Current Title:	Jedinica za Specijalne Operacije
Title in English:	Serbian Security Services Aviation Unit
Abbreviation:	JSO

Narrative Summary:
The highly secretive Serbian Security Services (Resora Drzavne Bezbednosti - RDB) was formed in 1992, under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It started with a small helicopter section with one Bell 206B-3 and one 206L-1. The helicopter section expanded by taking over AB212 and Gazelle helicopters from disbanded Federal Police units.

The RDB took part in combat operations in BiH (Bosnia) and Croatia in support of ethnic Serb forces - often flying without any markings or only marked with the Serbian flag. In 1997 RDB combat units were reorganised into a Brigade level unit: the Unit for Special Forces (JSO), including the helicopter squadron. The JSO took part in numerous combat operations during the escalating Kosovo crisis. Mi-24Vs were used to attack rebel training camps and hundreds of transport and medevac flight were carried out. During NATO Operation Allied Force JSO helicopters continued to fly liaison and medevac missions. No helicopters were lost.

In October 2001 the helicopters were publicly presented for the first time, during a joint exercise with military forces. Serbia's Interior Ministry (MUP) was reorganised in 2002, with the JSO being detached from the national security service and placed directly under the Interior Minister. The helicopters were combined with the police squadron to form a joint aviation unit (VJ MUP). The JSO itself was officially disbanded on 25 March 2003, following the assassination of the Prime Minister Zoran Djindjich by the JSO's deputy commander on 12 March.

Key Dates:
1992		Serbian Security Services (RDB) Aviation Unit first established.
1997		RDB becomes JSO.
2002		JSO helicopter fleet combines with Serbian Police Aviation Unit (MUP).
2003		JSO ground units disbanded.

Current Status:
Disbanded.

Future Plans:
Not applicable.

National Insignia:
A fin flash of red/blue/white horizontal stripes was carried , instead of the normal Federal Yugoslav blue/white/red horizontal stripes. The helicopters carried no service titles.

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
Some helicopters carried civilian registrations in the YU-Hxx series. The Mi-17s are reported to have been serialled BP-1 and BP-2. The Mi-24Vs are believed to have been unmarked.

Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Coding system not used

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None - Manufacturers designations used

Current Aircraft Inventory:
Not applicable.

All-Time Aircraft Used List:
Click on aircraft type for more details

Aircraft Type	Quantity	Service Entry	Retirement	Origin
Agusta-Bell AB.212	3	1992?	2002	Federal Police
Bell 206B-3 JetRanger III	1	1992	2002	BiH Police
Bell 206L-1 LongRanger II	1	1992	2002	BiH Police
Mil Mi-17	2	1997?	2002	Russia
Mil Mi-24V	2	1997?	2002	Russia
Sikorsky S-76B	1	1997?	2002	USA
Sud Aviation SA.341G Gazelle	4	1992?	2002	Federal Police
Sud Aviation SA.342L Gazelle	3	199?	2002	France/Impounded

Aircraft NOT Used:
IAPR Vol.9 refers on two occasions to the use of at least one "SA.342M Gazelle" used by the JSO. No SA.342Ms have ever appeared on the YU civil aircraft register.

Main Headquarters:
Belgrade.

Current Organisational Structure:
Not applicable.

Current Order of Battle:
Not applicable.

Historical Orders of Battle:
No information.

All-Time Flying Units List:
No information.

Current Air Bases:
Not applicable.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
All aircraft were based at Belgrade (Beograd-Surcin) International Airport.

Books:

None known.

Magazines: