Supreme Commander of Serbian Armed Forces Visited Permanently Deployed Forces for Airspace Control and Protection
Sunday, 31.3.2024 | Stories from Units
Today, together with Minister of Defense Miloš Vučević and Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff General Milan Mojsilović, Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces and President of the Republic Aleksandar Vučić has visited the permanently deployed forces of the Serbian Armed Forces responsible for control and protection of the airspace of the Republic of Serbia.
After the tour, President Vučić has pointed out that only some of our improved capabilities have been shown at the Military Airfield “Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlović” in Batajnica today, and how much we have changed, not only the appearance, but also the level of functional and operational capabilities of our MiG-29 planes, announcing continued investments in SAF Air Force and Air Defense.
— We had only one aircraft when I was Minister of Defense; today, however, we have 14, and the acquisition of new, more fighter aircraft for the Serbian Armed Forces is in progress — said the President of the Republic, adding that we were also acquiring many other things and continuing with the strengthening of our armed forces.
He has said that in doing so we rely primarily on our domestic industry and production.
— There are some things that I am very satisfied with, while there are some others that I am not. We still have a lot to do and to improve; we especially have to work on unmanned vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles. I’m talking about drones in particular, both kamikaze, reconnaissance and others. In just 20 days, you are going to see the first firing of Serbian drones, which is no longer test firing; they are, in fact, becoming part of the Serbian Armed Forces. On 20th April, you’ll see and you’ll be able to make sure if we can make those drones, if we made them and if these drones can hit anything. For the first time you will see –“Mosquitoes” and “Wasps”, and I hope that you will also see “Ravens” by the end of the year because it is the “Raven” that makes a big difference in relation to all others — stressed President Vučić, adding that it was important for us just to be able to protect our sky.
The Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces has also expressed his satisfaction that he has seen the materiel and pilots today who are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week — every day of the year.
— There is no day-off or holiday for them, they must always be there and take care of the security and freedom of our country. Soon, several dozen procured multi-launch rocket systems are coming to our country, which will drastically strengthen our firepower; but all this is not enough, because you have to take into consideration the specific position of our country, which is a single militarily neutral country in this part of the world, and we have to understand what kind of challenges we are dealing with - concluded the President of the Republic.
Pointing out that this may be the last official event he attends as Minister of Defense in the Government whose mandate is expiring, Minister Vučević has expressed his satisfaction with everything that has been done recently to strengthen the Serbian Armed Forces and defense capabilities of our country.
— I would like to thank the President of the Republic as Supreme Commander for his support over the past year and a half, we have done good and important things together, and the results of all these joint plans and goals are yet to be seen — said Minister Vučević.
He especially thanked his associates in the Ministry of Defense, Chief of the General Staff and entire Serbian Armed Forces General Staff for their open, friendly and patriotic attitude and cooperation.
Minister Vučević emphasized that the new Government, like the previous one, would be working on strengthening the armed forces.
— As a future Prime Minister, I will give maximum support to the Serbian Armed Forces together with the President of the Republic, because the Serbian Armed Forces are a guarantor of Serbia’s survival and its remaining a free, independent and sovereign state. Thank you all and congratulations once again on everything you have done to strengthen the Serbian Armed Forces - said Minister Vučević.
The tour of the Air Force and Air Defense units has been attended by President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić, Minister of Finance Siniša Mali and members of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces.
