Serbia reaches agreement with Israel on production of combat drones

(Patria) - Serbia will jointly produce combat drones with Israel, said President Aleksandar Vučić, AP reported last night.

Vučić said they will “have the best drones in this part of the world,” according to the Tanjug news agency. He added that the drones will not be cheap, but they will be very effective in destroying armored vehicles, the report states.

Vučić did not specify details of the future production, according to the report.

“We don’t know how to make drones like Israel,” he said.

“I am proud of that (plan), we will do it together, it will be half-half, 50-50.”

Serbia will “get innovations and (educate) our people who will be able to do this in the future,” he said.

The Balkan country’s state-owned arms manufacturer Yugoimport SDPR will open a drone factory with Elbit Systems, according to Serbian media outlet BIRN. The report states that the Israeli company will own 51 percent of the future factory.

Vučić’s government is seeking to bolster its military. In 2024, Serbia ordered twelve French Rafale jets in an effort to modernize its fleet.

Belgrade has also acquired military equipment from China and Russia, maintaining close ties with both Beijing and Moscow, despite its formal bid for European Union membership.

Serbia has pledged to stay out of NATO, which bombed the country in 1999 to stop the Kosovo war after a decade of wars in the volatile Balkan region.