Bojnik Air Base

The air base was effectively closed due to extensive and irreparable damage sustained during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 (Operation Allied Force). As a strategic military target, it was repeatedly struck by NATO air power between March and June 1999, rendering its runways, taxiways, and infrastructure unusable. Following the conflict, the heavily damaged base was not rebuilt by the Serbian Air Force and was subsequently abandoned.

The site is completely abandoned and in a state of ruin. Satellite imagery and ground reports confirm that the runways are cracked, heavily overgrown with vegetation, and still bear the visible scars of the 1999 bombing, including numerous craters. The hardened aircraft shelters are either destroyed or severely damaged. The entire facility is derelict and has been reclaimed by nature over the past two decades. It is not used for any official purpose and is inaccessible to the public, remaining a relic of the Yugoslav Wars.

Bojnik Air Base, also known as Kosančić Air Base, was a reserve 'wartime airfield' (ratni aerodrom) of the Yugoslav Air Force (JRV i PVO). Its primary purpose was to serve as a dispersal base during a conflict, allowing aircraft to be moved from major airfields like Niš Constantine the Great Airport to a more concealed and protected location. This strategy aimed to increase the survivability of air assets against a first strike. The base featured two runways (14/32 and 10/28) and a number of hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) designed to protect fighter and ground-attack aircraft. While not a permanent home to any specific squadron, it was used for training and was fully prepared to host aircraft such as the MiG-21, J-22 Orao, and G-4 Super Galeb in the event of war. Its strategic importance was validated during the 1999 conflict when it became a priority target for NATO forces attempting to neutralize the Yugoslav Air Force.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening or reactivating Bojnik Air Base for either military or civilian use. The cost of clearing the damage, repairing the extensive destruction to the runways and infrastructure, and modernizing the facility would be prohibitive. Furthermore, its strategic military necessity has diminished, and its proximity to the fully operational and internationally-served Niš Constantine the Great Airport (approx. 40 km northeast) makes any civilian conversion economically unviable. The site is expected to remain abandoned for the foreseeable future.