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NORTH MACEDONIAN AIR BRIGADE HISTORY
Seven months after the Republic of North Macedonia (then called, Macedonia) declared its independence from Yugoslavia, the Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM) was established on April 10, 1992. The development of the North Macedonian Air Force and Air Defense Forces was forced to start from scratch because the former Yugoslav Army had taken all the weapons and equipment which North Macedonia had accumulated, including 35 aircraft like the J-22 Orao and J-21 Jastreb.
On June 10, 1992 the first air force (officially named the Aviation Brigade of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia) flight took place using a UTVA 75A 21 basic training and utility aircraft that was leased from the Macedonian Aeronautical Union. This date is now celebrated as the Day of the Air Force.
Colonel Robert Malezanski is the commander of the air force brigade. He has flown the Mig-21 and Super Galeb before becoming an instructor on the Zlin 242. Regarding the history of the squadron, Colonel Malezanski notes: “The Air Force was formed with a combat helicopter squadron, a transport helicopter squadron and an aviation squadron for fixed-wing. The first helicopters, Mi-17s, were bought in 1994. They were white ones because, at that time, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed an embargo from purchasing weapons and military equipment. But because the Mi-17 is the civilian version of the Mi-8, they could be purchased.” The embargo was lifted in 1995, and the white Mi-17s were painted in their distinguishable camouflage patterns and were provided with military serial numbers.
In February 2001, a militant group called the Albanian National Liberation Army (NLA) began attacking the security forces of the Republic of Macedonia. In order to increase its capabilities during this conflict, the air force fleet was substantially expanded in a short amount of time.
The first delivery of new aircraft to the Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defense Forces was made on March 23, 2001. That day, Ukraine donated four Mi-8MT combat helicopters that served with the Ukrainian contingent of KFOR to Macedonia. Subsequently, they delivered an additional two Mi-24V Hind-E combat helicopters. Solidarity between Greece and the Macedonian government was also shown during this period with the delivery of two UH-1H Huey helicopters to the Macedonian Air Warfare and Air Defense Forces. Later that year eight more Mi-24's followed from Ukraine. In December 2001, the Macedonian Air Force received two Mi-24K Hind-G2 (photo-reconnaissance and artillery spotting version of the Mi-24) helicopters from Ukraine. (Continued on Page 23)