IK-2

The IK‑2 was a pioneering Yugoslav single‑engine fighter developed in the late 1930s and produced by the Ikarbus factory in Belgrade. Conceived by engineers Ljudevit and Ljubomir Ilić, the aircraft first flew on 22 August 1938 and entered service with the Royal Yugoslav Air Force in 1940. Its low‑wing monoplane layout incorporated an all‑metal construction, a retractable undercarriage and a semi‑enclosed cockpit, elements that placed it at the forefront of contemporary European fighter design. Powered by a Hispano‑Suiza 12Z‑17 V‑12 engine delivering roughly 860 hp, the IK‑2 could reach a top speed of about 530 km/h (330 mph) and was armed with two 12.7 mm machine guns mounted in the forward fuselage, later upgraded to include 20 mm cannon pods for enhanced firepower. Although only a limited production run of 30‑40 aircraft was completed before the outbreak of World War II, the IK‑2 demonstrated the capability of Yugoslav industry to design and manufacture advanced combat aircraft independently. Its operational use during the 1941 Axis invasion, and later adaptations by partisan forces, underscored its tactical value and cemented its legacy as a symbol of national aviation ingenuity in the pre‑jet era.

Ikarbus

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification