Novi Avion
| Novi Avion | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Role | Multi-role combat aircraft |
| National origin | Yugoslavia |
| Manufacturer | SOKO |
| Designer | Vazduhoplovno Tehnicki Institut (VTI) now called Military Technical Institute Belgrade |
| First flight | Planned for 1992 |
| Status | Cancelled in 1991 |
| Primary user | SFR Yugoslav Air Force |
The Novi Avion (Serbian Cyrillic:Нови Aвион English: New Aeroplane) was a 4th-generation, supersonic multi-role combat aircraft project of cropped delta-canard configuration. The work was undertaken by the Vazduhoplovno Tehnicki Institut (VTI) (Aeronautical Technical Institute) of Belgrade, the former Yugoslavia's main military-technical institute, but cancelled just before production began in 1991.
The project was started in the mid-1980s in order to make Yugoslavia fully self-sufficient in the manufacture of military equipment, and air superiority fighter jets were the only thing that Yugoslavia still had to import, having obtained the capability to build all other military equipment by the 1980s. When Yugoslavia disintegrated in 1991, the project was cancelled, since the break-up of the country made the financial resources necessary to start production of the plane unavailable.
The design was approximately one year from completion at the time of cancellation, and design of some production facilities and prototypes of some parts such as the cockpit had already been built. Had it not been cancelled, it would have had its first flight in 1992, and entered service some time in the mid 1990s.
Yugoslavia expected to build approximately 150 of these planes to replace its MiG-21s and J-21 Jastrebs, and a sale of several hundred Novi Avions on the world market was also anticipated. The term Novi Avion was used to describe the project and the aircraft would have received a proper designation upon entering service.
The Novi Avion most closely resembled the French Rafale, although it was smaller and had only one engine. It was designed to fill many roles, including air superiority, interception, reconnaissance, ground attack, and anti-ship attack. Maximum speed was just under Mach 2. Super-maneuverability at both supersonic and subsonic speeds was a priority, and a major portion of the airframe was to be composed of composites.
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