22.12.2023.
Minister Vučević attends Air Force and Air Defence Day celebration
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević and the Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, General Milan Mojsilović, attended today a ceremony marking the Air Force and Air Defence Day at the Air Force Club in Zemun.
Addressing those present, Minister Vučević said that the history of our Air Force and Air Defence is very long and that we had one of the strongest air forces in the period between the two world wars. Speaking about the present, the Minister of Defence emphasized that this service had received strong support in the procurement of new and the modernization of the existing weapons and military equipment. - Even today when we celebrate 111 years of our Air Force and Air Defence, we are much stronger than we were yesterday. And I mean this in the most literal sense. We are getting stronger and stronger each day, but we must not stop, this obliges us to work harder and to better understand the challenges facing our country. We have a lot of work to do in the coming period and I expect all AF and AD members to guard our skies, to make it safer – said Minister Vučević.
According to him, a huge step forward has been made with unmanned aerial vehicles, but there is still room for improvement in that field if we want to get stronger and be a deterrent against all those who do not wish us well. In these not-so-favourable geopolitical circumstances, we manage to demonstrate our “Serbian creativity” and respond well to all challenges, he said.- I would like to congratulate all the Air Force and Air Defence units on their anniversary and express hope that everyone will be more satisfied, feel special and privileged for having chosen to serve their country, to serve their homeland - Serbia. Long live our armed forces and long live our only fatherland. Long live Serbia - said the Minister of Defence and wished everyone a happy Christmas and New Year.
According to Air Force and Air Defence Commander Lieutenant General Duško Žarković, few countries in the world can boast of jubilees such as the centenary of the national aviation industry and a hundredth anniversary of the meteorological service in the Air Force and Air Defence, which were celebrated in 2023.
- I am pleased to say that the alert forces of fighter aviation, missile units, ASEWG units, along with the search and rescue force and the support force, have managed to effectively fulfil the permanent task of controlling and protecting the sovereignty of the airspace of the Republic of Serbia. We have continued to intensively equip the Air Force and Air Defence this year, by putting transport aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft and surveillance radars into operational use, and final preparations are underway for the reception of multi-role helicopters, missile systems and long- and medium-range radars - said General Žarković.
According to him, the procurement of modern assets and systems will continue next year, as well as the overhaul and modernization of critical combat assets.At the ceremony, past year's work results were summarized and the Air Force and Air Defence plaques were awarded to Telekom Srbija JSC for long-lasting cooperation and support. General Žarković presented the plaque to Miloš Protić, the director of the Corporate Security Sector.
The ceremony was attended by members of the Defence Minister’s and Chief of the General Staff’s collegiums, representatives of local and religious communities and numerous guests who, after the ceremony, had the opportunity to visit the exhibition "100 Years of the National Aviation Industry" in the "Ikar" gallery.
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