The 204th Air Brigade is a main air base of Serbian Air Force and Air Defense. It's the home of Serbian fighter, training and transport aviation.

History

The 204th Air Brigade was formed on 15 November 2006 formed as successor of 204th fighter aviation regiment of ex Yugoslav air force. It's located at ex 177th air base (Batajnica Air Base), created from ex 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment, 252nd Fighter-Bomber Aviation Squadron, 890th helicopter squadron, 677th transport aviation squadron and one unit of 353rd reconnaissance squadron. The 204th fighter aviation regiment is now 101st Fighter-Aviation Squadron, 252nd fighter-bomber squadron is now 252nd Mixed-Aviation Squadron used primary for basic training and ground-attack missions, 677th transport aviation squadron and 890th helicopter squadron are now 138th Mixed-Transport-Aviation Squadron, and 353rd reconnaissance squadron unit is now 1st Reconnaissance Aviation Section.

On 7 July 2009, a MiG-29 from the 204th Air Brigade crashed

2009 Serbian Air Force MiG-29 crash

On 7 July 2009, a MiG-29 fighter aircraft of the Serbian Air Force crashed northwest of Belgrade, Serbia. The pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Rade Ranđelović was the Serbian Air Force's display pilot and was practicing a display routine for the Kalemegdan airshow, which was to be held on 11 July in...

 during a display flight, killing Lieutenant Colonel Rade Randjelovic and a soldier on guard duty on the ground.

Organization and Structure

• • 101st Fighter Squadron
  • 252nd Training Squadron
  • 138th Transport Squadron
  • 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron
  • 24th Air Force Technical Battalion
  • 17th Air Base Security Battalion
  • 177th Air Force Air Defence Artillery Battalion

Tasks

In peace time, 204th Air Base units perform the following tasks:

• aerial space control;
• deterring aggressions by deploying Air Force and prevention of surprise attacks;
• aerial reconnaissance;
• air transport;
• participation in peace keeping operations and in international military cooperation;
• providing support to civil authorities in case of natural disasters, industrial and other accidents and epidemics;
• providing support to civil authorities in countering terrorism and organized crime;

and in war time, 204th Air Base units perform the following tasks:

• combat for prevailing in the aerial space;
• air defense of the territory and SAF;
• aerial reconnaissance;
• aerial firing support;
• aerial transport.