Yugoslavia Mil Mi-8

croatian mil mi-8mtv-1



serbian mi-8t cargo helicopter

the yugoslav air force bought 24 mi-8t (hip c) transport helicopters may 1968 may 1969 equip 2 squadrons of newly formed 119th transport regiment niš military airport, each squadron 12 helicopters. subsequently, 1973 1980s, yugoslavia purchased more mi-8t helicopters re-equip 2 squadrons of 111th regiment pleso military airport near zagreb , 790th squadron divulje military airport near split, under command of yugoslav navy. in total, yugoslav air force received 92 mi-8t transport helicopters soviet union, known formally military ht-40, while local modification of several helicopters electronic warfare variants produced ht-40e. 40 helicopters equipped firefighting operations.

the yugoslav mi-8s first combat operations transport of army troops , federal police forces border crossings in slovenia on 27 june 1991. members of slovenian territorial defence fired strela 2 manpad, , shot 1 helicopter down, killing crew , passengers.

during combat in winter of 1991 in croatia , in spring of 1992 in bosnia , herzegovina, yugoslav people s army used mi-8 fleet evacuation of injured personnel, transport of cargo , search , rescue crews of aircraft forced down. flights made behind front, croatian forces able down 1 helicopter, hit small arms fire near slavonski brod on 4 october 1991.

after bosnian serbs declared state in spring of 1992, former yugoslav air force mi-8s continued service armed forces. inventory of 82nd mixed helicopter squadron, of 92nd aviation brigade of army of republika srpska comprised 12 mi-8t helicopters, continued in service until operation koridor. during period, republika srpska air force lost 3 mi-8 helicopters enemy fire. 3 helicopters painted in blue , white colour scheme flew in first part of 56th helicopter squadron of krajina milicija, using udbina military airport in lika main base. republika srpska air force continued operate 9 helicopters, albeit suffering problems maintenance , spare parts, until formally disbanded in 2006.

on other side, mi-8 helicopters used main air transport. croatian national guard obtained first on 23 september 1991, near petrinja, when yugoslav air force mi-8 made emergency landing after being damaged small-arms fire. further 6 mi-8t , 18 mi-8mtv-1 helicopters bought ex-warsaw pact countries during war, 16 of survived war. remaining mi-8ts retired service in croatian air force after war, while mi-8mtvs continued service in 20th transport helicopter squadron, , 28th transport helicopter squadron. latter has been re-equipped new mi-171sh helicopters bought russia.

the army of republic of bosnia , herzegovina secretly obtained mi-8t, mi-8mtv , mi-17 helicopters various sources. 2 helicopters shot down serbian air defences, 1 around Žepa, while 1 mi-17 shot down 2k12 kub m, killing bosnian foreign affairs minister irfan ljubijankić, few other politicians, , helicopter s ukrainian crew. few croatian mi-8mtvs secretly supported croatian defence council operations in herceg bosna. after war, army of federation of bosnia , herzegovina operated remaining 5 mi-8mtvs , 1 mi-8t in air force , air defense brigade of armed forces of bosnia , herzegovina.

finally, macedonian air force bought 4 mi-17v-1 in 1994 , 2 mi-8mt helicopters in 2001 ukraine. fly in transport helicopter squadron (ex 301. transport helicopter squadron). 1 crashed, killing 8 passengers , 3 crew members in accident in january 2008. in may 2008, macedonia acquired 4 additional mi-171, purchased lithuania.

during 1998–1999 kosovo war, fr yugoslav air force used mi-8s transport of personnel , material forces in otherwise-inaccessible mountain areas. evacuation of injured personnel occurred during 1999 nato bombing of yugoslavia, flying @ low altitude avoid detection nato aircraft. in 1999, serbian mi-8 shot down hunter uav. in 2000, mi-8 shot down uav. 2 mi-17v helicopters secretly operated special operations unit post-1997 active during kosovan conflict. after unit disbanded in 2003, helicopters transferred air force.

today, serbian air force, successor of yugoslav air force, operates between 6–8 mi-8t , 2 mi-17 helicopters in 138th mixed-transport-aviation squadron of 204th air base , 119th combined-arms helicopter squadron (ex 199th regiment) of 98th air base.