Serbia signed a contract to buy 12 French Rafale fighter jets

Serbia has signed an agreement for the purchase of 12 new Rafale fighter jets from the French company Dassault Aviation for a total of 2.7 billion euros, President Aleksandar Vucic said, quoted by Reuters.

After meeting his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Belgrade, Vucic said that Serbia plans to pay two installments of 420 million euros in 2024 and 2025 for the planes, but did not specify when the country would be able to receive the fighters new.

Earlier, AFP reported that the French fighters will replace the Serbian Air Force’s aging fleet of Russian MiG fighters, and that Belgrade is expected to receive 9 single-seat and 3 two-seat Rafale aircraft by 2029.

Emmanuel Macron welcomed France’s purchase of 12 fighter jets from Serbia, calling it a “strategic change”.

“It’s a real change”he said in response to a question about Serbia’s friendly relations with Russia – Belgrade never imposed sanctions on Moscow after the war in Ukraine, recalls AFP. “This is an opportunity for strategic change despite great pressure, we must stress. This is real strategic courage and an opportunity for Europe.”added the French president, who arrived today on a two-day visit to Serbia.

Serbia is the seventh country to purchase such aircraft. It also became the third European country, a traditional Russian customer, to choose the multi-purpose twin-engine aircraft after Greece, which has 24 such machines, including 12 second-hand ones, and Croatia, which bought 12 second-hand Rafale aircraft.

“Another European customer is a big win. This is another confirmation that many countries, traditionally Russian customers, are turning to France, after Indonesia, Egypt and India,” Xavier Titelman, air defense consultant and editor-in-chief of Air & Cosmos magazine.

“This will mean a huge increase in the military preparation and military power of Serbia, in the security of our country”Vucic noted in an interview a day before Macron’s arrival.

“We are not causing trouble anywhere, nor are we planning or intending (to do so). This is a great sign of trust between Serbia and France. We only want to protect our country, but this way Serbia will be much, much stronger.” , he added.

This is the second official visit of the French president to Serbia. The first was in 2019. Then the two countries celebrated 180 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. The president of Serbia was on an official visit to Paris in April this year.