All 22 jets arrived from Kyrgyzstan
in 1993 and 1994 and were active
during the war, using various
types of 250 and 500kg (551
and 1,102lb) bombs and S-5
and S-24B unguided rockets
on air-to-ground missions.
Three Croatian MiGs were lost
in combat operations in 1992,
1993 and 1995 and another
during an exercise in 1995. Four
single-seaters were lost after
the war – one in 1996, two in
a mid-air collision in 2010 and
one which crashed in 2014.
In 2003 the HRZ had eight
single-seaters, overhauled
by Aerostar in Romania and
adapted to NATO/International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
standards – plus four newly
procured two-seaters, probably
also obtained from Kyrgyzstan.
With an eye on the additional
security provided by its
anticipated NATO membership,
the government reduced the
fighter aviation element to
just one squadron in 2008.
Hit by the global economic
crisis, however, the defence
ministry postponed a decision
on the modernisation of the
fighter force. Instead, in July
2013, the MORH and Ukrainian
company Ukrspetsexport signed
a €13.9m contract to overhaul
12 MiG-21s, five of which would
be purchased second-hand.
But progress on work at theOdesaviaremservis Aircraft Repair
Plant (OAZ/OARP) was slow, due
mainly to problems integrating
new Western equipment. The
first MiGs were to be delivered to
Croatia in October 2013 but finally
arrived by road the following April.
Integration of new electronicequipment in Ukraine was carried
out by Czech company ČLS.
Some avionics were retained from
the 2003 overhaul and NATO/
ICAO modification in Romania, but
new hardware components were
added to improve effectiveness in
NATO operations and in instrument
flight rules (IFR) conditions. The
upgraded jets were designated
MiG-21bisD and MiG-21UMD
(‘D’ for ‘Dorađen’ – modified).
The 2003 Romanian overhaul
added the KNR-634A digital
VHF omnidirectional range/
localiser (VOR/LOC)/glide slope/
marker beacon receiver and
KDM-706A distance measuring
equipment (DME) – with KFS-
564A navigation control unit,
which displays active and standby
navigation frequency in both civil
and military operating modes.
In the Ukrainian overhaul they
are coupled with an SN3500
primary navigation display, which
replaces the KI-206 VOR/ILS
and KDI-572 DME indicators
installed in 2003. Navigation
and situational awareness is also
improved by replacing the GPS
155XL TSO receiver installed in
2003 with the GPS 400W unit.
While retaining the existing
Soviet R-832M radio station with
20 pre-selected channels, a new
AN/ARC-210 digital radio station
installed in 2003 covers the full
range of military and civilian VHF/
UHF frequencies and can pre-
select 557 channels. It includes
embedded anti-jam waveforms
and is now upgraded to the AN/
ARC-210 Gen V version.
The upgraded avionics package
of 2003 included an M877 digital
chronometer, since replaced by
a new B18 analogue watch.
For efficient engagement in
NATO operations the MiG-21s
were equipped with the French
TSC 2050 identification friend or
foe (IFF) system manufactured
by Aerostar SA under licence
from Thales. The transponder
is fully compatible with the
HRZ’s AN/FPS-117 long-range
air surveillance radars.
For the current avionics package,
the HRZ MiG-21s received the
TSC 2055 IFF system produced
by Thales, with further enhanced
capabilities up to Mode 4.
Ukraine’s OAZ/OARP guaranteed
that the MiG-21s would have a
service life of 850 flying hours or
a lifetime of ten years after the
overhaul. But some observers
believe the Soviet-era MiG-21s will
only be able to serve until 2020.Adriatic SeaCroatia
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Hungary
Slovenia
Serbia
Italy Montenegro
ZagrebSplitZadarPulaLučko PlesoDubrovnikAdriatic SeaCroatiaBosnia & HerzegovinaHungary
SloveniaSerbiaItaly MontenegroZagrebSplitZadarPulaRijeka/KrkLučko PlesoDubrovnikAbove: The view from the cockpit of a Croatian MiG-21 during a formation flight over the Dalmatian coast. MORH Below: The
93rd Air Base’s EH squadron now operates two types of Bell helicopters: the Kiowa Warrior and JetRanger. MORH
106 // JUNE 2018 #363 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com
Force
Report