Serbia to present anti-drone system procured from Russia in mid-February

(Patria) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced that the Russian mobile anti-drone system Repellent, which Serbia is acquiring from Russia, will be presented in Niš on Serbia's Statehood Day, February 15.

While touring the Topčider barracks in Belgrade, he emphasized that funds have been allocated from the Serbian budget for "701 complex weapon systems from domestic industry," and that more than 850 will be procured in the coming years, reports RSE.

Vučić stressed that Serbia is a "regional tank superpower" and is "close to completing the third battery of the FK-3 air defense missile system from China".

The United States announced on January 11 that it had approved Kosovo's purchase of Javelin anti-tank missiles. Vučić stated at the time that this US decision was a "great disappointment" for Serbia.

Serbia declares itself a militarily neutral country and procures weapons from both the East and the West.

As an EU candidate country, it has been repeatedly criticized by Brussels for its defense cooperation with Russia and China.

It has been intensively procuring military equipment and armament from Russia since 2016. However, since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, no new contracts for the procurement of armaments have been concluded.
In mid-September 2022, Vučić stated that some earlier deliveries had not arrived due to the war in Ukraine. The Repellent anti-drone system was mentioned among these earlier deliveries at the time.

Russia is under sanctions from the EU, the US, and other Western countries due to the invasion of Ukraine. Serbia refuses to align with these sanctions.

While touring armaments and military equipment at the Topčider barracks on Tuesday, Vučić also spoke about a new initiative to reintroduce compulsory military service in Serbia.

He said he received "convincing and persuasive arguments" from military representatives on why compulsory military service is necessary, but that a decision on it will be known after May 1.

"We will see if it (military service) will last 90 or 100 days, or perhaps 110 days. As well as when it will be, how we will fulfill the financial and logistical prerequisites, but we will discuss it," Vučić stated.

The initiative to reintroduce compulsory military service for a duration of four months was launched on January 4 by the General Staff of the Serbian Army.

This was done, as the Ministry of Defense stated at the time, "in order to enhance the defense capabilities of the Serbian Army, through rejuvenation and improvement of the training of active and reserve personnel".

"The proposal of the General Staff of the Serbian Army comes after a detailed consideration of the general security situation and the modern challenges faced by Serbia as a militarily neutral country," the Ministry announced at the beginning of the year.

This is not the first such initiative since Serbia abolished compulsory military service 13 years ago.