| Macedonia
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By Igor Bozinovski
Throughout the history it is rare that a country has had such a fate as the Republic of Macedonia to be forced to prove and confirm its identity for years and centuries, mainly by armed resistance and the fight against occupiers. The long Macedonian history is a synonym for the determination of people to be themselves on their own piece of land.
After the Second World War, Macedonia, as a federal unit, joined the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, later Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. During the September 8, 1991 referendum, the citizens expressed their choice for the Republic of Macedonia to be constituted as a sovereign and independent as well as civil and democratic state. That is why September 8 is the Republic of Macedonia Independence Day.
On February 21, 1992, President Kiro Gligorov and the representatives of the Federal Army signed an agreement for the retreat of the Yugoslav Army from Macedonia, deciding on April 15 as the deadline. The Army completed the withdrawal before the determined deadline and the last Yugoslav soldier left Macedonian territory on March 27, 1992.
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| Macedonian AF & ADF
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The development of the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces started from scratch in 1992, because the former Yugoslav Army took all the weapons and equipment which Macedonia had accumulated, wiping out a 45-year investment. More than 35 aircraft (among them the J-22/IJ-22 Orao, J-21/IJ-21 Jastreb, UTVA-66 and SA.341H Gazelle-HERA) located at Petrovec Air Force Base, near Skopje were distributed to airbases all over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo i Protivvozdushna Odbrana) was created on June 10, 1992. The UTVA-66 and UTVA-75 were the first types to be introduced into the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces. Upon its creation, the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces could count on one UTVA-66 and four UTVA-75 A21 two-seat trainers, all leased from the Makedonski Vozduhoploven Sojuz (Macedonian Aeronautical Union). The official name of the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces is: Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo i Protivvozdushna Odbrana na Armijata na Republika Makedonija, which translates as Air Force and Air Defence Forces of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia. It is commonly abbreviated as VV i PVO ARM.
After the full-scale conflict began in 1991 in the newly independent republics of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution, requesting the immediate UN arms embargo to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Slovenia. This resolution was seen by Macedonia as unfair, because Macedonia was the only one of the former Yugoslav Republics that has gained its independence as a state by peaceful means. In 1994, the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces acquired four Mi-17 Hip helicopters from the Ukraine. Because of the arms embargo they were delivered to the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces with civil registrations. In 1996, the Security Council excluded Macedonia from the UN arms embargo. Short after this all four Mi-17s of the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces were painted in camouflage schemes and they received military serials.
Four Zlin 242L two-seat trainers were acquired from the Czech Republic in 1995. They are suitable for basic, aerobatic, navigation, instrument and night flying, for formation flying and combat maneuvers. One Zlin 242L was lost on April 7, 1999 when it crashed about 1 km west of Mantovo Accumulation Lake, near Radovish, the pilot escaping with minor injuries.
The last few years a number of rumours have surfaced about possible acquisitions by the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces. Unfortunately all of these rumours appeared either to be untrue or the acquisitions failed to materialise. The Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces will not take delivery of new build L-59, second-hand Turkish F-5s, second-hand Bulgarian MiG-21bis and Mi-24D. The delivery of 16 ex-German Army Bo-105M helicopters will also not take place.
During the Kosovo crisis, the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces dislocated all its aircraft on safe places, deeply on Macedonian territory, from where it was actively involved in monitoring the trouble borders with Yugoslavia (in the part with Kosovo) and Albania as well in supplying a number of refugee camps with Albanians from Kosovo with food, water and medical care.
After the withdrawal of Yugoslav security forces from Kosovo and entering NATO in Kosovo, UN decide to disarm the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Since spring 2000, Albanian terrorists have launched a large scale of frontal assaults on police stations, check-points and border-points in southern Serbia and Macedonia. All this events indicate that a large part of already disbanded KLA is still active in a form of two new radical terrorist organizations: so-called Liberation Army of Preshevo, Medvedja, Bujanovac in southern Serbia and National Liberation Army in Macedonia.
The crisis between Albanian terrorists and the Macedonian Government forces broke out in March 2001. During the fightings the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces has rapidly expanded itself receiving additional 20 aircraft. The first big-quantity delivery of new aircraft to the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces was made on March 23. That day, Ukraine donated to Macedonia four Mi-8MT combat helicopters, that served with Ukrainian contingent of KFOR on Kosovo, and as a part of old agreement delivered additional two Mi-24V Hind-E combat helicopters. Solidarity of Greece with the Macedonian Government was also shown that day with the delivery of two UH-1H Huey helicopters to the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces. On April 15 two more, and on June 15 four more and on September 4 two more Mi-24's followed from the Ukraine. In June 2001 four Su-25 (three Su-25 and one Su-25UB) arrived, marking them the first combat fighters for the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces. In December 2001 Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces received two Mi-24K Hind-G2 (photo-reconnaissance and artillery spotting version of Mi-24) helicopters from Ukraine.
As a response on brutal assaults of Albanian terrorists on the town of Tetovo, in the dawn of March 25, Macedonian security forces launch 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 Force and Air Defence Forces aircraft was involved in combat. On June 24, one Su-25 took off from Petrovec Air Force base and was involved in observing the scene over Arachinovo village where heavy fighting were underway. This was the first time in the history of Macedonia that a fixed wing Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces combat aircraft had operated from a Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces base.
According to the Macedonian Ministry of Interior, Albanian terrorist in Macedonia poses big quantity of anti-aircraft weapon that includes a number of FIM-92 Stinger and Strela-2M (NATO: SA-7b Grail) man-portable low-altitude SAM systems, 100+ anti-aircraft canons and 500+ anti-aircraft heavy guns. Despite this quantity of anti-aircraft weapon in the hands of the terrorists, no one aircraft of the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces was lost as a result of anti-aircraft fire. The only lose of equipment that Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces has during the fightings was the crash of the Mi-17 helicopter on March 17.
During the fightings, as in any other war, a number of rumours have surfaced about possible acquisitions by the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces. This includes the reports that Macedonia is attempting to acquire six J-21 Jastreb ground attack aircraft from Yugoslavia and ten Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Defender 4000 multi-sensor surveillance from unnamed country. In few occasions there were also reports that Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces for some time was operating two Kamov Ka-50 Hokum close-support helicopters that were acquired from Russia. The Macedonian Ministry of Defence demanded all this information. Another disinformation comes during June, when Macedonian media reported that the country is negotiating with Ukraine to buy six MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters. This was followed in early August by Greek medias reports that Turkey is offering Macedonia leasing of two squadron with 24 F-16C/D Fighting Falcon fighters. The last rumours come on August 2, when Sunday Times reported that Macedonia will purchase Su-25KM Scorpion, a new "retrofit" version of the Frogfoot, complete with Israeli avionics fitted in the former Soviet republic of Georgia.
As a part of succession of property and equipment of the former Yugoslav Peoples Army, on October 18, Yugoslavia offers Macedonia a long list of weapons and equipment that this country is ready to deliver to the Macedonian Army. According to the initial reports of the Macedonian media, the country among others will receive four SOKO G-4 Super Galeb jets, one An-26 transport aircraft, one Yak-40 transport aircraft, cabinets for pilots education for the Macedonian Military Academy "General Mihailo Apostolski" and surface-to-air missile systems. Until today there was no update regarding the possibility for delivering Yugoslav weapons and equipment to Macedonia which put the realization of this project under big mark of question.
During December 2001, the new organization structure of the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces was put on strength. Until then, Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces Airborne Brigade (Avio Brigada) was organized in three squadrons: 101. Avijaciska Eskadrila (or 101. AE, 101 Aviation Squadron), 201. Protiv Oklopna Helikopterska Eskadrila (or 201. POHE, 201 Anti Armour Helicopter Squadron) and 301. Transportna Helikopterska Eskadrila (or 301. TRHE, 301 Transport Helicopter Squadron). With the latest changes in the organization of the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces, Avio Brigada (Airborne Brigade) became Avio Bataljon (Airborne Battalion) and Eskadrila (Squadron) became Cheta (Company). So, 101. AE became 101. Avijaciska Cheta (or 101. ACh, 101 Aviation Company), 201. POHE became 201. Protiv Oklopna Helikopterska Cheta (or 201. POHCh, 201 Anti Armour Helicopter Company) and 301. TRHE became 301. Transportna Helikopterska Cheta (or 301. TRHCh, 301 Transport Helicopter Company). As part of the big reorganization of the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces new company was also established. Named as 401. Shkolsko Trenazna Cheta (or 401. ShTCh, 401 Training Company), 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 Czech for overhaul.
The Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces elite 501 parachute diversion detachment (501. Padobransko Diverzantski Odred) called "Falcons" (Sokoli) was officially promoted during the big military exercise that took place at Cojlija military range, near Petrovec Air Force base, on May 28, 2002. The exercise activities of this unit encompassed technical presentation of the equipment and the weaponry, search and rescue (SAR) operations, combat search and rescue (CSAR) of the pilot on hostile territory with the tactic operation called "small diamond." The "Falkons" also demonstrated leading Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces aircraft towards enemy positions (FOC - Forward Air Controllers), opening rifle fire from Mi-8MT and Mi-24V helicopters, parachute jumps and High-Altitude Low-Opening (HALO) parachute jumps. In peacetime the 501. PDO is under the command of the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces and its main task is search, rescue and medical evacuation of the flying staff. In case of natural disasters its aim is assisting the population. Members of the 501. PDO are all experienced professional soldiers who had participated in the missions of NATO and Partnership for Peace program. According to Major Goran Grujovski, the 501. PDO aim is to become the most elite unit of the Macedonian Army.
The creation of 501. PDO leads to need for equipping the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces with transport aircraft. Macedonian media reported that Macedonian Government, on its session held on April 2, 2002, decided to refused the initiative for buying one An-74 Coaler transport aircraft from Ukraine for a price of approximately US $6 million. In December 2002 the Russian government proposed to pay off some old debts to Yugoslavia that were inherited by Macedonia with a transport aircraft (An-74?). Because of uncertainty regarding Macedonian acquisition of An-74, Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces acquired one An-2 transport aircraft from Macedonian aviation club "Kumanovo" in 2003. The An-2 will be used for parachute training of the 501. PDO until new An-74 or other transport aircraft becomes part of the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces. PDO uses also Mi-24V, Mi-8MT and sometimes UH-1H helicopters.
Macedonia is one of nine Central and Eastern European countries that are actively seeking membership in NATO. In wish to meet all obligations for full integration and membership in NATO, Macedonia already equiped its Air Force and Air Defence Forces fighters and helicopters with NATO compatible communication systems. For better protection of its borders with south Serbian province of Kosovo and with Albania, especially at night, Macedonia plans to equip few Air Force and Air Defence Forces helicopters with FLIR equipment. Priority in acquisitions for the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces in the future will be equipping utility helicopters. The four Su-25 Frogfoots will be withdrawn from use during 2004 according to the draft to join NATO.
When there is a need, for example in warfare situation, Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces can use all the Macedonian Aeronautical Union aircraft, among them five survived UTVA-75 two-seat trainers and 16 An-2 Colt transport aircraft.
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| Macedonian Police Aviation Unit
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The Macedonian Police operates a small fleet of three helicopters. Two of them, an Agusta-Bell AB.206 and an Agusta-Bell AB.212 have been in the Macedonian inventory since the Republic of Macedonia was a part of Yugoslavia. During 2000, Taiwan announced that it is going to donate one Bell UH-1H utility helicopter to the Macedonian Air Force and Air defence Forces. Later this decision of Taiwan Government was changed and they decide to donate US 5 million to the Macedonian Government that will be used for buying one new helicopter from Bell Helicopter TEXTRON. Macedonian Government decide to invest money in one Bell 412EP that was delivered to the Macedonian Police Aviation Unit on November 22, 2000. This Bell received the serial Z3-HHC.
The official name of the Macedonian Police Aviation Unit is: Avijaciska Edinica na Makedonskata Policija, which translates as Aircraft Unit of the Macedonian Police. Macedonian Police helicopters are primarily used by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for various tasks: VIP transport, transport of various cargo and special police units, border monitoring, SAR missions, medevac and traffic surveillance. The helo's are based at Idrizovo, near Skopje, the main police base in Macedonia.
Macedonian Police Aviation Unit also provided support in the fight against the terrorists. This unit use its un-armed helicopters, the recently acquired Bell 412EP and AB.212, for transport of elite Police special units. This was done in cooperation with the Macedonian Air Force that gives them fire support with its Mi-24V helicopters.
There are no updates on the local press reports that Macedonian Ministry of Interior (or MVR, Ministerstvo za Vnatreshni Raboti) has negotiated with Ukraine for delivery of four Mi-24 helicopters to the Macedonian Police Aviation Unit. This put the realization of this project under big mark of question.
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| Macedonian Government Aviation
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The Macedonian Government Aviation, which translates as Vladina Vozduhoplovna Sluzba, currently operates two aircraft, a Learjet 25B and Beech King Air 200 and these are used primarily for VIP transport for the Macedonian Government. They are also used for calibrating the ground based radar stations. All aircraft are based at Petrovec. Macedonian Government was planning hopes to replace the current fleet with one modern VIP aircraft. But this project was abandoned because of the pressure from the International Monetary Found. It is believed that a single Yak-40, if Yugoslavia will deliver this, will become part of Macedonian Government Aviation and will be used for transport of Macedonian VIPs.
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Photo: Robin Polderman
Photo:Via Igor Bozinovski
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Photo: MIA via Igor Bozinovski
