14.05.2026.

Training of MiG-29 multirole fighter pilots

Pilots of the MiG-29 multirole fighter aircraft, which are part of the arsenal of the 101st Fighter Squadron “Vitezovi” (Knights), are undergoing intensive training for the execution of tasks as part of permanently deployed forces responsible for the control and protection of the airspace of the Republic of Serbia.

During this training phase, pilots are practicing taking off and landing in pairs, intercepting targets through both ground-controlled interception and “free hunt”, and carrying out elements of aerial combat. Particular emphasis is placed on interception missions carried out in both favourable and complex weather conditions, by day and night. These tasks include identifying and tracking aircraft, escorting them out of prohibited or dangerous zones, redirecting them back to their planned flight path, guiding them out of the airspace of the Republic of Serbia, or forcing them to land at a designated airport.

The squadron technical personnel’s ability to carry out pre-flight preparation procedures is also being assessed, as their skills are essential for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft and their readiness for combat and flight missions.

The commander of the 101st Fighter Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Bogdan Kovačević, emphasizes the importance of fighter pilot training in complex meteorological conditions at night. It is the most complex phase of their training, he explains, because it is carried out in limited visibility, without visual reference to ground landmarks or a visible horizon, which makes it difficult for the pilot to determine the 3D position of the aircraft.

— A unique characteristic of night flying in complex weather conditions is that instinctive human sensory perception loses priority over aircraft instrument indications. Every pilot must, therefore, have complete mastery of all procedures, be able to recognize critical situations, and rely on flight instruments rather than personal senses. All pilots are trained to stay calm in those situations, maintain awareness, and react in accordance with established procedures, trusting the aircraft instruments rather than their own senses — the squadron commander emphasized.

According to Captain 1st Class Boško Marković, deputy squadron commander, the tasks performed during regular flight training stem from the role of the MiG-29 aircraft.

— We perform a wide range of air-to-air missions, including aerial target interception and air combat at both long and short distances. In addition to combat training, we also have regular flight training which includes aircraft piloting, formation flying, navigation flying, and other elements of flight missions — said Captain Marković.

Since the competition for enrolment in the aviation programmes of the Military Grammar School and the Military Academy is currently underway, he invited young people to apply before the May 31 deadline, and take the opportunity to become pilots of the modern airplanes and helicopters that are in service in the Serbian Armed Forces.