The fighter aviation of the Yugoslav People's Army and Air Force began to lag behind its surroundings as early as the late 1970s, when it was decided not to purchase the Soviet MiG-23 fighter, which meant that a generation of fighter aircraft had been skipped until the arrival of the MiG-29. Instead, the latest version of the MiG-21 was purchased, and from 1977 to 1983, 91 MiG-21bis aircraft were delivered. This only somewhat improved the capabilities of the LA, but even the new version of the MiG-21 had very modest capabilities when it came to radar, electronic equipment and weapons. It can even be said that the inventory was outdated, and Yugoslavia still did not possess medium-range air-to-air missiles. Considering the capabilities of the available aircraft and the needs of our aviation, the military and political leadership of the time decided that the Air Force must be "refreshed" with more modern aircraft. The dilemma was whether to remain on the line of cooperation with the Soviet Union or turn to fighters from the West. The French Mirage - 2000, the American F-16 and the Soviet MiG-29 were in circulation. The new fighters were supposed to be an interim solution until the arrival of our NA fighter, a supersonic multi-role fighter of the 4th generation (which was supposed to be introduced into aviation in the mid-90s, but the project was abandoned on the eve of the collapse of the country). In the second half of the 80s, the MiG-29 was the best but also the only front-line fighter that the then Soviet Union could offer on the market. The purchase of this aircraft was also the only solution for traditional buyers of Soviet weapons because at that time only the MiG-29 was a 4th generation fighter that was approved for export. Due to the more favorable price, but above all, because of what this aircraft represented at that moment, the choice fell on the MiG-29 and the purchase of the first squadron was agreed in Moscow. In the fall of 1986, the 127th Fighter Squadron, 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment, which since its establishment has almost always been the first to receive a new type of fighter aircraft into service, was designated for conversion to the MiG-29. In mid-September of the same year, a Russian language course began for 14 pilots and 30 technicians for conversion to the MiG-29. The first preparations were completed on 20 February 1987, and conversion to the new fighter lasted from 29 June to 26 September 1987. The training of 12 Yugoslav pilots was carried out in Lugovaya, while 28 members of the aviation technical service were sent for training in Frunze. The group of pilots was led by the then commander of the 204th Airborne Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Ljubiša Velicković, and also included Lieutenant Colonel Valerij Bugarinović, Major Hajrudin Hodžić, Captains 1st Class Željko Mendaš, Petre Maksimov, Ljubiša Kulačin, Ivica Jakopčić, Predrag Milutinović and Vlaja Miletić, and Captains Mirčeta Jokanović, Slavko Matanović and Željko Babi. At that time, the youngest in the pilot "representation" of the JNA Air Force was Mirčeta Jokanović, a guest of the show "ZONE OF ACTION". With the former commander of the 127th Airborne Regiment and the 204th Fighter Aviation Regiment, we talked about the acquisition of the first 29s, about how the training in the USSR went, interesting anecdotes that marked the stay of our pilots in remote parts of the Soviet Union, and plans to purchase another squadron that was to be stationed at the Željava airport. Colonel Jokanović also reveals how he and his colleagues preserved the MiG-29s during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. You will also find out why the MiG-29s were not overhauled in the 1990s and whether sanctions and lack of money were an obstacle, or a wrong policy of the leadership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. We also asked him for his opinion on the use of aviation during the NATO aggression and why the pilots of the 127th Fighter Aviation Squadron who flew into combat with malfunctioning aircraft were not awarded the Order of National Heroes. #MircetaJokanovic #pilot #mig29 Watch us on cable television: MTS - channel 505 Supernova - channel 69 Follow us on: Facebook: / tvfront Instagram: / tv_front TikTok: / tv_front Twitter: / televizijafront