Instead of purchasing Russian fighters, which has been discussed since last year, Serbia plans to purchase French Rafale, President Alexander Vuchich said on Monday
to serve the Russian MiG-29, which Serbia received the last batch in 2017, according to Vucic, it became impossible. “It is impossible to import practically nothing from Russia, which is connected with military goals,” he explained, adding that despite the difficulties with Russian deliveries, Serbia plans to continue the modernization of the armed forces, Bloomberg reports.
The military budget of 2023 from the current 1.5 billion euros can be increased by 700 million euros, Vuchich said at the IDEX 2023 weapons exhibition, which takes place in Abu Dhabi. Additional funds, he said, will go to the modernization of tanks, purchases of BMP and drones, as well as French planes. The transaction will cost 3 billion euros, if negotiations are completed successfully, Vucich said.