight Global. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
- ^ a b Helfrich, Emma (2022-08-05). "Ukraine Situation Report: Rumors Swirl Around Macedonian Su-25 Delivery". The War Zone. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ "Ukraine conflict: North Macedonia confirms transfer of Su-25s to Ukraine, Mi-24 attack helicopters may follow". Janes. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ "Македонија и "сухоите" ѝ ги подари на Украина". Mkd.mk. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ Roblin, Sébastien (2023-03-20). "Ukraine Is Finally Getting Some Badly Needed MiG-29 Fighter Jets From NATO". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ Krott, Rob (October 2003). "Macedonia's Weaponry: A New Nation Re-Arms and Fights". Small Arms Review. Vol. 7, no. 1. Archived from the original on 2019-03-30. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
External links
- Voeno vozduhoplovstvo na Armijata na Republika Makedonija at Ex Yu Aiur forces
- Macedonia Air Force at Aeroflight
- Macedonian Air Arms at Scramble
- Protiv Vozdusna Odbrana i VoenoVozduhoplovstvo na Armijata na Republika Makedonija at Dragans aviation corner
- The Macedonian Air Force - A New Dawn at Fence Check