Today, in next of a series of articles about the Serbian Air Force and Air Defence, we are taking you to the 204th Air Brigade (204. ваздухопловна бригада), to take a closer look at training flights performed by one of its compounds – the 101st Fighter Squadron ´Knights´ (101. ловачка авијацијска ескадрила “Витезови”).
The aforementioned training was held in the area of ´Colonel-pilot Milenko Pavlović´ air base in Batajnica as a part of preparations for combat shooting on air targets that is already scheduled for June of this year, and will take place in the air space over the Black Sea.
Within the current exercise, the Serbian MiG-29 crews were increasing their skills to complete objectives related to control and protection of defined air space. They included execution of standard operating procedures on intercepting of unknown aircraft, engaging the mock-up enemy and performing elements of an aerial combat.
The training flights were carried out in close cooperation with personnel of the 126th Air Surveillance, Early Warning and Guidance Brigade (126. бригада ваздушног осматрања, јављања и навођења), as well as with the support of the technical crews of the 204th Air Brigade.
As already mentioned, effectiveness of the current training and skills acquired by the MiG-29 crews of the 101st Squadron shall be reviewed next month. During the live shooting exercise to be held in Bulgaria, the pilots will have an opportunity to perform live shooting on aerial targets with rocket missiles.
The Serbian Air Force and Air Defence is currently operating the fleet of about fourteen MiG-29 aircraft in single- and two-seat variants. At least ten aircraft were already modernized to MiG-29SM standard. All the fighter aeroplanes are being assigned to the 101st Squadron at Batajnica.
Our previous articles focused on the training flights of the Serbian military aviation can be found under the following links: Airbus H145M / SOKO Gazelle ´GAMA´ / J-22 Orao.
All photos © Министарство одбране Републике Србије / MoD Republic of Serbia. MoD press releases were used. Cover photo – Cockpit view from SOKO Gama helicopter, © MoD Republic of Serbia.
