204th Air Brigade

The 204th Air Brigade (Serbian: 204. Bаздухопловна бригада, romanized: 204. Vazduhoplovna brigada) is a main air base of Serbian Air Force and Air Defense for fighter training and transport aviation.

204th Air Brigade
204. Bаздухопловна бригада
204th Air Brigade
ActiveNovember 15, 2006 - current
CountrySerbia
BranchAir Force
TypeAir Base
RoleAerial space control, Air reconnaissance, Fire support and Transport
SizeBrigade
Garrison/HQBatajnica Air Base
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier General Predrag Bandic
MiG-29 of the 101st Fighter squadron
Yak-40 of the 138th Transport squadron
Mi-24 of the 138th Transport squadron

History

The 204th Air Brigade was formed on 15 November 2006 formed as successor of 204th fighter aviation regiment of ex Yugoslav air force. It is located at ex 177th air base (Batajnica Air Base), created from ex 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment, 252nd Fighter-Bomber Aviation Squadron, 890th helicopter squadron, 677th transport aviation squadron and one unit of 353rd reconnaissance squadron. The 204th fighter aviation regiment is now 101st Fighter-Aviation Squadron, 252nd fighter-bomber squadron is now 252nd Mixed-Aviation Squadron used primary for basic training and ground-attack missions, 677th transport aviation squadron and 890th helicopter squadron are now 138th Mixed-Transport-Aviation Squadron, and 353rd reconnaissance squadron unit is now 1st Reconnaissance Aviation Section.

On 7 July 2009, a MiG-29 from the 204th Air Brigade crashed during a display flight, killing Lieutenant Colonel Rade Randjelovic and a soldier on guard duty on the ground.[1]

Organization and Structure
    • 101st Fighter Squadron
    • 252nd Training Squadron
    • 138th Transport Squadron
    • 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron
    • 24th Air Force Technical Battalion
    • 17th Air Base Security Battalion
    • 177th Air Force Air Defence Artillery Battalion

Tasks

In peace time, 204th Air Base units perform the following tasks:

  • aerial space control;
  • deterring aggressions by deploying Air Force and prevention of surprise attacks;
  • aerial reconnaissance;
  • air transport;
  • participation in peace keeping operations and in international military cooperation;
  • providing support to civil authorities in case of natural disasters, industrial and other accidents and epidemics;
  • providing support to civil authorities in countering terrorism and organized crime;

and in war time, 204th Air Base units perform the following tasks:

  • combat for prevailing in the aerial space;
  • air defense of the territory and SAF;
  • aerial reconnaissance;
  • aerial firing support;
  • aerial transport.

See also

References
  1. Serbian Fulcrum Crash Kills Display Pilot, Air Forces Monthly magazine, September 2009 issue, p. 80.
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