SOKO Komete - 101st Fighter Squadron, Serbian Air Force and Air Defence, 2010In May 1982 the government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, led by Petar Stambolić, announced the ambitious 'Novi Avion' programme with the aim of designing and manufacturing an air superiority fighter to supplement and eventually replace the Yugoslavian Air Force's substantial MiG-21 force. SOKO (the state aircraft manufacturer) were awarded a design study contract and by 1984 their proposal had crystallized into a single-engine, supersonic fighter aircraft featuring a delta wing with a canard foreplane. The 'Novi Avion' programme seemed to mimic the Republic's move away from Communism to a market economy by becoming a much more capable multi-role aircraft and therefore more attractive to potential export customers. Whilst this did mean an unavoidable escalation in aircraft size and weight it did mean that the excellent Lyulka AL-31F engine (as used in the Sukhoi Su-27) would be a perfect match.
In May 1986 the Yugoslavian Government ordered 150 'Novi Avion' aircraft to replace both its MiG-21 and Soko J-21 Jastreb fleets and the following month saw SOKO rename the aircraft as the SOKO Kometa (Comet). Development moved smoothly during the remainder of the decade and many elements of the aircraft programme such as production facilities, mock-up, cockpit simulator, etc. had been constructed. However the start of the new decade saw the political situation in Yugoslavia worsen and by 1991 Yugoslavia had begun to disintegrate into several smaller nations. Putting a brave face on the situation, SOKO announced a postponement of the programme but also an intent to continue "as soon as possible". Production facilities were partially dismantled and relocated to Serbia with SOKO absorbing Utva Aviation Industry (based in Pančevo) who had previously worked with SOKO in the manufacturing of the J-22 Orao and also the G-4 Super Galeb.
On April 28th, 1992 the two remaining republics of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, formed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and President Dobrica Ćosić wasted no time in re-launching the Kometa programme. Behind the scenes, SOKO were instructed to simplify certain aspects of the Kometa which included reducing the number of weapon stations from 11 down to 7 by eliminating the four body pylons. The UN economic sanctions imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were bypassed largely by switching to Chinese avionics. SOKO worked miracles in assembling the first Kometa prototype during 1997 although the first flight would have to wait until May 1st, 1998 when Major General Dragan Mihajlović lifted off from Batajnica Air Base. In 2003 the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia became officially known as the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro but by 2006 Montenegro left the union following a referendum leading to the full independence of Serbia and Montenegro. This political instability slowed the programme even further and it was not until June 5th, 2006 that the Kometa entered service with the 101st Squadron of the Serbian Air Force.
SERBIA KOMETA.12 by
Spinners1961, on Flickr
SERBIA KOMETA.13 by
Spinners1961, on Flickr
SERBIA KOMETA.14 by
Spinners1961, on Flickr
SERBIA KOMETA.15 by
Spinners1961, on Flickr
This is the Chengdu J-10A 'Vigorous Dragon' (sounds like a Viagra knock-off to me) masquerading as the Novi Avion a real world project that died the death when Yugoslavia disintegrated in the early 1990's. Some images of the Novi Avion show a Eurofighter Typhoon style intake whilst most show something resembling a single-engine Dassault Rafale. The J-10 is only slightly longer than the Novi Avion but is much heavier hence my backstory of a bigger aircraft essentially due to mission creep. Given the political situation there's absolutely no way this could ever have happened (I haven't even mentioned the hyperinflation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of 2% per hour and 116.546 billion percent per year) but I quite enjoyed weaving a few elements of the real world into this backstory.
It won't surprise you to know that the 3D model originates from China but I removed the bolt-on refuelling probe and the weapon stations referred to in my backstory. The nose numbers take ages to do and I might re-use all of the decals on something else in Serbian colours.
