The Serbian Defense Ministry signed contracts on Friday to buy equipment and weaponry from local defense industry companies.

A ministry press release said that contracts had been signed with the Zastava TERVO and Zastava Firearms companies to buy a new all-terrain armored vehicle and new modular rifles which would be equipped with optical sights made by the Teleoptik company and new ammunition developed by the Prvi Partizan company.  

Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said that the MRAP 6×6 armored vehicle would be put into service next year. “Our Prva Petoletka Trstenik company developed the prototype and built the first series of the artillery-missile system Pasars which will be a procurement priority for the ministry next year. This is the best way to make use of domestic know how, employ domestic companies and give our soldiers modern weapons and equipment,” he is quoted as saying.