Army of Montenegro. Armed forces of Montenegro. An excerpt characterizing the Armed Forces of Montenegro

The army of Montenegro can be called the youngest in Europe. Formally, the countdown of the time of its existence has been conducted since 2006, when the authorities in Podgorica announced their withdrawal from State Union Serbia and Montenegro.

But a young army does not mean weak or unprofessional. Montenegrins serve in the military mission in Afghanistan, send officers for training abroad and learn from the experience of NATO troops by participating in joint exercises.

Nevertheless, due to objective circumstances, the general public knows little about the existence of Montenegrin troops. Partly because the army is in a chronic state of reform, it does not itself strive for openness to the foreign public, although these units cannot be called top-secret.

Maybe Podgorica does not have the necessary amount of resources, they think that they do enough information in terms of information, or are they simply embarrassed due to the lack of high-profile achievements?

Be that as it may, the declared official website of the structure is under eternal development, the Bulletin of the Ministry of Defense of Montenegro can only be found on national language, and the Internet space is littered with the same statements about the imminent entry into the North Atlantic Alliance. With a deeper study of electronic sources, one can find more information of a rather curious nature regarding the solution of "hereditary" problems with equipment left over from the time of Yugoslavia.

Arms elimination
Membership in NATO will allow Montenegro to update the equipment of the armed forces, which for an outside observer can cause bewilderment at best. Light fighters produced in Yugoslavia decades ago, several boats in service with the fleet, a few armored vehicles ... Even for the successful resolution of conflicts that are in modern world It is customary to call local, the list will not be enough.

The armed forces of Montenegro consist of three types of troops: land, naval and air. As far as the Navy is concerned, last years many ships were sold or scrapped.

Information about the fate of the ships in the media comes in fragments. Egypt bought five Osa-1 missile boats. Podgorica intended to transfer one small submarine of the P-900 series of Yugoslav production to Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia as exhibits naval museums. Another one is planned to be exhibited in the future museum in Tivat. One larger submarine "P-823" in 2007 went to Turkey for scrap.

We can say with confidence that the country has a couple of missile frigates and missile boats left, there is also a training sailboat, tugboats and several more auxiliary vessels. Missile frigates of the Kotor class - the most formidable force of the Navy from the 1980s - have been decommissioned in recent years and have been laid up in the port of Bar for several years. In 2008, the crew was returned to the ships, but due to lack of funding, the repair work was delayed. According to media reports, they made their first short trip to the sea in February 2010.

The Armed Forces of Montenegro are also getting rid of aviation. The military intends to leave only helicopters in the Air Force to support ground forces and search operations. In April of this year, Podgorica handed over to Serbia 6 Yugoslav-made Supergaleb G-4 light attack aircraft. A few more such planes that have not been flying for a long time remained at the Golubovtsy air base, which shares part of the territory with the Podgorica airport. Zoran Dragisic, a local military analyst, spoke eloquently in an interview with the local media about what this technique is. “These are very old planes, there are no new ones, and their condition needs to be assessed. They cost exactly as much as they pay for them. If someone even wanted to buy them, then these are some countries of Central Asia or Africa that would not be able to pay a lot, ”the expert noted.

The greatest reason for pride is the ground forces, which is associated with the participation of Montenegrin infantrymen in international forces Security Assistance Facility (ISAF) in Afghanistan. 31 Montenegrins are serving there (the total number of the mission is more than 80,000 people). Montenegrins are armed with 7.62 mm AK-47 (NATO standard) and CZ-99 pistols. The army does not have tanks and armored cars, but there are armored SUVs and trucks.

Security only in NATO
The roots of the Armed Forces of Montenegro grow from the army of the federal Yugoslavia. Due to the events in the Balkans in the 1990s. she had an ambiguous reputation, from which Montenegro, as it were, disowned with the exit from union state.

In fairness, it is worth remembering that shortly before the declaration of independence in 2006, statements were heard from Podgorica that, supposedly, the republic would not need an army and it would be possible to completely manage with the police to ensure security. But in the Balkans, where the most violent conflicts flare up literally from a spark and last long years, relying solely on the police force is too naive. In many ways, this is why talk about a special status for the police did not sound loudly, and the strategic goal of the country's authorities was to join NATO and the European Union. Podgorica can get an entrance ticket to the alliance this year, in contrast to EU membership, the path to which will take years.

Maintaining the combat readiness of the army, which was transferred to a professional basis in the same 2006, has become an important element domestic policy. Its number is less than 1% of the country's population and does not exceed 2,500 people, which, for example, corresponds to the size of one regiment of the Russian Armed Forces. It is quite reasonable that with a very limited combat capability of units, primarily in terms of human resource, Montenegro is striving to get under the umbrella of Euro-Atlantic security as soon as possible.

Additional measures to protect the external borders seem especially useful in the light of events in the region. No one can say with certainty how long the inter-ethnic conflict in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina has been frozen and how long passions will rage in the province of Kosovo, separated from Serbia, which also borders Montenegro. What if radical groups that have broad support in the country come to power in Serbia itself? All these threats, of course, are not specifically indicated in the Strategy national security Montenegro”, adopted at the very end of 2008, but all of them are read between the lines.

“The danger of military threats to Montenegro today is significantly reduced due to the decrease in the number of military groups in the region, the integration of countries into NATO and the EU, as well as the development of a policy of trust, cooperation and partnership, but in the future it (the danger) cannot be ruled out,” the document says. Further, a little more specifically: “Given the situation of Montenegro, its security can be negatively affected by crises in the immediate environment, as well as in general in the regions of the Middle East, the Caucasus and North Africa.” There is a feeling that this most “immediate environment” will be the most serious cause for concern for Montenegrins for many years.

The leading politicians of the country, headed by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, speak in the same vein, declaring the need for the country to join NATO in order to "stability of the region."

With joining the alliance, there are also hopes for improving the material allowance of military personnel. Now the monthly salary of an ordinary soldier is about 400 euros, which corresponds to the living wage. Service in Afghanistan is paid in the amount of 3 thousand euros per month.

Armed forces Montenegro or Army of Montenegro(Montenegrin Vojska Crne Gore) - a set of forces of the Republic of Montenegro, designed to protect the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of the state. Consist of ground forces, naval and air forces. Military spending is 1.65% of the country's GDP.

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1878-1918

During the existence of the first independent Montenegrin state (-), the Montenegrin army was much larger than the modern one. During the First World War, its number was about 35 thousand people. The commander-in-chief was King Nikola I Petrovich-Njegosh, and the chief of the general staff was General Bozhidar Janković (Serb. Božidar Janković).

The army included:

Pljevlja division consisting of 10 battalions (about 6000 people) east of Pljevlja. Commander - Brigadier Luka Goynich (Serb. Luka Gojnić).
Herzegovinian division consisting of 15 battalions (about 15,000 people) on the border with Herzegovina. The commander is serdar Janko Vukotić (Serb. Janko Vukotić).
Lovcenskaya division consisting of 18 battalions (about 8000 people) in the Lovcen region. Commander - divisional Mitiya Martinovic (Serb. Mitja Martinović).
Division "Old Serbia" consisting of 13 battalions (about 6000 people) on the border with Albania. The commander is Brigadier Radomir Vešović (Serb. Radomir Vešović).

1941-1945

After 2006

In early November 2004, at a meeting of the Supreme Defense Council of Serbia and Montenegro, it was decided to disband the unified army on a national basis and create its own in Montenegro national army numbering 3470 soldiers and officers.

Following the withdrawal of Montenegro from the Confederate State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and the declaration of independence on June 3, 2006, its armed forces are in the process of reform.

Since December 14, 2006, Montenegro has been participating in the NATO Partnership for Peace program.

Ministry of Defence

The Ministry of Defense of Montenegro was created from scratch, as the Ministry of Defense of Yugoslavia was inherited by Serbia as the successor.

The first after regaining independence, the chief of the general staff of the armed forces of Montenegro was Lieutenant General Jovan Lakcevic (Montenegrin. general-potpukovnik Jovan Lakcevic).

Composition of the armed forces

In total, 1850 people serve in the Montenegrin Armed Forces as of January 2015. Of these: 245 officers, 786 junior officers, 581 soldiers and 238 civilians.

Ground troops

The ground forces consist of one brigade, which includes: a mountain battalion, an infantry battalion, a special forces company, a communications company, an engineering company, an artillery battery), as well as a guard of honor company, a military police company and an electronic intelligence company.

It is assumed that after the completion of the reform of the armed forces, all ground forces will be stationed at a single military base in Niksic (the country's second city in terms of population).

Naval Forces

Since, after the collapse of the union state, Serbia lost access to the sea, Montenegro inherited the Yugoslav Navy almost entirely, but it is planned to reduce the size of the fleet and lower its status to coast guard troops.

It is assumed that after the completion of the reform of the armed forces, all warships will be based at the only naval base in Bar (the country's main seaport).

Air Force

After the collapse of the union state of Serbia and Montenegro, the latter received 17 SOKO G-4 Super Galeb aircraft, four UTVA 75 training aircraft, Mi-8 T and Gazelle helicopters. The aircraft in service have not been used for a long time. The last flight of the G-4 was performed in 2010. As of February 2016, the Armed Forces of Montenegro had 14 helicopters in service.

It is assumed that after the completion of the reform of the armed forces, all military aviation will be located at the only Golubovtsy airbase in Podgorica (the very big city and the main transport and industrial hub of the country), directly next to the international airport.

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An excerpt characterizing the Armed Forces of Montenegro

“Ah, rather, quickly return to that time, and so that everything now ends quickly, quickly, so that they leave me alone!”

Bald Mountains, the estate of Prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky, was sixty miles from Smolensk, behind it, and three miles from the Moscow road.
On the same evening, as the prince gave orders to Alpatych, Desalle, having demanded a meeting with Princess Mary, told her that since the prince was not completely healthy and was not taking any measures for his safety, and according to the letter of Prince Andrei, it was clear that his stay in the Bald Mountains unsafe, he respectfully advises her to write with Alpatych a letter to the head of the province in Smolensk with a request to notify her of the state of affairs and the degree of danger to which the Bald Mountains are exposed. Desalles wrote a letter for Princess Marya to the governor, which she signed, and this letter was given to Alpatych with an order to submit it to the governor and, in case of danger, to return as soon as possible.
Having received all the orders, Alpatych, escorted by his family, in a white downy hat (a princely gift), with a stick, just like the prince, went out to sit in a leather wagon laid by a trio of well-fed savras.
The bell was tied up, and the bells were stuffed with pieces of paper. The prince did not allow anyone to ride in the Bald Mountains with a bell. But Alpatych loved bells and bells in long road. The courtiers of Alpatych, the zemstvo, the clerk, the cook - black, white, two old women, a Cossack boy, coachmen and various courtyards saw him off.
The daughter laid chintz down pillows behind her back and under it. The old woman's sister-in-law slipped the bundle secretly. One of the coachmen put him under the arm.
- Well, well, women's fees! Grandmas, women! - puffing, Alpatych spoke in a patter exactly as the prince said, and sat down in the kibitochka. Having given the last orders on the work of the zemstvo, and in this no longer imitating the prince, Alpatych took off his hat from his bald head and crossed himself three times.
- You, if anything ... you will return, Yakov Alpatych; for the sake of Christ, have pity on us, ”his wife shouted to him, hinting at rumors of war and the enemy.
“Women, women, women’s fees,” Alpatych said to himself and drove off, looking around the fields, where with yellowed rye, where with thick, still green oats, where there are still black ones that were just starting to double. Alpatych rode, admiring the rare harvest of spring crops this year, looking at the strips of rye peli, on which in some places they began to sting, and made his economic considerations about sowing and harvesting and whether any princely order had been forgotten.
Having fed twice on the road, by the evening of August 4, Alpatych arrived in the city.
On the way, Alpatych met and overtook the carts and troops. Approaching Smolensk, he heard distant shots, but these sounds did not strike him. He was most struck by the fact that, approaching Smolensk, he saw a beautiful field of oats, which some soldiers were obviously mowing for food and along which they camped; this circumstance struck Alpatych, but he soon forgot it, thinking about his own business.
All the interests of Alpatych's life for more than thirty years were limited by one will of the prince, and he never left this circle. Everything that did not concern the execution of the orders of the prince, not only did not interest him, but did not exist for Alpatych.
Alpatych, having arrived in Smolensk on the evening of August 4, stopped beyond the Dnieper, in the Gachen suburb, at the inn, at the janitor Ferapontov, with whom he had been in the habit of stopping for thirty years. Ferapontov twelve years ago, with the light hand of Alpatych, having bought a grove from the prince, began to trade and now had a house, an inn and a flour shop in the province. Ferapontov was a fat, black, red man of forty, with thick lips, a thick bump on his nose, the same bumps above his black, frowning eyebrows, and a thick belly.
Ferapontov, in a waistcoat and a cotton shirt, was standing by a shop overlooking the street. Seeing Alpatych, he approached him.
- Welcome, Yakov Alpatych. The people are out of the city, and you are in the city, - said the owner.
- What is it, from the city? Alpatych said.
- And I say - the people are stupid. Everyone is afraid of the French.
- Woman's talk, woman's talk! Alpatych said.
- So I judge, Yakov Alpatych. I say there is an order that they won't let him in, which means it's true. Yes, and the peasants ask for three rubles from the cart - there is no cross on them!
Yakov Alpatych listened inattentively. He demanded a samovar and hay for the horses, and after drinking tea he went to bed.
All night long the troops moved in the street past the inn. The next day, Alpatych put on a camisole, which he wore only in the city, and went on business. The morning was sunny, and from eight o'clock it was already hot. Expensive day for harvesting bread, as Alpatych thought. Shots were heard outside the city from early morning.
From eight o'clock cannon fire joined the rifle shots. There were a lot of people on the streets, hurrying somewhere, a lot of soldiers, but just as always, cabs drove, merchants stood at the shops and there was a service in the churches. Alpatych went to the shops, to government offices, to the post office and to the governor. In government offices, in shops, at the post office, everyone was talking about the army, about the enemy, who had already attacked the city; everyone asked each other what to do, and everyone tried to calm each other down.
At the governor's house Alpatych found a large number of people, Cossacks and a road carriage that belonged to the governor. On the porch, Yakov Alpatych met two gentlemen of the nobility, of whom he knew one. A nobleman he knew, a former police officer, spoke with ardor.
“This is no joke,” he said. - Well, who is one. One head and poor - so one, otherwise there are thirteen people in the family, and all the property ... They brought everyone to disappear, what kind of bosses are they after that? .. Eh, I would hang the robbers ...
“Yes, it will,” said another.
“What do I care, let him hear!” Well, we are not dogs, - said the former police officer and, looking around, he saw Alpatych.
- Ah, Yakov Alpatych, why are you?
“By order of his excellency, to the governor,” Alpatych replied, proudly raising his head and putting his hand in his bosom, which he always did when he mentioned the prince ... “They were pleased to order to inquire about the state of affairs,” he said.
- Yes, and find out, - the landowner shouted, - they brought that no cart, nothing! .. Here she is, do you hear? he said, pointing to the direction from which the shots were heard.
- They brought that everyone to die ... robbers! he said again, and stepped off the porch.
Alpatych shook his head and went up the stairs. In the waiting room were merchants, women, officials, silently exchanging glances among themselves. The door to the office opened, everyone got up and moved forward. An official ran out of the door, talked something to the merchant, called behind him a fat official with a cross around his neck, and disappeared again through the door, apparently avoiding all the looks and questions addressed to him. Alpatych moved forward and at the next exit of the official, laying his hand on his buttoned frock coat, turned to the official, giving him two letters.
“To Mr. Baron Ash from the general chief prince Bolkonsky,” he announced so solemnly and significantly that the official turned to him and took his letter. A few minutes later the governor received Alpatych and hurriedly said to him:
- Report to the prince and princess that I didn’t know anything: I acted according to higher orders - that’s ...
He gave the paper to Alpatych.
“And yet, since the prince is unwell, my advice is for them to go to Moscow. I'm on my own now. Report ... - But the governor did not finish: a dusty and sweaty officer ran in the door and began to say something in French. Horror appeared on the Governor's face.
“Go,” he said, nodding his head to Alpatych, and began to ask the officer something. Greedy, frightened, helpless looks turned to Alpatych when he left the governor's office. Involuntarily listening now to the close and ever-increasing shots, Alpatych hurried to the inn. The paper given by Governor Alpatych was as follows:
“I assure you that the city of Smolensk does not yet face the slightest danger, and it is unbelievable that it would be threatened by it. I am on one side, and Prince Bagration on the other side, we are going to unite in front of Smolensk, which will take place on the 22nd, and both armies with combined forces will defend their compatriots in the province entrusted to you, until their efforts remove the enemies of the fatherland from them or until they are exterminated in their brave ranks to the last warrior. You see from this that you have the perfect right to reassure the inhabitants of Smolensk, for whoever defends with two such brave troops can be sure of their victory. (Order of Barclay de Tolly to the civil governor of Smolensk, Baron Ash, 1812.)

"Montenegro's membership in the North Atlantic Alliance will contribute to reforms, trade, security, and will also have a positive impact on the stability of neighboring countries," the agency quotes the policy.

To date, 24 out of 28 NATO member countries have ratified this protocol. The United States has not yet been included in their number, as some senators oppose it. In particular, last week the signing of the document was blocked by Republican Rand Paul. Solidarity with him was expressed by Utah Senator Michael Lee. They, and not only them, are concerned about the question: what real benefit will the alliance derive from Montenegro's accession to NATO?

decorative troops

The question is really interesting. According to the entry criteria new country to the North Atlantic Alliance, formulated at the Washington Summit in 1999, it should "make the necessary organizational, economic and military contribution to the work of NATO, including through participation in NATO missions." In addition, the candidate is required to increase defense spending, in accordance with the charter of the alliance, up to 2% of GDP.

According to both criteria, Montenegro membership in NATO frankly "does not pull." The number of Armed Forces of this small Balkan country is just over two thousand people. This is two and a half times less than the Latvian army. In terms of the number of personnel, the military potential of Montenegro is comparable to the Russian motorized rifle brigade. And in terms of combat capabilities, it does not even reach the regiment.

The land forces of Montenegro organizationally consist of two battalions - infantry and mountain, three separate companies - engineering, communications and special purpose, and a mixed artillery battery. These units are completely absent as a class of heavy armored vehicles. Of the 62 T-55 medium tanks that Montenegro inherited during the collapse of Yugoslavia, 61 were sawn up for scrap by 2007, and the only surviving vehicle was given to the museum. The ground forces also lack infantry fighting vehicles - there are only a few armored personnel carriers and armored vehicles. And the Montenegrin artillerymen are armed only with mortars, several Soviet D-30 howitzers and Yugoslav M-94 Plamen-S multiple launch rocket systems.

Aviation and navy also do not represent a serious force. The Navy currently has only two Kotor-class light frigates and two Koncar missile boats (both under repair) among warships. The air force can fly no more than a dozen French multi-purpose Gazelle helicopters, built under license in Yugoslavia. There are no combat aircraft, no transport aircraft, no significant air defense systems in the Montenegrin Air Force.

In 2017, Montenegro will spend 50 million euros on defense, or 1.65% of its GDP. According to the criteria for joining NATO, this amount should be increased by about 10 million more. Small money by the standards of many European countries, but for a country with a population of just over 620 thousand people and an economy based mainly on the service sector, the figure is quite serious.

Thus, the North Atlantic Alliance with the inclusion of Montenegro in its composition will not receive any additional military and economic power. In addition, its members will have to fork out to bring the armed forces of this country in line with NATO standards. It is unlikely that the Montenegrin military will be able to provide significant assistance to the expeditionary contingents of the alliance performing combat missions in the Middle East. To do this, they have neither experience, nor weapons, nor sufficient numbers.

However, many experts argue that the real meaning of including Montenegro in the alliance is not military, but political. And both for NATO and for the government of the former Yugoslav Republic.

Divide and rule

The inclusion of Montenegro in NATO is part of a long-term plan of the US military-political leadership to put pressure on Serbia, believes Chief Editor magazine "National Defense" Igor Korotchenko.

“Washington has never hidden that it would like to see all of Europe in NATO,” the expert told RIA Novosti. “And this policy will continue under any administration led by the United States. Serbia, historically friendly to Russia, will, in fact, be surrounded by countries a military bloc that not so long ago bombed its cities. And if the Serbian population is, to put it mildly, cool about joining NATO, there are many supporters of joining the European Union. And without membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, no one will take Serbia into the EU. This condition is repeatedly voiced by representatives of the European Union.

At the same time, the inclusion of Montenegro in NATO has more global goals. According to the researcher of the department modern history countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe of the Georgy Engelhardt Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, these measures are aimed at eliminating any military presence of Russia in the region in the future.

“By letting Montenegro into NATO, the alliance will completely cut off access to the Adriatic Sea and the eastern Mediterranean from Serbia,” Georgy Engelhardt told RIA Novosti. “And put an end to the possible reunification of these countries into a single state in the future. Montenegro has old naval bases Judging by the statements of a number of American politicians, the inclusion of this country in NATO pursues a single goal: to deprive Russia of any, even hypothetical, opportunity in one form or another to ever get these bases and secure another outlet to the Mediterranean (along with the naval base in the Syrian Tartus. — Approx. Aut.) This means that this territory must be taken under control.”

Anti-Russian card

The majority of the population of Montenegro, as polls show, is extremely negative about the idea of joining NATO, the expert recalls. Here they still remember how the bombs of the alliance fell, including on Podgorica. Engelhardt stressed that the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, from the moment he took office on June 5, 2006 (two days after the country declared independence from Serbia), immediately set a course for integration into the North Atlantic Alliance. Already on December 14, 2006, Montenegro began to participate in the NATO "Partnership for Peace" program. Parallel public opinion for many years they have been actively cultivated by an intensive propaganda campaign in favor of the Euro-Atlantic path of development.

In September 2015, the country's parliament adopted a document of intent to join NATO (50 out of 81 deputies voted in favor), although the majority of the country's population opposed such a decision. However, all protests were invariably dispersed by the police. On May 19, 2006, at a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the countries - members of the alliance in Brussels, a protocol was signed on the accession of Montenegro to the military bloc. Since that day, this country has been participating in the meetings of the NATO Council as an observer. Then Djukanovic said that he hoped for full membership in the alliance by mid-2017.

“The government of Montenegro and the Djukanovic regime have actively opposed and continue to oppose the holding of a referendum on joining NATO,” Engelhardt explained. “Therefore, they decided to pass this decision through parliament, bypassing the opinion of the people. And the opposition, which is against membership in the alliance and for close relations with Russia "The regime is diligently discrediting. It was for this purpose that the anti-Russian card was played last October."

Recall: on October 15, 2016, parliamentary elections were held in the country, in which the party of Milo Djukanovic won. And the next day Montenegrin officials reported that a coup d'état had been prevented in the country. Almost immediately, the Western media and politicians began to blame Russia for its preparation, which allegedly tried to prevent the Euro-Atlanticists from coming to power in Montenegro. No serious evidence, as we have become accustomed to, was provided, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov directly called these accusations unfounded.

“Both joining NATO and anti-Russian rhetoric are necessary for the leadership of Montenegro as a means of maintaining their power,” explained Gennady Engelhardt. “This will ensure the survival of the current regime. For the sake of political support from the West, the followers of Djukanovic are ready to sacrifice both sovereignty and respect for a significant part of the population of their country. Which still remembers who is friend and who is enemy.

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Andrey Kots
Source: RIA News
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Armed Forces of Montenegro or Army of Montenegro(Montenegrin: Vojska Crne Gore) - the aggregate of forces of the Republic of Montenegro. Consist of ground forces, naval and air forces. By reducing the army during the country's accession to NATO, at the beginning of 2017, the army of Montenegro consisted of about two thousand military personnel and is currently de facto one full-fledged land brigade that is capable of fighting fighting. Military spending for 2017 is planned at 50 million euros, which is 1.3% of the country's GDP and the smallest military budget among NATO countries.

During the existence of the first independent Montenegrin state (1878-1918), the Montenegrin army was much larger than the modern one. During the First World War, its number was about 35 thousand people. The commander-in-chief was King Nikola I Petrovich-Njegosh, and the chief of the general staff was General Bozhidar Janković (Serb. Božidar Janković).

In early November 2004, at a meeting of the Supreme Defense Council of Serbia and Montenegro, it was decided to disband the unified army on a national basis and create its own national army in Montenegro.

After the country's withdrawal from the confederal State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and the declaration of independence on June 3, 2006, its armed forces are in the process of reform.

The Ministry of Defense of Montenegro was created from scratch, as the Ministry of Defense of Yugoslavia was inherited by Serbia as a successor. After regaining independence, the first Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Montenegro was Lieutenant General Jovan Lakcevic (Montenegrin. general-potpukovnik Jovan Lakcevic).

Montenegro inherited from the union with Serbia an armed force of 6,500 people. It was announced that the army would be reduced to 2,500 men who would serve on a professional basis and be recruited entirely from volunteers. On August 30, 2006, by decree of President Filip Vujanović, compulsory general military duty was abolished.

Since December 14, 2006, Montenegro has been participating in the NATO Partnership for Peace program. The country took a limited part in the war in Afghanistan, the loss of the Montenegrin contingent - 1 dead soldier.

In total, as of January 2015, 1850 people serve in the Montenegrin Armed Forces. Of these: 245 officers, 786 junior officers, 581 soldiers and 238 civilians.

The ground forces consist of one brigade, which includes: mountain battalion [ ], an infantry battalion, a special forces company, a communications company, an engineering company, an artillery battery, as well as honor guard companies, military police companies and electronic intelligence companies.

It is assumed that after the completion of the reform of the armed forces, all ground forces will be stationed at a single military base in Niksic (the country's second city in terms of population).

It is assumed that after the completion of the reform of the armed forces, all warships will be based at the only naval base in Bar (the country's main seaport).

After the collapse of the union state of Serbia and Montenegro, the latter received 17 SOKO G-4 Super Galeb aircraft, four UTVA 75 training aircraft, Mi-8 T and Gazelle helicopters. The aircraft in service have not been operated for a long time. The last flight of the G-4 was performed in 2010. As of February 2016, the Armed Forces of Montenegro had 14 helicopters in service.

It is assumed that after the completion of the reform of the armed forces, all military aviation will be located at the only Golubovtsy airbase in Podgorica (the largest city and the main transport and industrial hub of the country), directly next to the international airport.

At the beginning of 2017, the Montenegrin army consisted of about two thousand military personnel and is currently de facto one full-fledged land brigade that is capable of conducting combat operations. Military spending for 2017 is planned at 50 million euros, which is 1.3% of the country's GDP and the smallest military budget among NATO countries.

Vojska Crne Gore Army of Montenegro
Emblem of the Armed Forces of Montenegro
A country
Subordination	Ministry of Defense of Montenegro
Participation in	Russian-Turkish war, 1877-1878 First Balkan War, 1912-1913 Second Balkan War, 1913 World War I 1914-1918 War in Afghanistan (2001-2014)
commanders
Current Commander	Brigadier General Dragutin Dakic (Montenegrin Brigadni general Dragutin Dakic)

Story

1878-1918

The army included:

Pljevlja division consisting of 10 battalions (about 6000 people) east of Pljevlja. Commander - Brigadier Luka Goynich (Serb. Luka Gojnić).
Herzegovinian division consisting of 15 battalions (about 15,000 people) on the border with Herzegovina. The commander is serdar Janko Vukotić (Serb. Janko Vukotić).
Lovcenskaya division consisting of 18 battalions (about 8000 people) in the Lovcen region. Commander - divisional Mitiya Martinovic (Serb. Mitja Martinović).
Division "Old Serbia" consisting of 13 battalions (about 6000 people) on the border with Albania. The commander is Brigadier Radomir Vešović (Serb. Radomir Vešović).

1941-1945

After 2006

After the country's withdrawal from the confederal State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and the declaration of independence on June 3, 2006, its armed forces are in the process of reform.

Composition of the armed forces

In total, as of January 2015, 1850 people serve in the Montenegrin Armed Forces. Of these: 245 officers, 786 junior officers, 581 soldiers and 238 civilians.