how about Mig-25R for reconnaissance. We would only need like one to take care of the whole business in 5min.
sorry, couldn’t resist. :-))

I used to have few articles with pictures from early nineties from”Aerosvet” magazine describing some interesting Yugoslavian UAVs desings. Does anyone have quick reference/pics to those plans. Maybe they are displayed now at Batajnica Museum?

PS. I’ll look it up if I still have when I get home from work.

There is an UAV project developed by UTVA.If you want i can mail you what i have. It was also displayed on the last Militrary fair in Belgrade.

I think Serbia should down size the mig 21 fleet and convert another 10 into Reconiscess and also for Partoling.

We do not need so many reconaissance Mig-21Rs,esepcially in the time when UAVs are getting more popular,cheaper to opearate and can fly for longer periods at a time.

very funny djnik, uh trying a new tactic. LOL, ROFL

Don’t worry,the moderators have been made aware of your (short lasting)presence.

This makes a lot of sense.

Perhaps the MiG-29 can be used in conjunction with the MiG-21 for airspace policing. So merge the two interceptor squadrons into 1 and used the MiG-29’s as a form of lead fighter, while the MiG-21 acts to keep pilots current on supersonic aircraft.

The Mig-21s and Mig-29s are already merged into a signle Squadron at Batajnica AB due to the low number of the latter and them not flying at the moment. The Mig-29 pilots, when flying at all, do that in the Mig-21s nowdays.

Because a squadron with a mere 5 airframes is nearly useless. It would be impossible to keep all 5 operational as one has to take account for maintenance requirements. It would also mean that only a small pool of pilots can be actually kept current on this aircraft.

I know that squadron of 5 airframes is useless, but 20 old Mig-21s arent very usefull as well,and are not safe to fly. Bascially we have to wait and see what will happen and then comment on the MODs decision.

Also in Air Forces Monthly, it was said the one of the MiG-29’s was in especially bad condition. Is this true? And if it is, is this airframe recoverable or is it only good for cannibalizing spares?

You can check out the photos of Mig-29s stored at Batajnica AB that i posted at the beginning of this thread and try and see yourself. They are all in different states of “bad condition” 🙁

Also djnik do you know how long the Orao’s are meant to be kept in service?

I do not think Oraos are ment to be kept in service for much longer. Althugh there is a number of new never used fuselages at Moma Stanojlovic facility that could be used to replace the old ones if the money is available. But the problem of old electronics and other spare parts still stays.

If the purpose is air patrol…then 4 MiG-29s are not only insufficient at that…but also inefficient at that. A force of MiG-21s which you can have more of…would be much more useful in that role.

Those MiG-29s will be kept flying only for prestige reasons I think…there’s no real reason to spend money on 4 airframes and a trainer…

Mig-21s that we have are at least 10 years older airframes than Mig-29s. The airframes can last only so long before the material becomes to buckle under stress,corrode etc. And most,if not all Mig-21s are stored in the open and exposed to weather conditions. It is no wonder they said that they want to retire Mig-21s by 2010.

Mig-29 can carry a better radar than Mig-21 which for an interceptor is very important and has more external pylons .Its two engines make it more reliable. Look at the other nations that have adopted twin engines for their airplanes (Rafale,Eurofighter…).

I do not think that prestige is the reason as the Air Force would rather have a better airplane than one purely for prestige. There is no reason to show off,and no money of course.They just want to stick with the best they’ve got,and thats Mig-29.