Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence
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| Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence Brigada zračne obrambe in letalstva Slovenske vojske |
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the identification flag
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| Founded | 1991 |
| Country | Slovenia |
| Allegiance | NATO |
| Branch | Air Force and Air Defense |
| Role | Defending the sovereignty of the Slovenian air space |
| Size | 400 personnel |
| Part of | Slovenian Army |
| Command HQ | Cerklje ob Krki, Brežice |
| Anniversaries | December 14 December 15 |
| Equipment | 39 aircraft |
| Engagements | Slovenian War of Independence |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lieutenant Colonel Igor Strojin |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Pilatus PC-9M Hudournik |
| Trainer | Zlin Z-143, Zlin Z 242 |
| Transport | Pilatus PC-6 Porter Let L-410 Turbolet, C-17 GM III (part of NATO SAC) |
Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence is a part of the Slovenian Armed Forces. It is an integral part of the command structure, not an independent branch.
Contents
Duties
Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence aim is securing sovereignty of the air space of the Republic of Slovenia and providing air support to other services in implementation of their tasks in joint operations. Its main tasks are:
- Inspection and control of the air space security
- Providing help in natural, humanitarian and technological disasters
- Search and rescue operations
- Taking part in international missions and operations
Since Slovenia does not have the air capabilities to police its airspace in accordance with NATO standards, nor does it plan to develop such capabilities these task are performed alternately by the Italian and Hungarian Air Forces under NATO command.[1]
History
Slovenian contact with military aviation began during World War I, when the army and navy air services of Austria-Hungary conscripted large numbers of personnel from throughout the Empire. As the Empire began to collapse during 1918, Slovenian aircrew and ground crew switched their allegiance to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Aircraft found on Slovenian territory were taken over by the Slovenian authorities and formed into a fledgling air arm. The new air arm was soon involved in the conflict with Austria over the border provinces of Carinthia and south Styria. Later in 1919, the Slovenian air units were absorbed into the Royal Yugoslav Air Force. In 1968 a reserve volunteer force, the Teritorialna Obramba (Territorial Defence of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia), was established to defend local key locations in time of crisis. The Slovenian Territorial Defence HQ had a small auxiliary aviation unit stationed at Ljubljana-Polje airfield by 1969, when Government Factories Type 522 advanced trainers were being operated. These aircraft were borrowed from the Yugoslav Air Force and not owned by Slovenia. Slovenian Territorial Defence ceased to be a part of the Yugoslavian auxiliary forces on 21 June 1991, (four days prior of the proclamation of independence), when the Yugoslav army seized 12 Soko J-20 Kraguj aircraft from them. On 28 June 1991 a Yugoslav Air Force Gazelle defected to Slovenia, providing the first helicopter for the Territorial Defence Force. During the war it also was equipped with three ex-Police Bell 412s and an Agusta A-109. On 9 June 1992 the Air Force Unit of the Slovenian Army was renamed into 15 Brigada Vojaskega Letalstva. The 15 Brigada was divided into two squadrons, one fixed-wing and one helicopter squadron, flying from two bases, Brnik airport and Cerklje ob Krki. The 15 Brigada was under control of the 1 Air Force and Air Defence Force Command located at Kranj. On 2004 Slovenia entered NATO. Now NATO is responsible for protecting Slovenian airspace. On 8 November 2004 the 15 Brigada was officially disbanded. In its place three new units were formed. The 15 Air Force Brigade was restructured into the 15 Helicopter Battalion, the Air Force School, and the Air Force Base. The 15 Helicopter Battalion is located at the Brnik air base. The unit is equipped with eight Bell 412 helicopters and four AS-532 Cougar helicopters. The units main duties are to organise training courses for pilots and technical staff, to organise search and rescue missions and operate within the System of Civil Protection, Help and Rescue, to secure cargo transportation to mountain areas, to extinguish fires, and to provide air support for SAF units. The Air Force Military School is located at the Cerklje ob Krki air base. The school conducts the basic and advance training programmes for future air force pilots in two Zlin 143L and eight Zlin 242L planes and four Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopters, organises practices for air force pilots, provides fire support, and carries out various tasks for other branches of the armed forces by using the two PC-9 and nine PC-9M planes. A part of the Air Force Military School is also the parachute squad, located at the Brnik air base, which organises basic and advanced parachute training for SAF members. The Air Force Base, located at the Cerklje ob Krki air base, carries out logistic support, such as fuel supply. The unit is equipped with two PC-6 planes and one L-410 plane. The Air Force Base unites the air supply squad and the technical support unit whose main tasks are to plan and conduct the second stage of aircraft maintenance, carry out technical personnel training, update aircraft documentation, etc. Although the airborne part of the SAF only exists for fifteen years, it has adapted itself constantly to the changing world. In this light another restructuring is due in 2007 when the Air Force School and the 15 Helicopter Battalion will be subordinated to a single command making logistics easier, and reduce staff. Following the decision to operate jet aircraft from 2015 again, major restructuring will take place at Cerklje.
Due to new reorganization of the Slovenian Armed Forces, the Air Defense and Aviation Brigade will be reconstructed to the 15th Wing (Military Aviation Regiment). The Wing will consist of 151st Rotary Wing Squadron, 152nd Fixed Wing Squadron, 153rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 16th Air Space Control and Surveillance Centre, 107th Air Base and Flight School. Air Defense elements will be moved to Ground Forces.
Battalions (former organization)
| Regiment | Squadron | Equipment | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15.HEB/BZTRA (helicopter battalion / battalion of air transport) |
Ljubljana Airbase | ||
| 1. and 2.hel unit B 412 3.hel unit AS 532 |
Bell 412 Eurocopter AS 532 |
Ljubljana Airbase | |
| LETRAO (air transport section) |
Pilatus PC-6 Let L-410 Turbolet |
Ljubljana Airbase | |
| LETŠ (Flight School) |
Cerklje ob Krki Airbase | ||
| 1,2 and 3 section of armed school military aircraft PC 9 |
Pilatus PC-9 | Cerklje ob Krki Airbase | |
| 1,2 and 3 section of school military aircraft and school helicopters |
Zlín Z 142 Zlín Z 242 Bell 206 |
Cerklje ob Krki Airbase | |
| 9. BZO (Air Defense Battalion) |
Kranj | ||
| POVLOGBAT (Command-Air Defense logistics battery) |
Vrhnika | ||
| LPRBTZO (light portable air defense rocket battery) |
SA-7 Grail (Strela-2M) SA-16 Gimlet (Igla-1) SA-18 Grouse (Igla) |
Slovenska Bistrica | |
| LSTBTZO (light air-defense self droven battery) |
BOV-3/M55A4 9K31 Strela-1 (Strela-1M) Gimlet (Igla-1) Grouse (Igla) |
Cerklje ob Krki Airbase | |
| RBTZO (rocket air defense battery) |
Roland II | Vrhnika | |
| 16. BNZP (Battalion for the control of airspace) |
ASOC (Air Sovereignty Operational Centre) | AN/TPS 70 EL/M-2106 HEE |
Kranj |
| CNKZP (Center for Control of airspace) |
- ASOC (Air Sovereignty Operational Centre) - Frequentis Comm Sys |
Kranj | |
| Ljubljana top at Vrhnika Kogel glaciers at Pohorje |
2x AN/TPS 70 | Vrhnika Pohorje |
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| 107. LEBA (air base) |
Ljubljana Airbase Cerklje ob Krki Airbase |
Equipment
Radars
- 2x AN/TPS 70 (replaced)
- 2x Ground Master 400
- 8x EL/M-2106NG[2]
Aircraft
Current inventory
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| Type | Origin | Role | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | |||||
| Let L-410 | Czech Republic | transport | 1[3] | ||
| Pilatus PC-6 | Switzerland | Utility / transport | 2[3] | ||
| Dassault Falcon 2000EX | France | Medical Evacuation / Utility | 1 | ||
| Helicopters | |||||
| AS532 | France | Transport | 4[3] | ||
| Bell 412 | United States | Utility | 8[3] | ||
| Trainer Aircraft | |||||
| Bell 206 | United States | Trainer Helicopter | 4[3] | ||
| Zlin Z 242 | Czech Republic | Trainer Aircraft | 8 | ||
| Ground-attack aircraft | |||||
| Pilatus PC-9 | Switzerland | Ground-attack aircraft | PC-9 MkII | 9[3] | |
Retired aircraft
Previous aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of a single Agusta-Bell 212, an A.109A, and a Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopter which was lost to a crash in 1994.
Air Force also operated 14 UTVA 75 training aircraft. All have been replaced by the Zlin Z 242. Some UTVA 75’s were donated to local airclubs, but up to 6 remain stored in reserve.[4][5]
Former Air Defense Systems
- 9x Roland II SAM (in reserve because of lack of financial resources)
- Igla MANPADS and Strelets Systems (now in use by Ground Forces)
- Strela 2M MANPADS (In reserve)
- 6x Strela 1M (In reserve)
- 12x BOV 3 (In long term storage)
- 12x ZSU-57-2
- 12x M53/59 Praga
Acquisition of new Aircraft
The Slovenian Ministry of Defense tested the EADS CASA C-295 and the C-27J Spartan in Cerklje AFB in 2007. Two Casa C-295's were chosen with the first one to be delivered in 2008 and the second in 2010. The first aircraft was ordered in January 2008, but in February the aircraft order was frozen, because of the Mirosławiec air accident in Poland. Due to the financial crisis now there is no near term plan for acquisition of new transport aircraft.
Future
In 2016 Slovenian Air Force decided to sell 2 unmodified Pilatus PC-9, which have been used as advanced trainers. 24 years old, two seated planes were offered to potencial buyers for approximately €500.000 a piece. The planes were rarely used since 2010 and were stored in the last few years. With money, obtained from potential sale Slovenian Air Force plans to upgrade current PC-9 MkII planes and to extend serviceability of these more than 20 year old airplanes. Slovenian Air Force also plans to upgrade its fleet of helicopters and trainer aircraft.
Incidents and Accidents
[6] In 1993 a UTVA-75 crashed in Slovenj Gradec. The plane was repaired. In 1994 a Let L-410 Turbolet hit HT wires on landing in Brnik. It was later repaired. In 2004 a Pilatus PC-9 crashed in Lenart, resulting in the death of maj. Drago Svetina. In 2008 a pilot candidate ejected from a Pilatus PC-9, the plane was not damaged and returned safely at Cerklje ob Krki Airbase.
Ranks
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References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Slovenia. |
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