BSN: New weapons strengthen Serbia’s Air Force

Vojska Srbije

In the past five years, Serbia has strengthened its air force, special units and artillery, the Balkan Security Network (BSN) website reported on Wednesday.

It said the Air Force had been enforced with 14 new helicopters and ten MiG-29 fighters.

The school aviation has improved, while the reconnaissance from the air has been restored with drones.

The process of serious procurement started at the end of 2016, and after that, five new Russian Mi-17 V5 transport helicopters, four Mi-35M combat helicopters and five Airbus X-145Ms were purchased.

All helicopters were also armoured, making them resistant to fire from light infantry weapons from the ground.

The fighter aircraft were donated by Russia and Belarus, with ten MiG-29, whose overhaul was paid for.

Along with four fighters of the same type that the Air Force already had, the total number increased to 14, equivalent to a squadron rank unit.

Drones and combat aircraft CH-92A were purchased from China.

After years of development, a small unmanned homemade aircraft Vrabac (Sparrow) was introduced into the Air Force contingent.

From 2019 to 2021, Russia donated the VS 30 BRDM-2MS armoured reconnaissance vehicles and 30 T-72 B1MS tanks.
Twelve homemade armoured combat vehicles Lazar 3 were introduced, and the delivery of six was announced.

Forty Hamvias were also procured, and the zero series of armoured command reconnaissance vehicles BOV KIV with observation stations with thermal cameras were presented.

The artillery units received a battery of self-propelled cannon howitzers Nora B-52 and digitised self-propelled rocket launchers Oganj.

„The lowest percentage of new or improved combat equipment is in artillery and anti-aircraft missile units,“ BSN said.

Besides the digitalisation of several KUB missile systems, the Air Force defence was strengthened by the Pancir S1 artillery-missile system, purchased from Russia.

The Air Force has also been testing the modernised PASARS artillery system.

The purchase of the Chinese air defence system FK-3 and anti-aircraft missiles Mistral from France has yet to be realised.