In late 1937, the Yugoslav aircraft manufacturer Ikarus was ordered to produce 12 IK-2 fighters.
The first six were delivered in December 1938, and the remaining six by February 1939.
All 12 were assigned to the 6th Fighter Regiment of the Royal Yugoslav Army Air Force (VVKJ), based in Zemun.
Combat Service
April 1941
By the time of the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, only eight IK-2s were serviceable.
These aircraft were deployed in defence of Belgrade and surrounding areas.
Despite being outdated by 1941 standards, the IK-2s engaged Luftwaffe aircraft in several skirmishes.
Their robust construction and hub-firing 20 mm cannon gave them limited effectiveness against bombers, but they were outclassed by modern German fighters.
Post-Invasion Fate
After Yugoslavia’s defeat, four surviving IK-2s were captured and overhauled at the Ikarus plant in Zemun.
These were transferred to the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH), a German-aligned puppet state.
Their operational use under NDH control was minimal and poorly documented.
None of the IK-2s survived the war; all were lost through combat, accidents, or scrapping.
