Image source: topwar.ru
The last large-scale arms review of the Serbian army demonstrated the transition from purchases of Russian-made weapons and military equipment to military products manufactured in Western countries, China or directly in Serbia.
According to RIA Novosti, citing military analyst Alexander Radich, after the outbreak of the armed conflict in Ukraine, difficulties appeared in providing regular maintenance of Soviet and Russian-made military equipment, which forced the Serbian army to switch to arms purchases in other countries.
Despite the contracts concluded in 2021 for the supply of military equipment from Russia, Serbia has been giving preference to other arms suppliers for several years. Among the supplies of foreign military equipment to Serbia, French, German, Spanish, as well as Chinese manufacturers are leading.
The expert also noted that a significant part of the equipment demonstrated during the review at the Serbian military airfield in Batajnica was produced in the West or has a Western origin, but there was also a significant number of samples adopted by the Yugoslav People's Army.
At the beginning of this year, the President of Serbia announced problems with the delivery of electronic warfare systems ordered earlier in Russia as a result of the introduction of Western sanctions. He also complained about the existing difficulties in the maintenance of the MiG-29 aircraft in service with the Serbian Air Force, spare parts for which cannot be delivered.
