Novi Avion

Novi Avion
General information
Type	Multi-role combat aircraft
National origin	Yugoslavia
Manufacturer	SOKO
Designer	Aerotechnical Institute
Status	Cancelled in 1991
Primary user	Yugoslav Air Force (intended)
History
First flight	Planned for 1992

The Novi Avion (Serbian Cyrillic: Нови Aвион English: New Aeroplane) was a fourth generation multi-role combat aircraft programme that was to be built by Yugoslav aircraft manufacturer SOKO.

The Avion featured a cropped delta-canard configuration and was to be capable of achieving supersonic speeds under a combat configuration.^[1] The Avion shared several areas of commonality with French company Dassault Aviation's Rafale fighter aircraft; France had provided considerable technical assistance to Yugoslavia during the course of the Avion programme. Development work on the fighter was undertaken by the Vazduhoplovno Tehnički Institut (VTI) (Aeronautical Technical Institute) of Belgrade, the former Yugoslavia's main military-technical institute, in cooperation with Dassault Aviation.

Upon its entry to service with the Yugoslav Air Force, which was anticipated to occur during the late 1990s to early 2000s, the Avion would have been used as a replacement for the nation's aging fleet of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s. The nation also anticipated considerable exports sales of the type. During 1991, the entire programme was halted due to a lack of available finance just prior to the commencement of production and a year prior to the scheduled date of the type's envisioned maiden flight. The Avion was terminated as a consequence of the outbreak of the Yugoslav Wars and the subsequent break-up of the country.