חיל האוויר וההגנה נגד מטוסים של בוסניה והרצגובינה
The Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a helicopter and air defence brigade formed in 2006–2007 by merging the air arms of former wartime enemies; it lost its last jets in 2006, and today flies old Mi-8s and Hueys mostly on firefighting and rescue, with two donated Turkish drones and a US-approved helicopter deal still to arrive.
The story of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s air arm: an aircraft industry, a war fought by three armies and one brigade from two entity air forces
Before 1992: an aircraft industry, not an air force
Bosnia and Herzegovina had no air force of its own until 2007, but it was never short of military aviation. In Yugoslav times the republic built the aircraft: SOKO, founded in Mostar in 1950 with part of the Ikarus works from Zemun, turned out 248 Galebs, 224 Jastrebs, about 133 Oraos, 85 Super Galebs and 132 licence-built Gazelle helicopters. On the border near Bihać the Yugoslav air force dug Željava, a cavern base built between 1948 and 1968 that housed MiG-21 fighter and reconnaissance squadrons. Neither survived the break-up. The retreating JNA wrecked Željava’s runways in 1991 and, according to Wikipedia’s account, Serb forces blew up the complex with a further 56 tonnes of explosives in 1992. SOKO’s production stopped the same year; the plant was damaged and much of its equipment went to Serbia. What was left in Bosnia was a set of airfields and a few dozen aircraft, divided along the front lines.
1992–1995: three armies, one sky, and a UN no-fly zone
The war that began in April 1992 was fought by three armies, and each built its own air arm from what it could get. The Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), formed on 12 May 1992, was by far the best equipped: Wikipedia’s article on its air force says it was formed that May with support from the Yugoslav air force, which left behind a squadron of nine J-22 Oraos at Mahovljani near Banja Luka; by 2004 the same air force also listed Jastrebs, Gazelles and Mi-8s. The Croatian Defence Council (HVO) formed an air and anti-aircraft branch in 1992 with a mixed squadron, an observation squadron of civilian light aircraft and a missile unit. The Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH), founded on 15 April 1992, had almost no aircraft; the English sources checked describe no organised air arm. The United Nations banned military flights over Bosnia with Resolution 781 in October 1992, and NATO began to enforce the ban on 12 April 1993.
28 February 1994 and 1995: when NATO fought the Bosnian Serb air arm
Operation Deny Flight recorded 5,711 unauthorised helicopter flights in less than three years, but it is remembered for one morning. On 28 February 1994, by the account in Wikipedia’s article and the sources it cites, six J-21 Jastrebs flying from Udbina in Serb-held Croatia attacked the Bratstvo factory at Novi Travnik while two J-22s struck Bugojno. American F-16s intercepted the Jastrebs. NATO says four aircraft were shot down in the Alliance’s first military engagement; Serb sources acknowledged five lost. The Bosnian Serb air defence then became the real threat: a Sea Harrier was lost near Goražde in April 1994, a VRS 2K12 Kub battery shot down Captain Scott O’Grady’s F-16 near Mrkonjić Grad on 2 June 1995, and a French Mirage 2000N fell near Pale on the first day of Operation Deliberate Force, 30 August 1995. That campaign of 3,515 sorties helped bring the war to an end at Dayton.
1995–2007: two entity air forces become one brigade
Peace left two entity air forces, not one. The Republika Srpska air force kept its jets at Mahovljani and helicopters at Zalužani; the Army of the Federation, which absorbed the HVO in December 1997, flew Mi-8s, UTVA 75s and 15 American UH-1H helicopters. By 2004 the Serb jets were largely grounded for lack of money and spares. Scandal forced the pace: Wikipedia’s article on the armed forces says the High Representative used the 2002 Orao affair, which concerned unauthorised assistance to Iraq, among other cases, to push for one state army. The entity aviation units first exercised together in spring 2004; the joint armed forces followed on 1 December 2005 (1 January 2006 in the Stars and Stripes report). A presidential decision of 5 July 2006 fixed the structure, and the brigade first assembled at Zalužani on 17 September 2007.
Helicopters, not jets: what the brigade does today
The result is an air force without an air force’s centrepiece. The last jets, J-21s and J-22s from the Republika Srpska air force, were retired in 2006 and stored by 2008, and nothing replaced them. The brigade today is two helicopter squadrons, the 1st at Mahovljani and the 2nd at Rajlovac in Sarajevo, an air surveillance and reporting battalion with a radar post on Kozara, an air defence battalion with Soviet-era missiles and Bofors guns, and an aviation support battalion. Its listed tasks are air defence and airspace surveillance, but most of its flying is for civilians: search and rescue, medical evacuation and above all firefighting. The fleet, about a dozen Mi-8s, a Mi-17, nine Hueys and four Gazelles by Wikipedia’s count, is old and mixed. Wartime traditions survive by entity: in May 2026 the brigade marked the 34th anniversary of the VRS air force at Mahovljani under the calendar of the 3rd (Republika Srpska) Infantry Regiment.
2024–2026: drones, a Leonardo deal and a record fire season
Since 2024 the brigade has been changing slowly and its workload has not. Colonel, now Brigadier, Radenko Prerad took command in February 2024; the upgraded UH-1H-II moved to Mahovljani in April 2025; a Huey fought fires in Montenegro in August 2025 by decision of the Presidency. Turkey donated two Bayraktar TB2 drones in 2025, and on 21 May 2025 Washington approved a $100 million sale of Leonardo AW119Kx helicopters, six according to Wikipedia; a contract and delivery dates were not confirmed. The helicopter project now runs to 2032. Meanwhile the 2026 fire season set a record: more than 176 flying hours and about 760,000 litres of water from May to September, according to the ministry. The honest verdict is that Bosnia’s joint air arm has worked as a symbol of the post-war state and as a rescue service; as a defence of the country’s airspace it remains a radar picture and a handful of missiles.
The Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina in numbers
שֵׁרוּת
- שם מקומי
- Brigada zračnih snaga i protivzračne odbraneThe name used on the official armed forces site, abbreviated br ZS i PZO; articles written in Serbian use Brigada vazdušnih snaga i protivvazdušne odbrane (br VS i PVO). It is a brigade of the joint armed forces, not a separate service. A Croatian-language form was not confirmed on the official site.
- מְבוּסָס
- 17 September 2007Date of the first assembly of all brigade units at Zalužani barracks, Banja Luka, after the brigade was formally established in September 2007 (official history). Wikipedia gives 1 December 2006; the joint armed forces themselves date from 1 December 2005 (Wikipedia) or 1 January 2006 (Stars and Stripes)
- חלק מ
- Operational Command, Armed Forces of Bosnia and HerzegovinaOne of the Operational Command’s brigades, alongside three infantry brigades and the Tactical Support Brigade. The Chief of the Joint Staff is General Gojko Knežević (since 1 February 2024). Bosnia and Herzegovina is a NATO partner (Partnership for Peace 2006, MAP invitation 2010), not a member
- מַטֶה
- Banja Luka (Kozara and Zalužani barracks)The official history places brigade command at Zalužani, and the 2024 change of command took place at Kozara barracks in Banja Luka; Wikipedia gives Sarajevo, where the 2nd Helicopter Squadron and Air Defence Battalion are based
- מְפַקֵד
- Brigadier Radenko PreradTook command from Brigadier Milorad Krajšumović on 15 February 2024 as a colonel; the official profile lists him as acting (v.d.) commander, while the May 2026 report names him brigadier and commander
- שר ההגנה
- Zukan HelezStill in office in September 2026, per the ministry’s news pages
כּוֹחַ
- כוח אדם
- About 700 airmenWikipedia also counts 300+ civilians and 1,100 guard personnel. No official brigade strength was found
- מטוסי קרב
-
- אַף לֹא אֶחָד
The last jets, Soko J-21 and J-22 inherited from the Republika Srpska air force, were retired in 2006 and stored by 2008
- מסוקים
-
- Mil Mi-8 (Mi-8MTV and Mi-8T) — 12
- Mil Mi-17 — 1
- Bell UH-1H — 6
- Bell UH-1H Huey II — 3 (one stored)
- Aérospatiale/Soko Gazelle — 4
Counts from Wikipedia’s table; the ministry publishes no inventory. Firefighting and SAR are flown by both helicopter squadrons
- רחפנים
-
- Baykar Bayraktar TB2 — 2
Donated by Turkey; arrival reported in April 2025 by Avaz and dated June 2025 by Wikipedia. Which unit operates them was not confirmed
- הגנה אווירית קרקעית
- 2K12 Kub, 9K31 Strela-1, Strela-10, MANPADS, 40 mm Bofors and ZU-23-2Wikipedia, citing the Military Balance 2024: 20 Kub, 34 Strela-1, 47 Bofors (31 L/60, 16 L/70), 30 ZU-23-2. The brigade’s Air Defence Battalion held live firing with the Bofors L/70 in May 2024
- תקציב הביטחון
- About US$220 million (2023)About 0.2% of GDP per Wikipedia. The Council of Ministers extended the helicopter modernisation project to 2032 with extra 2025 funds; no 2026 figure was confirmed
תַשׁתִית
- בסיסי אוויר
-
- Mahovljani (Banja Luka) — 1st Helicopter Squadron, Mi-8 and, since April 2025, UH-1H-II
- Rajlovac barracks (Sarajevo) — 2nd Helicopter Squadron, Air Defence Battalion, aviation support
Per the official history. Wikipedia also lists Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Tuzla international airports as bases. Rajlovac also hosts aviation courses, such as an Inter-European Air Force Academy safety course in April 2024
- מכ"ם
- RP Kozara, near PrijedorThe Air Surveillance and Reporting Battalion sits at Zalužani with a radar post on Kozara
- בסיסי אוויר סגורים
-
- Željava (Bihać) — Yugoslav cavern base, blown up 1992
- Mostar — SOKO factory airfield, production halted 1992
Both lost their flying role in the 1992 war
- התראת תגובה מהירה
- אַף לֹא אֶחָדBosnia and Herzegovina has had no fighter aircraft since 2006; airspace is watched by the radar battalion
- Search and rescue, MEDEVAC
- Both helicopter squadronsOfficial tasks include SAR, medical evacuation and large-scale firefighting; a joint MEDEVAC exercise with EUFOR ended on 12 December 2025. The 2026 fire season was the busiest on record: more than 176 flying hours and about 760,000 litres of water. Ground units of the brigade also help in floods, as at Dusina in October 2024
How the Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina is organised
One brigade of the joint armed forces, not a separate service, commanded from Banja Luka, with two helicopter squadrons, an air surveillance and reporting battalion, an air defence battalion and an aviation support battalion. The brigade flies no fighters and has had no jets since 2006: its Mi-8s, Hueys and Gazelles fly from Mahovljani near Banja Luka and from Sarajevo, mostly on firefighting, rescue and medical evacuation. Two Bayraktar TB2 drones donated by Turkey arrived in 2025; which unit flies them has not been confirmed.
Air Force and Air Defence Brigade
One of the Operational Command’s brigades in the joint Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, not a separate service. The official history places brigade command at Zalužani barracks in Banja Luka; Wikipedia gives Sarajevo. Brigadier Radenko Prerad took command on 15 February 2024 as a colonel; the official profile still lists him as acting commander.
טייסת המסוקים הראשונה
Gazelles and, since 28 April 2025, UH-1H-II Huey IIs on the military side of Banja Luka International Airport at Mahovljani, flying medical evacuation, rescue and firefighting as far as Trebinje in the far south.
טייסת המסוקים השנייה
UH-1H and Huey II helicopters in Sarajevo; its rescue specialists train at the Rajlovac heliport. In August 2025 one of its Huey IIs fought wildfires in Montenegro by decision of the Presidency, dropping 157 tonnes of water in 11 flights.
Air Surveillance and Reporting Battalion
Watches the country’s airspace from Zalužani with a radar post on Kozara, near Prijedor. With no fighter aircraft since 2006, there is no quick reaction alert.
גדוד ההגנה האווירית
Soviet-era 2K12 Kub and Strela missiles, shoulder-fired missiles, 40 mm Bofors and ZU-23-2 guns, by Wikipedia’s figures citing the Military Balance 2024; the battalion held live firing with the Bofors L/70 in May 2024.
What the Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina flies today
כל סוג בטעינה, מקושר לדף ספר החיות שלו במידה וקיים כזה. ספירות הן מטוסים בספרים, לא מטוסים זמינים ביום נתון.
| סוּג | תַפְקִיד | בשירות | מֵאָז | יחידות | הערות | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mil Mi-8 (Mi-8MTV and Mi-8T)בשירות | מסוק שירות ותובלה | 12 | 2006 | 4 Mi-8MTV and 8 Mi-8 per Wikipedia; how many are airworthy was not published. The Federation army listed 22 Mi-8 and the Republika Srpska air force 11 in the years before the merger. | ||
| מיל מי-17בשירות | מסוק שירות | 1 | One per Wikipedia; not confirmed on an official page. | |||
| בל UH-1H אירוקוויבשירות | Utility helicopter and MEDEVAC | 6 | Six, two used for MEDEVAC, per Wikipedia. The Federation army is listed with 15 UH-1H. | |||
| Bell UH-1H Huey IIבשירות | Utility, firefighting and SAR helicopter | 3 | 2021 | Three, one in storage, per Wikipedia. | ||
| Aérospatiale/Soko SA341 Gazelleבשירות | מסוק קל לשימוש | 4 | 1992 | 1 SA341H and 3 SA341L per Wikipedia. The Republika Srpska air force had 22 Gazelles in a 2004 estimate. | ||
| באיקר באירקטאר TB2בשירות | רחפן סיור חמוש | 2 | 2025 | Two donated by Turkey. Minister Helez spoke of a contract for six; four more were under negotiation in April 2025. |
בהזמנה
| סוּג | הוזמן | משלוח ראשון | הערות | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonardo AW119Kx Koalaבהזמנה | 6 | The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale on 21 May 2025, estimated at $100 million with Leonardo Helicopters as principal contractor, including training and five years of support by up to 12 representatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
יוֹתֵרThe quantity of six comes from Wikipedia; GovConWire did not state it. A signed contract and delivery dates were not confirmed. |
||
| באיקר באירקטאר TB2בהזמנה | 4 | 2025 | Two of a planned six had arrived by 2025; Avaz reported the remaining four were still under negotiation in April 2025. Not confirmed on an official page. |
Every type the Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina has retired
5 types, from the Soko J-22 Orao to the Soko J-22 Orao. נתוני השיא הם מספר שלדי המטוסים שנלקחו תחת אחריות לאורך כל חיי השירות, לא מספר כוחות הצי בכל תאריך נתון.
| סוּג | תַפְקִיד | שִׂיא | מוגש | הוחלף על ידי | הערות | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| סוקו J-22 אוראו | מטוסי תקיפה קרקעיים | 9 | 1992–2006 | The JNA left a squadron of nine to Republika Srpska; seven remained in June 2003. | ||
| Soko J-21 Jastreb | Light attack and reconnaissance | 11 | 1992–2006 | 11 in a 2004 estimate. At least four, and by the Serb count five, were lost on 28 February 1994. | ||
| סוקו G-4 סופר גאלב | מאמן סילון ותקיפה קלה | 1 | 1992–2006 | One in a 2004 estimate. | ||
| סוקו G-2 גאלב | מאמן סילון | |||||
| UTVA 75 | Liaison and basic trainer | 13 | 11 with the Federation army and 2 with the Republika Srpska air force, per Wikipedia; not confirmed officially. |
Where the Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina flies from
סיכות שחורות הן בסיסים פעילים, סיכות חלולות הן שדות התעופה שנסגרו. The brigade flies from Mahovljani, the military side of Banja Luka International Airport, and from Sarajevo, with barracks at Rajlovac and Zalužani; no fighter is based anywhere in the country. Tuzla, which its operator calls a joint military and civil aerodrome, and Mostar have no resident military unit confirmed; Camp Butmir is the headquarters of EUFOR, not a Bosnian base, and Željava, the Yugoslav underground base on the border with Croatia, was wrecked in 1991–1992. Entries with no published aerodrome data carry no pin.
| בָּסִיס | ICAO | סטָטוּס | מַסלוּל הַמרָאָה | יחידות ומטוסים |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp ButmirFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo Canton, Ilidža (beside Sarajevo International Airport) | פָּעִיל |
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| MahovljaniBanja Lukaרפובליקה סרפסקה, עיריית לקטאשי | LQBK | פָּעִיל |
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| Rajlovac Barracks and HeliportFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo Canton, municipality of Novi Grad | פָּעִיל |
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| Sarajevo International AirportButmirהפדרציה של בוסניה והרצגובינה, קנטון סרייבו, עיריית אילידז'ה (בוטמיר) | LQSA | פָּעִיל |
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| TuzlaDubraveFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tuzla Canton, Živinice (Gornje Dubrave) | LQTZ | פָּעִיל |
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| Zalužani BarracksBanja LukaRepublika Srpska, City of Banja Luka | פָּעִיל |
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| Mostar AirportOrtiješFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Mostar | LQMO | סָגוּר | ||
| ŽeljavaBihaćUna-Sana Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Lika-Senj County, Croatia: the international border runs through the site | נסגר בשנת 1992 |
|
אף בסיס אווירי לא תואם את החיפוש הזה.
Who is stationed where in the Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina
יחידות מעופפות לפי בסיס, היחידות הנוכחיות תחילה. The brigade has two numbered flying units, the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Mahovljani and the 2nd in Sarajevo; the wartime units of the air force of the Army of Republika Srpska, and the Yugoslav, EUFOR and IFOR units, are listed under the fields they used, each marked as a predecessor or as not Bosnian. Wartime unit numbers rest on a 1995 order of battle cited by Wikipedia, and the entries say so.
- טייסת המסוקים הראשונה (1. helikopterski skvadron)טייסת המסוקים · פעילה
- SA341/342 גאזל, UH-1H II Huey II (החל מ-28 באפריל 2025), Mi-8T (הוצג בימי פתיחה; תואר בשנת 2025 כמטוס שכבר לא טס)
- גדוד התמיכה הלוגיסטית השביעי (יחידת תמיכה)תמיכה לוגיסטית · פעיל
- החטיבה האווירית ה-92, חיל האוויר וההגנה האווירית של צבא רפובליקה סרפסקה1992–2006
- Soko J-22 Orao, Soko J-21 Jastreb, Soko G-4 Super Galeb
- 2nd Helicopter Squadron (2. helikopterski skvadron)טייסת המסוקים · פעילה
- UH-1H / UH-1H II Huey
- EUFOR Operation Althea headquarters, Camp ButmirMultinational headquarters · allied
- 1st Helicopter Squadron UH-1H-II element (to April 2025)2021–2025
- UH-1H II Huey II
- Yugoslav People’s Army Air Force Academy (Vazduhoplovna akademija)
- 11th Helicopter Regiment, Air Force and Air Defence of the Army of Republika Srpska
- SA341/342 גאזל, Mi-8
- 350th Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron (Yugoslav Air Force)
- IFOR/SFOR Multinational Division North air hub (Eagle Base)1996–2006
- EUFOR Operation AltheaMultinational force headquarters · allied
אף יחידה לא תואמת את החיפוש.
Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina milestones, 1914 to today
SOKO is founded in Mostar with part of the Ikarus works; it will build Galebs, Jastrebs, Oraos, Super Galebs and licence Gazelles.
The Yugoslav cavern air base at Željava near Bihać, begun in 1948, is completed.
April–May: the HVO (8 April), ARBiH (15 April) and VRS (12 May) are formed; the VRS air force follows in May. Željava is blown up and SOKO’s production at Mostar stops.
October: UN Security Council Resolution 781 bans military flights over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
31 March: Resolution 816 authorises enforcement; NATO’s Operation Deny Flight begins on 12 April.
28 February: US F-16s shoot down Serb J-21 Jastreb attack aircraft near Banja Luka — four per NATO, five acknowledged lost by the Serb side.
28 May: foreign minister Irfan Ljubijankić and six others are killed when their helicopter is shot down over Cetingrad. 2 June: a VRS Kub battery downs Scott O’Grady’s F-16; he is rescued on 8 June.
30 August–20 September: Operation Deliberate Force; a French Mirage 2000N is shot down near Pale on the first day. 14 December: the Dayton agreement is signed.
December: the HVO, including its air element, is merged into the Army of the Federation.
Spring: aviation elements of the two entity armies hold their first joint exercise.
1 December: the unified Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina are created (Wikipedia; Stars and Stripes dates the merger to 1 January 2006).
5 July: the Presidency decides the size, structure and locations of the armed forces. The J-21 is retired; in December Bosnia and Herzegovina joins NATO’s Partnership for Peace.
17 September: the Air Force and Air Defence Brigade holds its first full assembly at Zalužani barracks, Banja Luka.
All remaining J-22 Oraos are in storage; the brigade is a helicopter and air defence force.
Late in the year: crew training begins on the UH-1H-II Huey II.
15 February: Colonel Radenko Prerad takes command of the brigade from Brigadier Milorad Krajšumović.
April: the first two Bayraktar TB2 drones, donated by Turkey, are reported delivered; 21 May: the US approves an AW119Kx helicopter sale; 13–18 August: a Huey II fights wildfires in Montenegro.
May–September: a record fire season, more than 176 flying hours and about 760,000 litres of water, per the Ministry of Defence.
כל מלחמה שנערכה על ידי זרועות האוויר של בוסניה והרצגובינה
גיחות והפסדים היכן שהרקורד נותן להם, וריק אמיתי היכן שלא.
- מלחמת בוסניה: זרועות האוויר של שלוש הצבאות 1992–1995 Mostly helicopter transport, with limited ground attack by the VRS air force and extensive surface-to-air defence by VRS units
- תקרית באניה לוקה 1994 Ground attack against arms factories at Novi Travnik and Bugojno inside the UN no-fly zone
- הגנה אווירית VRS מפני מבצע מניעת טיסה 1994–1995 Surface-to-air missile defence against NATO aircraft enforcing the no-fly zone and supporting UN forces
- מבצע כוח מכוון 1995 Defended the VRS integrated air defence network against NATO strikes
- הפלה של מסוק ליוביאנקיץ' 1995 Liaison flight from besieged Bihać to Zagreb
Everything people ask about the Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Does Bosnia and Herzegovina have an air force?
What is the Bosnian air force called?
What aircraft does the Bosnian air force fly?
Does Bosnia and Herzegovina have fighter jets?
What happened in the Banja Luka incident of 28 February 1994?
Who shot down Scott O’Grady?
When was the Bosnian air force founded?
What does the Bosnian air force do today?
Is Bosnia and Herzegovina buying new helicopters?
Who commands the Bosnian air force?
Read the aircraft the Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina flew
כל סוג עם עמוד בספר החיות, תחילה בשירות, ואז לפי השנה בה עזב את הצי.
כל עובדה, נבדקה
- OS BiH: Brigada zračnih snaga i protivzračne odbrane (unit page)Official unit page: 1st and 2nd Helicopter Squadrons; links to mission, tasks, history and commander.
- OS BiH: Historijat Brigade ZS i PZOהיסטוריה רשמית: תרגיל משותף ראשון של תעופה באביב 2004; חוק ההגנה משנת 2005; החלטה נשיאותית מ-5 ביולי 2006; חטיבה הוקמה בספטמבר 2007, התכנסות ראשונה בצריף זאלוז'אני ב-17 בספטמבר 2007; מיקומי יחידות; אנשי תעופה בעיראק, אפגניסטן, אריתריאה ומאלי.
- OS BiH: Komandant Brigade ZS i PZOOfficial profile of Radenko Prerad: born 21 February 1971 in Banja Luka; military pilot training 1990–1994; unit pilot 1994–1999; NATO post in Naples 2014–2018; listed as acting commander (v.d.) from 2024.
- OS BiH: Zadaći Brigade ZS i PZOOfficial task list: air defence, airspace surveillance, air support, SAR, medical evacuation, large-scale firefighting, evacuation and humanitarian help to civil authorities.
- OS BiH: Izvršena primopredaja dužnosti komandanta br ZS i PZO (15 February 2024)Brigadier Milorad Krajšumović handed command to Colonel Radenko Prerad at Kozara barracks, Banja Luka, in the presence of Brig. Gen. Mirzet Lubenović.
- OS BiH: Brigade ZS i PZO news archive (2019–2026)Official news list, including the joint OS BiH–EUFOR helicopter MEDEVAC exercise (12 December 2025), open days at Mahovljani (2023–2025), Maryland National Guard visits and firefighting reports.
- OS BiH: Nastavljen angažman helikoptera OS BiH na Čvrsnici (21 September 2026)2nd Helicopter Squadron dropped 11 buckets, 11 tonnes of water, on the Čvrsnica fire.
- OS BiH: Nastavlja se angažovanje 1. i 2. helikopterskog skvadrona u borbi protiv požara (28 August 2026)Both helicopter squadrons over the Trebinje fires: 3.5 flying hours, 42 tonnes of water, three locations.
- MO BiH: Rekordan angažman resursa Oružanih snaga BiH za vrijeme požara (11 September 2026)Ministry summary of the 2026 fire season: more than 176 helicopter flying hours and about 760,000 litres of water from May to September, 15 municipalities, described as a record engagement.
- MO BiH: news archive (September 2026)Shows Zukan Helez still acting as Minister of Defence in September 2026.
- OS BiH: Obilježavanje Dana Z i PZO VRS (29 במאי 2026)34 שנה להקמת חיל האוויר וההגנה האווירית של ה-VRS צוינו במאהובליאני במסגרת לוח השנה המסורתי של רגימנט הרגלים השלישי (רפובליקה סרפסקה); בריגדיר רדנקו פררד מונה למפקד חטיבה.
- OS BiH: Uspješno obavljena misija pomoći stanovništvu u Crnoj Gori (20 באוגוסט 2025)UH-1H II של טייסת המסוקים השנייה במונטנגרו, 13–18 באוגוסט 2025, בהחלטת נשיאות ביהמבורג: 11 טיסות, 157 טון מים, שישה אנשי צוות.
- OS BiH: Prebaziranje helikoptera UH-1H-II iz kasarne Rajlovac na aerodrom Mahovljani (29 April 2025)UH-1H-II moved from Rajlovac to Mahovljani on 28 April 2025 after 1st Helicopter Squadron crews, training since late 2021, qualified on the type; number of aircraft not stated.
- OS BiH: Dan otvorenih vrata na lokaciji Aerodrom Mahovljani (22 November 2024)Open day for the Day of the Armed Forces: Mi-8T, Gazelle and a retired Soko jet on show; more than 350 visitors.
- OS BiH: Elementarne nepogode Dusina 2024 (8 October 2024)30 members of the brigade’s Air Defence Battalion helped clear flood damage at Dusina (Fojnica) on 7 October 2024.
- OS BiH: DCI posjetio br VS i PVO (26 January 2024)Uses the form Brigada vazdušnih snaga i protivvazdušne odbrane.
- OS BiH: Kurs za upravljanje sigurnošću u zrakoplovstvu (25 April 2024)IEAFA aviation safety course at Rajlovac, 11–24 April 2024: 12 BiH and 12 foreign participants.
- OS BiH: Načelnik Zajedničkog štaba OS BiHGeneral Gojko Knežević, fifth Chief of the Joint Staff, appointed 1 February 2024.
- OS BiH: StrukturaOfficial structure: Air Force and Air Defence Brigade (Banja Luka) under Operational Command, with helicopter squadrons and air defence battalion. Page not fully updated (names an earlier chief of staff).
- MO BiH: bulletin (July 2011)Mentions UH-1H helicopters of the 2nd Helicopter Squadron and helicopter equipment donated through the US FMS programme.
- GovConWire: State Department OKs Bosnia and Herzegovina’s $100M FMS request for AW119Kx helicopters (22 May 2025)Approved 21 May 2025, estimated $100 million, Leonardo Helicopters principal contractor; quantity not stated in the article.
- Army Recognition: Bosnia and Herzegovina orders Bayraktar TB-2 drones from Türkiye (2024)At least six TB2, first due January 2025; confirmed by Defence Minister Zukan Helez; crews training in Turkey.
- Avaz: Naoružavanje BiH: usred tenzija stigli Bayraktari, antidronski sistemi i oklopna vozila (26 April 2025)Two TB2 donated by Turkey had arrived, four more under negotiation; KANGAL anti-drone system and four Kirpi II vehicles.
- Connecting the Region: Bosnia and Herzegovina advances armed forces modernization (31 December 2025)Council of Ministers approved multi-year modernisation projects; the helicopter project extended to 2032 with extra 2025 funding.
- Stars and Stripes: Bosnia breaks through ethnic divide by merging Serb, Muslim-Croat forces (11 January 2006)Merger took effect on 1 January 2006; 72,000 on the books to be cut to about 15,000.
- נאט"ו: פעולות תמיכה בשלום בבוסניה והרצגובינהמניעת טיסה מאפריל 1993; ב-28 בפברואר 1994 הופלו ארבעה מטוסים שהפרו את אזור איסור הטיסה במעורבות הצבאית הראשונה של נאט"ו; פעולות אוויריות מאוגוסט-ספטמבר 1995; IFOR ו-SFOR.
- NATO: Relations with Bosnia and HerzegovinaPartnership for Peace 2006; Membership Action Plan invitation 2010; PARP since May 2007; first Individually Tailored Partnership Programme agreed October 2025; helicopters sent by allies in the 2014 floods.
- Oružane snage BiH: Brigada zračnih snaga i protivzračne odbrane (brigade page and news archive)Official. Brigade address Bistrik 5, Sarajevo; 1st and 2nd Helicopter Squadrons; news archive read on pages 1–20.
- Oružane snage BiH: Brigada ZS i PZO — Historijatהיסטוריה רשמית: רפורמה בהגנה משנת 2001, תרגיל תעופה משותף ראשון באביב 2004, החטיבה הוקמה רשמית ב-17 בספטמבר 2007 בצריף Zalužani, Banja Luka; מיקומי יחידות Zalužani, Rajlovac, קסרקטין Kozara, Mahovljani Aerodrome, Kozara connaissance post (Prijedor).
- Oružane snage BiH: Brigada ZS i PZO — Struktura i lokacije jedinicaOfficial page dated 2 September 2013; the unit list itself did not render for this dataset.
- Oružane snage BiH: Brigada ZS i PZO — ZadaciOfficial task list: air surveillance, air defence, air support, search and rescue, medical evacuation, large-scale firefighting.
- Oružane snage BiH: Brigada ZS i PZO — KomandantRadenko Prerad, born Banja Luka 21 February 1971; Air Force Military Gymnasium Mostar 1986–1990; Air Force Military Academy 1990–1994.
- Snage Oružane BiH: Prebaziranje helikoptera UH-1H-II iz kasarne "Rajlovac" ב-Aerodrom "Mahovljani" (29 באפריל 2025)טייסת המסוקים הראשונה UH-1H-II עברה מבסיסי ראילובאץ' למאהובליאני ב-28 באפריל 2025 לאחר שהחלו האימונים וההסמכה בסוף 2021.
- Snage Oružane BiH: Posjeta gospodina Mirka Okolića 1. helikopterskom skvadronu (28 באפריל 2020)ממקם את טייסת המסוקים הראשונה במיקום מהובליאני באפריל 2020.
- Snage Oružane BiH: Manifestacija "Dan otvorenih vrata" na vojnom aerodromu Mahovljani (23 בנובמבר 2023)שדה התעופה הצבאי Mahovljani ליד Laktaši; טייסת מסוקים 1; כ-300 ילדים.
- Oružane snage BiH: Dan otvorenih vrata na lokaciji Aerodrom Mahovljani povodom Dana OS BiH (22 בנובמבר 2024)20 בנובמבר 2024; טייסת המסוקים הראשונה עם גדוד התמיכה הלוגיסטית השביעי; הוצגו מטוסי Mi-8T, גאזל ומטוס סוקו; מעל 350 מבקרים.
- Snage Oružane BiH: Dani otvorenih vrata na lokaciji aerodroma Mahovljani povodom Dana OS BiH (11 בנובמבר 2025)10 בנובמבר 2025; כ-300 ילדים מ-Laktaši, Banja Luka ו-Srbac.
- Oružane snage BiH: Helikopterske jedinice OS BiH i EUFOR-a okončale zajedničku MEDEVAC vježbu (12 בדצמבר 2025)8-12 בדצמבר 2025 ב-Mahovljani, Rajlovac ובוטמיר.
- Oružane snage BiH: Obuka pripadnika OS BiH i Zavoda za hitnu medicinsku pomoć Kantona Sarajevo (13 December 2024)Air medevac training at Rajlovac using a helicopter on the “Rajlovac” heliport; 2nd Helicopter Squadron rescue specialists.
- snage Oružane BiH: snage Oružane BiH nastavljaju zračnu borbu protiv požara na području Trebinja (26 באוגוסט 2026)טייסת המסוקים הראשונה, 25 באוגוסט 2026: שש שעות, 73 טון מים.
- Oružane snage BiH: Nastavljen angažman helikoptera OS BiH na Čvrsnici (21 September 2026)2nd Helicopter Squadron firefighting on Čvrsnica.
- Oružane snage BiH: Pripadnici 2.HS br ZS i PZO angažovani na gašenju požara u rejonu grada Mostara (10 April 2020)2nd Helicopter Squadron, one UH-1H and two crews, 10 April 2020.
- Međunarodni aerodrom Sarajevo: Historijski razvoj aerodromaOfficial airport history: 1930 service from the military aerodrome Rajlovac; JUSTA at Butmir from about 1947; construction from late 1965; opened 2 June 1969; 1984 runway extended 150 m; JNA Air Force Academy members from Rajlovac seized the airport on the night of 4–5 April 1992; airlift of nearly 13,000 flights over more than three years; more than 800 people killed before the Dobrinja–Butmir tunnel; reopened 15 August 1996.
- JP Međunarodni aerodrom Tuzla: Opće informacije and home pageOfficial: a joint military/civil aerodrome certified for international public use; company founded by the Tuzla Canton assembly in 1998 as Zračna luka Dubrave; Gornje Dubrave, Živinice. Home page map pin 44.4642, 18.7104.
- EUFOR Operation Althea: Mission Fact Sheet (updated April 2026)Headquarters Camp Butmir, Sarajevo; operation began 2 December 2004; 24 troop-contributing nations.
- BHANSA: eAIP בוסניה והרצגובינהפורטל AIP לאומי. טבלאות הבעיות שלו נטענו על ידי סקריפט ולא ניתן היה לקרוא אותן עבור מערך נתונים זה, לכן לא נעשה שימוש בקואורדינטות, גבהים או נתוני מסלול של AIP.
- US National Photographic Interpretation Center: underground airfield report, Bihac (1968), National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book 439Declassified; as summarised in the Croatian dataset of this series. Two NW/SE runways, four cave entrances, construction probably since 1959.
- MORH: Održana promocija knjige “Prelet za Hrvatsku” (11 February 2020)Croatian defence ministry: Danijel Borović flew a MiG-21 from Željava to Pula on 4 February 1992.
- Atlas Obscura: Željava AirbaseSecondary source: border through the site; demolition charges 1991 and 1992; mines.
- מאגר שדות התעופה OurAirports (נחלת הכלל)
הנתונים אומתו בתאריך 30-09-2026. דפי סדר הקרב נוצרים מחדש ממערך נתונים יחיד; אם מספר כאן אינו תואם לדף בספר החיות, דף זה הוא העדכני מבין השניים.
Photographs: Photo: Master Sgt. James May / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo (UH-1H in US markings shown): SP5 Ronald Delaurier / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: Felky / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · Photo (Gazelle in other markings shown): Mztourist / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo (TB2 in other markings shown): Kingbjelica / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo (J-21 Jastreb in Serbia shown): Dennis G. Jarvis / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo (UTVA 75 in other markings shown): Cesar Rodriquez / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)