Serbia intends to buy six Russian MiG-29 fighter jets

[Hindustani78]

http://tass.com/defense/920488
BELGRADE, December 19. /TASS/. Serbia’s Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he plans to discuss possible purchase or six Russian MiG-29 fighter jets when he will pay a visit to Moscow on December 21, Tanjug reported on Monday.

"We are in talks to purchase six planes," the agency quoted him as saying.

"So, we will have ten MiG-29 planes and it will mean an enhanced level of security for the citizens."

Along with the purchase of more planes, it is planned to negotiate repair and modernization of Serbia’s MiG-29 jets.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://tass.com/defense/920497
December 19, 16:59 UTC+3

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday he plans to discuss purchase of Russian Buk anti-aircraft missile systems when he will be paying a visit to Russia.

"We will discuss the issue of anti-aircraft missile systems, probably Buk-M1 or Buk-M2, which will be cheaper for us as we will pay for them," Beta news agency quoted him as saying. "The price is going to be very good and we are thankful to the Russians for that."

Earlier in the day, Vucic announced plans to buy six Russian MiG-29 fighter jets.

After talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Belgrade on December 12, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told a news conference that Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic’s visit to Moscow due on December 21 will focus on issues of arms supplies to Serbia. He did not disclose details of a possible deal, saying it is was "confidential information."

 

[Hamza913]

Weren't they interested in the J-10 and JF-17 a while back? Those would be much better choices if they are looking to buy jets in small quantities like this. They are cheaper and will retire much later than the MiG.

 

[Hindustani78]

2006
Serbia joins the Partnership for Peace.
NATO opens a military liaison office in Belgrade.

2007
Serbia joins the PfP Planning and Review Process (PARP).
NATO completes a PfP trust fund project that safely removed 1.4 million anti-personnel landmines from Serbian territory

.July 2013: Work begins on a project to assist the Serbian Ministry of Defence in the decommissioning of Serbia's stocks of approximately 2,000 tonnes of surplus ammunition and explosives.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://uatoday.tv/politics/serbia-t...s-as-montenegro-eyes-joining-nato-850343.html

Move is likely to add tensions in the Balkans

Serbia said Monday that it will purchase Russian fighter jets in a move likely to add to tensions in the Balkans amid Moscow's apparent efforts to prevent the volatile European region from joining Western institutions, Associated Press reports.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he will travel to Moscow later this week to sign a deal that will include six MiG-29 fighters, which he says are needed "to protect our freedom and sovereignty."

Serbian officials have repeatedly said they need to boost their military to protect the country from an alleged threat from NATO-member Croatia, Serbia's traditional foe that has split from the Serb-led Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Initially, Vucic said Russia will hand over the aging warplanes — decommissioned by the Russian air force — for free and that they would be delivered to Serbia by next March before undergoing major repairs to extend their service lives. Now he said Serbia will pay for them.

He also said that he will additionally negotiate the purchase of Russian air defense rocket systems.

Although formally seeking European Union membership, Serbia has been sliding toward its traditional ally Russia. Moscow has launched a major propaganda effort to keep it away from the West.

Regional tensions have risen in the wake of an alleged election-day coup attempt in October by Serbian and Russian nationalists against Montenegro's pro-Western government for its efforts to join NATO.

 

[proka89]

http://uatoday.tv/politics/serbia-t...s-as-montenegro-eyes-joining-nato-850343.html

Move is likely to add tensions in the Balkans

Serbia said Monday that it will purchase Russian fighter jets in a move likely to add to tensions in the Balkans amid Moscow's apparent efforts to prevent the volatile European region from joining Western institutions, Associated Press reports.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he will travel to Moscow later this week to sign a deal that will include six MiG-29 fighters, which he says are needed "to protect our freedom and sovereignty."

Serbian officials have repeatedly said they need to boost their military to protect the country from an alleged threat from NATO-member Croatia, Serbia's traditional foe that has split from the Serb-led Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Initially, Vucic said Russia will hand over the aging warplanes — decommissioned by the Russian air force — for free and that they would be delivered to Serbia by next March before undergoing major repairs to extend their service lives. Now he said Serbia will pay for them.

He also said that he will additionally negotiate the purchase of Russian air defense rocket systems.

Although formally seeking European Union membership, Serbia has been sliding toward its traditional ally Russia. Moscow has launched a major propaganda effort to keep it away from the West.

Regional tensions have risen in the wake of an alleged election-day coup attempt in October by Serbian and Russian nationalists against Montenegro's pro-Western government for its efforts to join NATO.

Bunch of crap as usual. We are buying those six Mig 29, because if dont do anything we will end up without any fighter planes in 2018. And since we are poor country, this is the only possible stop gap measure that we can afford in situation like this. Reasons are simple. We already have four Mig 29 in use, we have pilots, limited overhaul capabilities, and ground infrastructure for those planes. And now from Russia we are buying additional six aircrafts under favorable conditions, where we will probably only pay for overhaul and some limited modernization (probably just communication and navigation equipment) so we could at least maintain certain capabilities, without coming in situation to shut down our supersonic fighter aviation in Serbian army. We don't have the money for the new planes, so it's this or nothing.

 

[Hindustani78]

Bunch of crap as usual. We are buying those six Mig 29, because if dont do anything we will end up without any fighter planes in 2018. And since we are poor country, this is the only possible stop gap measure that we can afford in situation like this. Reasons are simple. We already have four Mig 29 in use, we have pilots, limited overhaul capabilities, and ground infrastructure for those planes. And now from Russia we are buying additional six aircrafts under favorable conditions, where we will probably only pay for overhaul and some limited modernization (probably just communication and navigation equipment) so we could at least maintain certain capabilities, without coming in situation to shut down our supersonic fighter aviation in Serbian army. We don't have the money for the new planes, so it's this or nothing.

Russian federation policy is quite clear . EU nations are not faithful to NATO Alliance .

 

[proka89]

Russian federation policy is quite clear . EU nations are not faithful to NATO Alliance .

Russia has their own interests, just like any other superpower, nobody denies that. I am just sick from all those bulshit newspaper articles about rising tensions in the Balkans, every time when someone even farts here. Yes there are tensions in the Balkans, but if you took all armies from ex SFRJ republics and put them together, you still would not get a one single decent army in the end. And every time someone here buys some insignificant amount of weapons, we end up with bunch of articles how stability in the region is jeopardized, how balance is being destroyed..... And all the countries in this region are already in NATO, or trying to get in NATO, except Serbia, which has the IPAP agreement signed with NATO. Serbian army participated in 26 international military exercises in 2016. 24 with NATO and EU countries, and 2 with Russia and Belarus. And also since november this year Serbian army is a part of EU HELBROC Battlegroup.

 

[proka89]

These Mig 29 are donation from Russia:

9.12 RF-92185 Blue14
9.51 RF-92196 Blue75
9.51 RF-29166 Blue101
9.13 RF-93709 Blue04
9.13 RF-93713 Blue31
9.13 RF-93717 Blue10

Together with 4 Serbian Mig 29, they are all supposed to be modernized to BM standard. Price for overhaul, modernization and armament (R77 and some air to ground guided missiles will be included in this) for all 10 of aircrafts is 180-230 millions of euro.

Also we are getting a donation of 30 T72S and 30 BRDM 2 (I guess it's a BRDM-2M/2A version). And according to our prime minister we are negotiating with Russia about BUK M1/M2 and Tunguska.

 

[proka89]

Serbian delegation led by prime minister Aleksandar Vucic and defence minister Zoran Djordjevic were in visit to Belarus, were among other things they were talking about cooperation in defence and defence industry. On behalf of the Government of Serbia, the Minister of Defence Zoran Djordjevic signed an agreement on military-technical cooperation between Serbia and Belarus, which creates a legal basis for military-technical cooperation between the two countries.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic says he discussed a potential acquisition of fighter planes with Belarus officials on Thursday in Minsk.

According to Vucic, they also spoke about purchasing anti-aircraft weapons for the Serbian Army (VS) "under most favorable conditions."

He told Serbia's state broadcaster RTS that the discussion also covered "launching joint factories that would manufacture arms and ammunition for third markets."

"This is not merely about military-technical cooperation. We spoke about buying arms and tools for the VS, but above all about protecting our sky and about potentially buying, under most favorable conditions, fighter jets and anti-aircraft weapons and tools," he said, adding that this concerns weapons systems that were "impossible for us to have as recently as yesterday."

These future joint companies would not be limited to the defense industry alone, Vucic added.

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2017&mm=01&dd=26&nav_id=100348

And just now Serbian defence minister said that Belarus will donate 8 Mig-29 and two division of BUK missile system.

Under that deal Serbia will pay for overhaul and modernization of donated equipment. Probably 4 Serbian Mig-29, together with 6 donated from Russia will all be overhauled and modernized in Belarus on Mig-29BM standard, which will rise the number of Mig-29's in Serbian armed forces to 18.

http://www.politika.rs/scc/clanak/372999/Dordevic-Srbija-od-Belorusije-dobija-sistem-PVO-buk
It's on Serbian.

 

[proka89]

Serbia to Get 8 MiG-29 Fighters, 2 Buk Missile Systems From Belarus

Serbia will get eight Mikoyan MiG-29 twin-engine fighters and two Buk missile systems as a gift from Belarus, Serbian Defense Minister Zoran Dordevic told the Politika Serbian daily newspaper.

BELGRADE (Sputnik) – The deliveries, provided on a no-pay basis under the condition that Serbia cover repair and modernization expenses, are expected to be completed in 2018, Dordevic said.

"We will also negotiate the purchase of the famous S-300 [long range surface-to-air missile] systems with Belarus," Dordevic told Politika, specifying that he was talking about the S-300P and S-300V versions that Belarus has.

According to the Serbian defense minister, the details of Serbia-Belarus cooperation in the sphere will be discussed starting from May 2017.

Serbian Prime Minister Alexander Vucic headed a government delegation that visited Belarus on January 26-27. One of the documents signed during the visit was an intergovernmental agreement on military-technical cooperation.

The MiG-29 fighter jets, developed in the Soviet Union in the 1980s, are currently used in over two dozen countries. The Buk missile system was developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970s.

https://sputniknews.com/europe/201701281050097038-serbia-get-belarus-fighters-mig/

 

[Hindustani78]

MiG-29 of the Serbian Air Force and Air Defence.

http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-defense-minister-says-serbia-will-get-russian-fighter-jets-2017-2

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia's defense minister says the country is getting a shipment of Russian fighter jets, supplies that could worsen tensions with neighboring states.

Defense Minister Zoran Djordjevic said after returning Sunday from one of his frequent visits to Moscow that six MiG-29s will be delivered to Serbia.

Djordjevic says Russia also is providing experts to upgrade the aircraft acquired from Russian Army reserves.

Serbia's arming has triggered alarms in the Balkans, which was engulfed by a bloody war in the 1990s that killed more than 110,000 people and left millions homeless.

Serbia formally has been on the path to joining the European Union, but under pressure from Moscow has steadily slid toward the Kremlin and its goal of keeping the country out of NATO and other Western institutions.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://tass.com/defense/937813

March 27, 18:51 UTC+3
Serbia will receive six MiG-29 fighter jets, 30 T-72 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 reconnaissance and patrol combat vehicles from Russia as a gift

BELGRADE, March 27. /TASS/. Six Mikoyan MiG-29 multipurpose fighter jets, which Russia has presented to Serbia as a gift, will arrive in the Balkan country ‘within several days or several weeks,’ Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said after a meeting with the Russian president.

The fighter jets will enter service in the Serbian Air Force until the end of 2017 after repairs, the Serbian premier said.

"President Putin will sign a decree in the coming days to transfer the planes to us. Then, technical issues will have to be tackled: how to transport the planes, whether they should be disassembled into parts or one of the countries will provide its airspace for their flight. Of course, we favor the latter option because this is faster," the premier said.

As Vucic said, the agreements on the transfer of the Russian military hardware were approved personally by Putin.

"Putin personally approved all that we had talked with [Russian Defense Minister] Sergei Shoigu on 30 T-72S tanks, 30 BRDM-2s and six MiG-29 planes. So Serbian citizens can be calm," Vucic said.

The Serbian premier also said Serbia adhered to the policy of military neutrality and stayed outside any military blocs.

As was reported earlier, Serbia will receive six MiG-29 fighter jets, 30 T-72 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 reconnaissance and patrol combat vehicles from Russia for free. The upgrade of the fighter jets will be carried out in three stages and will cost Serbia 180-230 million euros.

The sides are also holding talks on Buk-M1 and Buk-M2 short-range antiaircraft missile systems and the Tunguska air defense missile/gun complex.


Another eight MiG-29 fighter jets and two battalions of Buk surface-to-air missile complexes will be transferred to Serbia by Belarus on condition that Belgrade pays for their repairs and upgrade and this hardware will be delivered in 2018.

Therefore, the Serbian Armed Forces will receive 14 fourth-generation MiG-29 fighter planes, 30 T-72 tanks, 30 BRDM-2 reconnaissance and patrol combat vehicles, and also two battalions of Buk antiaircraft missile systems by late 2018, which will considerably strengthen the Balkan country’s defense potential.

Belgrade earlier signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters on the acquisition of nine H145M combat rotocraft.

 

[flamer84]

T72? Why?

Anyway,the upgrades for the fighters cost just as much as new planes.What a *gift*......

 

[proka89]

Anyway,the upgrades for the fighters cost just as much as new planes.What a *gift*......

Not really. Price for overhaul and modernization on SM standard for our 4 Mig 29, and 6 from Russia, plus spare parts for all 10 of them, ground equipment and air to air and air to ground armament for 185 million euros. It's basically 18.5 million of euros per plane. Romania had to pay 628 million of euros for Portuguese F 16, plus 32 million of euros invested in ground infrastructure needed for F 16. If you ask me, it's a fair deal. You can't get new fighters for that kind of money.

T72? Why?

I really dont know why are we getting those 30 T72S and 30 BRDM2. Serbian army already have 232 M84/M84A and 61 T72M. From those tanks 212 are in active use, in four Serbian army land brigades tank battalions, each one with 53 tanks, plus one reserve tank batallion in reserve Banat brigade. But again i can see a certain use for those tanks, maybe forming one more reserve battalion in one of reserve brigades. But BRDM 2??? We are already using some of those in our reconnaissance units, but if you ask me, we need to get rid of those, and acquire something new, instead of getting additional ones from Russia.