“HENRI COANDA” “GENERAL M.R. STEFANIK” AIR FORCE ACADEMY ARMED FORCES ACADEMY ROMANIA SLOVAK REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE of SCIENTIFIC PAPER AFASES 2015 Brasov, 28-30 May 2015 NATO BOMBING IN THE FORMER REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA Diana Manolache*, Ciprian Chiş* *”Carol I” National Defense University, Bucharest, Romania Abstract: Within this work, we approached the bombing operation in Yugoslavia, named „Allied Force”, that was a part of the War which led to the establishment of Kosovo’s status. The development period of this operation, including bombardment operations, was 78 days, between 24th of March and 10th of June, 1999. In the conducted study, we chose to use the scientifique observation as method of scientifique research as well as we used the comparative-historical method and in terms of the techniques used, we focused mainly on documentary analysis, available with an extensive bibliography. In the conducted study, we have highlighted some dealt less aspects of the subject, and also, items related to the strategy used by combatants during the conflict emphasizing the pros and cons of strategic air power. From these elements can be formulated numerous lessons learned useful in future conflicts, and also, possible research directions. Keywords: Yugoslavia, NATO forces, bombing actions, aircraft. 1. INTRODUCTION The regulations, including the territorial ones, which took place during and after the The bombing operation in Yugoslavia was actions of all kinds from this conflict area, called „Allied Force” and was a part of the were framed within the provisions of United War led to the establishment of Kosovo’s Nations Security Council Resolution no. 1244. status. The development period of this In fact, the separation of the Kosovo province operation, including bombardments (region) from Yugoslavia was performed operations, was 78 days, between 24th of under the temporary and interim March and 10th of June, 1999. administration of the United Nations and this The official code name of this NATO is, including nowadays, strictly monitored by operation was „Operation Allied Force”. The NATO troops that are camped in several areas United States called it „Operation Noble of the province. Anvil”, while Yugoslavia called it, incorrectly and ironic, „Merciful Angel”. 2. THE BELLIGERENT PARTIES The result of this operation is provided in the Kumanovo Treaty: the Yugoslav troop’s The belligerent parties were represented by withdrawal from Kosovo and the the NATO coalition on the one hand, and the establishment of a NATO force in the area, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on the other known as KFOR (Kosovo Force). hand. The NATO coalition led by the US General The French Navy operated the Super Wesley Clark (SACEUR-Supreme Allied Etendard, while the French Air Force operated Commander of Forces in Europe) consisted of the Mirage 2000 aircrafts. military forces of the following countries: The Italian Air Force integrated in this Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, operation 34 Tornado aircrafts, 12 F-104 France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, aircrafts, 12 AMX aircrafts, 2 B-707 aircrafts, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, while the Italian Navy designated and operated United Kingdom, United States and other air, Harrier II aircrafts. sea and land NATO forces. The military The British Royal Air Force provided and technique used by NATO troops totalized operated Harrier GR7 aircrafts, Tornado 1,031 aircrafts, 30 attack ships and submarines ground attack jets as well as some support and the specific Force called „Hawk”. aircrafts. The Yugoslav President, Slobodan Other states as Belgium, Denmark, Milošević conducted military operations of his Germany and Turkey provided and operated F- own troops, and, at the end of the conflict, he 16 aircrafts belonging to their Air Force was still in power. Thus, we couls say that he structures. survived the entire battle and he declared the The Spanish Air Force was designated to outcome of the conflict represented a major deploy a definite number of F-18s and KC-130 victory for Yugoslavia. Many political figures aircrafts. stated this was an oppinion shared by few The Canadian Air Force deployed a people. At the end of the hostilities, he and number of 18 CF-18 aircrafts, and i tis other Yugoslav political seniors and military believed that these aircrafts were responsible figures were indicted for war crimes by the for 10% of all bombs dropped during the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former attack operations. These aircrafts were armed Yugoslavia. A very important aspect was the with both guided and unguided „dumb” arrest of Milošević in case in which he would ammunitions, including the Paveway series of have left Yugoslavia. His orders and directives laser-guided bombs. generated violent actions and made from This operation, respectively the bombing Yugoslavia a country treated as a pariah by a campaign marked the first time when lot of states belonging to the international Germany, through its Air Force structure community. The conflict badly affected the actively participated in combat operations economy of the country, and a year later, the since the end of World War II. Yugoslav popular disillusionment with the However, NATO forces relied mostly upon Milošević regime led to his overthrow in the Americans and the proven effectiveness of October 2000. its air power and air superiority by using the F- After the ending of combat operations, in 16, F-15, F-117, F-14, F-18, EA-6B, B-52, December 2002, the Queen Elizabeth II KC-135, KC-10, AWACS, and JSTARS approved the awarding of the Battle Honour aircrafts. These aircrafts operated from bases „Kosovo” to squadrons of the Royal Air Force situated throughout Europe and from aircraft that participated and conducted military carriers in the region. Also, the American B-2 actions in the conflict. The awarded military Spirit stealth bomber obtained its first units were: Nos 1, 7, 8, 9, 14, 23, 31, 51, 101, successful combat role in „Operation Allied and 216 squadrons. Also, this well-deserved Force”, all while striking from its home base reward was extended to the Canadian in the continental United States. squadrons deployed to the operation, 425 and 2.2. Yugoslav Forces. The Yugoslav 441. armed forces were composed of military units 2.1. NATO Aviation. A major and very from Air Force and Navy and were led by important element of the operation was Yugoslav president at the time, Slobodan represented by NATO air force elements, Milošević (who was also the Supreme relying heavily on the United States Air Force Commander of the Yugoslav Army), by and Navy. Dragoljub Ojdanić (the Chief of Yugoslav “HENRI COANDA” “GENERAL M.R. STEFANIK” AIR FORCE ACADEMY ARMED FORCES ACADEMY ROMANIA SLOVAK REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE of SCIENTIFIC PAPER AFASES 2015 Brasov, 28-30 May 2015 Military Staff), by Svetozar Marjanović (the conflict that was triggered for determining the Deputy Chief of Yugoslav Military Staff) and status of Kosovo province. by Nebojša Pavković (the 3rd Army The operation was, itself, the first time Commander). Thus, Serbia engaged in this when NATO used military forces without the conflict about 114,000 soldiers, 20,000 approval of the United Nations Security policemen, 15,000 volunteers, 14 MiG-29 Council against a sovereign nation that has not aircrafts, 46 MiG-21 fighter planes, 34 fighter brought a threat to a NATO member. jets Soko J-22 Oraos, 1,400 artillery pieces, The bombings carried out by NATO during 1,270 battle tanks and 825 armoured fighting this operation is the second major operation in vehicles. the history of this organization, after the During the military actions, in terms of campaign of 1995 - the bombing campaign military technology, NATO lost 2 AH-64 carried out by NATO troops in Bosnia- Apache helicopters, one F-117A Nighthawk Herzegovina, also against the Yugoslav troops. aircraft was shot down, a second F-117A The bombings from 1999 led to the Nighthawk aircraft was damaged, and two A- withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo 10 Thunderbolt II aircrafts were also damaged. province, to the establishment of an UNMIK However, an F-16C aircraft was shot down, an mission (an interim UNO mission in Kosovo) AV-8B Harrier aircraft was destroyed and 21 and ended the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. UAV-s were reported lost. In terms of human lives, NATO officials stated that three soldiers 3. THE STRATEGY were captured and two soldiers died in the crash of one of the two shot down AH-64 The „Allied Force” Operation consisted, Apache helicopters. This second AH-64 mainly, of aerial missions carried out at high Apache helicopter crashed 40 miles from altitudes had the aim to destroy the Yugoslav Tirana. The two crewmen, Army Chief military infrastructure. The ground forces were Warrant Officers David Gibbs and Kevin not used because NATO wanted to minimize Reichert died after the impact. the risk of losing their soldiers and, also, the On the other hand, Serbia’s balance sheet avoiding of the media and the public eye is much higher, respectively 1,031 killed criticism on the possibility of inefficiencies soldiers and police officers and 299 wounded that could be proven during the conduct of soldiers. According to NATO estimates, there actions carried aut by these forces. were between 5,000 and 10,000 killed Serb NATO aviation bombed strategic, soldiers and in terms of military equipment economic and social objectives, such as and technique, there were shot down or bridges, military facilities, government destroyed 6 MiG-29, 4 other planes were buildings and official institutions buildings, destroyed at the ground, one J-22 Orao aircraft strategic facilities, instalations in Belgrade and was also destroyed and 22 armoured vehicles Pristina and, also, some factories. To hit the and artillery pieces were destroyed during well camouflaged and heavily defended military operations from Kosovo, including 14 targets, NATO used long range cruise missiles.