Mission:
- Air monitoring and informing interested parties on the airspace situation;
- Timely detection and tracking of enemy means for air attack;
- Notification of the armed forces for air space targets;
- Radar protection of combat actions of units for Air Defence.
Tasks:
- Continuous monitoring of air space at all heights;
- Detection of targets at maximum distances based on the equipment capabilities;
- Tracking exposed goals and own aviation;
- Collecting, processing and display of data on the situation in the airspace of the Republic in cVNJ.
Lieutenant colonel Kjemal Xhaferi
Lieutenant colonel Kjemal Xhaferi was born on 15th October, 1983 in Gostivar. He graduated elementary and high school in Gostivar. He continued his education at the Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski” in Skopje. After four years he was commissioned to the first officer rank of Second Lieutenant in the branch of Aviation. He has performed many command duties during his career. On 4th March, 2022, he was appointed as Commander of the Air Surveillance and Reporting Battalion. He attended many courses in the domain of air space management, including Mase Remote Console (MASE) and Process Functions in the Air Space Management Operation Center in Croatia, Course on Exercise Planning organized by DMTC (Canada) in Podgorica, Montenegro, UN Course for Military Observers in UN in Hammelburg in Germany, and other courses. In 2018 he upgraded his military education by completing a Specialization on Command and Staff Duties at the Military Academy “General Mhailo Apostolski” in Skopje. He completed one rotation of peacekeeping mission ALTEA EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013/2014. He has been awarded and commended many times in his career by the MOD and CGS for his contribution to and development of the Army, including a NATO medal for his contribution to the peacekeeping mission ALTEA EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He completed his Master studies in 2018 at the University of “St. Clement of Ohrid” – Technical Faculty – Air Traffic and Transportation in Bitola and gained Master of Science Degree for Air Traffic and Transportation. He is proficient in English language and Judo is his hobby. He is married, father of two children.
Previous appointments:
- 2006, Second Lieutenant, Pilot Listener in the second flight in the Transport Helicopter Squadron in WING;
- 2009, Lieutenant, Civil and Military Cooperation Officer in A-5 Section at the WING Command;
- 2011, Captain, Head of C-4 Section, Logistics Officer at the Air Surveillance and Reporting Battalion;
- 2013, Captain, Commander of the Command and Control Center in Air Surveillance and Reporting Battalion;
- 2017, Major, Head of C-3/5/7 Section in the Air Surveillance and Reporting Battalion;
- 2019, Major, Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of Air Surveillance and Reporting Battalion;
- 03.2022, Major, Commander of Air Surveillance and Reporting Battalion.
Promotions:
- Second Lieutenant 2006-2008;
- Lieutenant 2008-2011;
- Captain 2011-2016;
- Major
The foundations of the Macedonian Air Force were set on 6th of April 1992, when the Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov signed Decision No. 60 on forming Air Force and Air Defence Command.
The first working day with the new organizational and formational structure of pVNJIN (Regiment for air monitoring, calling and guiding) was on 10th of April 1992, in the barracks N.H.S. Pindzur.
The first enlisted soldier in pVNJIN – Jonche Jangelovski., arrived on 1st of March 1994.
It is worth saying that during 1995 the unit was equipped with a radar observer “NAR M-61” of Yugoslav origin, taken from the airport in Ohrid; in addition, the first operating centre of VV and PVO was installed and equipped, and the radar observer was put into function.
In the course of 1998, a connection was made with the military and civilian segment, i.e. receiving data from Air Traffic Control “Petrovec” was enabled.
During 2001 and 2002 a change of the unit’s formational structure was made, from a regiment to a battalion level. In the same period the unit was equipped with a donation from the French Navy, with two radars DRVN 2C produced in 1958. At the same time, a radar position “Veligden” was set up in Bitola.
On 1st of March 2006 the unit was transformed from bVNJ into Air Monitoring Operational Centre (OCVN) and was directly under the GS of ARM.
From recent history it is worthwhile noting that the unit has entered into a process of modernization of the whole work system. For this purpose, the Ministry of Defence, GS of ARM and experts from the unit formed an Integrated Project Team to deliver the National Centre for Air monitoring and Commanding Project.
The construction of a new operational centre for VNJ according to NATO standards is in its final stage. In this Centre equipment will be installed, and all air operations on a national level will be conducted from there.
In terms of regional cooperation, the unit participates in the ASDE (Air Situation Data Exchange) program. The ASDE program envisages exchange of radar image data on the situation in the airspace between Republic of Macedonia and NATO (i.e. a neighbouring country that is a NATO member, in this case Republic of Greece).
