Regular Annual Analysis of State of Affairs and Capabilities of Serbian Armed Forces
Tuesday, 30.1.2024 | News
The annual analysis of the state of affairs and operational and functional capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces for the year 2023 has been completed today with a briefing for Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces and President of the Republic Aleksandar Vučić, held at the “Topčider” Barracks in Belgrade.
The briefing was led by Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff General Milan Mojsilović in the presence of not only Defense Minister Miloš Vučević, but also Parliament Speaker Vladimir Orlić, Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance Ivica Dačić and Siniša Mali and Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petković; the highest leaders and officers from the Ministry of Defense and Serbian Armed Forces were also present.
Upon completion of the analysis, the Supreme Commander has pointed out that the Serbian Armed Forces sustained and improved their operational capabilities in the year behind us and announced that the investments in the defense capabilities of the Republic of Serbia will continue.
During a tour of the display of weapons and military equipment with which the units of the Serbian Armed Forces are or will be equipped this year and in the coming years, President Vučić has pointed out that we need to accelerate further arming of the Serbian Armed Forces, strengthen the domestic industry and have a better supply of units.
President Vučić has said that funds have been secured for 701 weapon systems and they are to be found for another 853 systems from the domestic industry. He has expressed his belief that by the end of the year, the Serbian Armed Forces will be able to acquire a large amount of kamikaze drones.
— I believe that, in cooperation with numerous entrepreneurs and local experts, we will be able to present a large number of suicide drones or kamikaze drones by the end of the year. Everything will be domestically manufactured and that will give Serbia a huge advantage in relation to the environment - said President Vučić.
The President of the Republic has also said that an important system for electronic jamming is expected to arrive from the Russian Federation.
According to him, the acquisition of new weapons requires more soldiers and training, and he has pointed out that the Serbian Armed Forces will now have new units that will operate drones within the armored units.
— You always spend more on salary increases because it is not a one-time expense, but a huge amount of money is spent on weapons. For us, this is the most important meeting in the Serbian Armed Forces, held once a year, where we deal with the situation and what should be done next year - said President Vučić.
Serbia is a serious country with serious armed forces, concluded the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, adding that we are preparing to save our country, because in the current conditions “if you don't have the armed forces that are strong enough, you won't have a country or a state, either”.
— Accordingly, we need to strengthen our defense and the concept of so-called total defense, we must be ready. We are not a threat to anyone, we are protecting our country and deterring potential aggressors - stressed President Vučić.
In his address to the media, Minister Vučević has emphasized that, today, the Serbian Armed Forces have informed the state leadership, primarily the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander, of the analysis of the state of affairs, operational and functional capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces for the year 2023.
— We have also talked about the tasks and plans for 2024 and today’s meeting has been the opportunity to present part of the weapons and military equipment through this static part, to show what the Serbian Armed Forces have at their disposal, but also the development programs implemented through the Military Technical Institute and what other parts of the Serbian Defense Industry are doing. The results of the work of the Serbian Armed Forces in 2023 were positively evaluated, progress is obvious - Minister Vučević pointed out.
He has pointed out that today’s meeting has also been the opportunity to discuss what needs to be improved.
— I am satisfied with what members of the Serbian Armed Forces did in 2023, and I would take the opportunity to congratulate the Chief of the General Staff and all members of the Serbian Armed Forces on the tasks performed and goals accomplished in 2023, noting that the tasks and goals are set even higher in 2024. We also thank the President of the Republic for his patience when sharing with him all that we are thinking about, our expectations or demands - stressed Minister Vučević.
Today’s analysis has been the opportunity to discuss the security situation in the country and the surrounding area that can affect the capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces, combat capabilities of the Army, Air Force and Air Defense and Territorial Forces, state of the units and overall capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces to execute assigned missions and tasks. The proposal of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff to repeal the decision of the National Assembly on the suspension of the obligation to perform military service has been presented and additionally explained.
The results of the analysis show that continuing with the acquisitions of modern weapons and military equipment, overhaul and modernization of high-potential materiel, upgrading the units in terms of organization and mobilization and intensive training in the year behind us meant continuing with the overall strengthening of capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces, which remain capable of countering possible forms of security threats.
It has been concluded that the planned and extraordinary tasks were carried out completely, safely and professionally, for which the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces recognized all officers, NCOs, soldiers and civilians serving in the Serbian Armed Forces, i.e. working in the Ministry of Defense.
At the briefing, medium-term priorities and needs of the Serbian Armed Forces were stated and measures were proposed to improve further the capabilities, with thanks to the Supreme Commander and Government of the Republic of Serbia for their strong support for the plans and activities of the Ministry of Defense and General Staff aimed at strengthening the Serbian Armed Forces as a factor of peace and stability in the country and region.
