Combat Training in Helicopter Units of Serbian Armed Forces
Monday, 23.2.2026 | Training
As part of the regular combat training in the Serbian Armed Forces aviation units, tactical drills of the 119th Mixed Helicopter Squadron was carried out including the rebasing from the home airfield in Niš to the airfield near Leskovac.
The drills were the opportunity to check the competence and skillfulness of members of the helicopter squadron and their coordination with members of the 161st Airfield Security Battalion, 98th Air Force Brigade. Missiles were fired from combat helicopters at ground targets at the “Pasuljanske Livade” training ground, while part of the unit practiced a helicopter landing.
The squadron commander, Lt. Col. Aleksandar Aksentijević has explained that this is part of a wider training activity carried out in the unit every day.
— Special emphasis was placed on the coordination between the flight and technical staff of the squadron, and their synchronized action with airfield security units. Together, they have confirmed the ability to quickly implement deployment, rebasing and immediately continue with the implementation of flying combat activities — Lt. Col. Aksentijević pointed out.
Almost all members of the squadron, including the technical staff of all specialties, participated in the missile firing exercises.
As explained by deputy squadron commander, Lt. Col. Aleksandar Živković, during the training, his younger colleagues verified their theoretical and practical knowledge, adopted in the recent period.
— This training segment represents the crown of the H-145M helicopter training, so that they could round off their theoretical and practical knowledge and be fully qualified to use this aircraft for its basic and auxiliary purpose. This is an especially unusual profession, a profession that requires a lot of sacrifice, knowledge, personal investment and which ultimately brings the satisfaction of doing a job that not everyone can do — Lt. Col. Živković emphasized.
An H-145 helicopter pilot, Captain Saša Stojmenović has emphasized that the profession of a military pilot affords the opportunity to work in a selected and professional team.
— This is a job filled with daily challenges, with an opportunity to improve in both military and professional aspects — said Captain Stojmenović.
The mixed helicopter squadron “Dragons” forms part of the 98th Air Force Brigade and is based at the “Sergeant-Pilot Mihajlo Petrović” military airfield in Niš. It is intended for the implementation of a wide range of tasks, from search and rescue, medical evacuation and airlift to the provision of aerial support to the Serbian Armed Forces units on operations.
