Serbian MiG-29s: will they ever come back?

[scg_af]

According to an Air Forces monthly magazine, the Serbia & Montenegro Air Force has stored its last 5 operational MiG-29s (one of them being a MiG-29UB) into a hanger for inspection by Russian aircraft inspectors from the company Mikoyan Gurevich; the inspection will judge the fate of this country's best fighter jets.

According to several reliable sources, these MiG-29s were first purchased by the Serbia & Montenegro Air Force (formerly the Yugoslav Air Force) in the late 1980s. These MiGs have aged alot; especially after the 1999 NATO war. However, the last 5 MiGs have been operated by the Serbia & Montenegro Air Force all the way until late 2004. That's when it was time for the MiGs to be stored.

I'd like some opinions 'bout this. D'you think the Serbia & Montenegro Air Force will be able to maintain the MiGs, or will they hafta scrap em? Thanx for teh opinions.....


p.s. i havent been in these forums in a looooooooooooong time. but i think sabre remembers me

 

[Focus]

I am no weapons expert but I think investing $2M a piece on Mig-29 will add 10+ years to its functionability. Indian Air Force has 29s since middle 80s and they are not retiring anytime soon. Airframes usually have 30+ years of life, upgrades to avionics is what requires additional funds.

 

[scg_af]

MiGs always had some sort of reputation of lasting a very long time before exiting service of an Air Force. But when you put the Indian Air Force MiG-29s as an example, there was a problem. Indian MiGs, up to my knowledge, were never used in an actual war. These Serbian MiG-29s have been through two very harsh wars (The Yugoslav Civil War, 1991-1994, and the NATO war against Yugoslavia, 1999). Both wars involved Serbia & Montenegro using their MiG-29s. Perhaps being through two wars could lower a fighter jet's mechanical reliability..........

but overall, u had a good point there

 

[Gollevainen]

Well what possibel use five fighters have? did 14 planes have any effect on NATO's bombing armada...?

The question should be, what possible future plans serbian AF has, are they planning on maintaining figther core whit real defense potential or doing the same thing to it like they are doing for the navy. is there any longterm plans to upgrade fighter force with new planes? if there is, the MiGs migh serve outright as lead in trainers and maintaining the pilots skills and train new ones. But isent there MiG-21s in service also? and whit more numerically. they migt serve as stopgab meassure until never planes, but if Serbia is to aquire more Fulcrums from russia, it migth be reasonable to upgrade the remaining five, but if not, i said it would be complete waste of money that seems to be the biggest proplem for Serbian defence.

 

[scg_af]

Back in 1999, the Serbia & Montenegro Air Force had 16 MiG-29s. 11 of them where destroyed by NATO forces, leaving only 5 surviving MiG-29s.

Although the situation seems unclear, there have been rumors of Serbia & Montenegro thinking of plans of buying newer fighter jets. Some rumors say that the Serbia & Montenegro Air Force plans to replace the MiGs with the new Sukhoi Su-30MK, a rival to the American F-15. There has also been reports of Serbia & Montenegro considering F-16s or the new Gripen fighter. More recent reports suggest the Air Forces buying a fighter from Russia's PAK-FA program (such as the Su-47).

And yes, there are quite a few MiG-21s in Serbian possesion right now. Sources say that Serbia & Montenegro have about 25+ MiG-21s operational, but Serbian MiG-21s are due to end service in 2014.

 

[gf0012-aust]

More recent reports suggest the Air Forces buying a fighter from Russia's PAK-FA program (such as the Su-47).

The Su-47 is a non starter. The Russians via Rosoboronexport and the Chief Su test pilot have repeatedly stated that it is a stillborn concept and will not be offered for future sales let alone development.

It was only ever a technology demonstrater - and has been clearly stated by Irkut - new weapons systems make some of the acrobatic side of the aircraft a valueless expense.

 

[scg_af]

im just setting an example

 

[gf0012-aust]

im just setting an example

ok. for one moment I thought we were being subjected to another treatise on the superiority and capability of the SU-47. I kind of get frustrated with comments like that as it indicates that no-one has done their homework before posting.

my apols - wasn't a shot at you.