31.03.2024.

President Vučić visits fighter aviation unit on standby in Batajnica

The President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić, visited today at the military airfield "Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlović" in Batajnica a fighter aviation unit on standby within the system of forces that monitor and protect the sovereignty of the airspace over the Republic of Serbia around the clock.

President Vučić was accompanied on the tour by the Minister of Defence, Miloš Vučević, and the Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, Gen. Milan Mojsilović.

At the beginning of his address, President Vučić thanked President Dodik for participating in the tour and congratulated the current Minister of Defence, Miloš Vučević, on his appointment as the prime minister–designate of the new government. According to the president, difficult tasks await him, the Serbian government and the National Assembly, and a lot has to be done for our country to progress.

- Today, we could see only a part of the improved capabilities and changes that have been made to the appearance of our MiG-29 aircraft, but also to their functional and operational capabilities. We had only one aircraft when I was the minister of defence, and now we have 14 of them, and the acquisition of several new fighter aircraft for the Serbian Armed Forces is underway - said President Vučić, adding that we are acquiring many other things and that our efforts to strengthen our military continue.

According to him, we rely primarily on domestic industry and production to achieve this.

- I'm very satisfied with some things but not with some others. We still have a lot to do, to improve, especially our unmanned vehicles and drones. I'm talking about drones in particular, kamikaze, reconnaissance and other drones. In just 20 days, you will see Serbian drones fire for the first time, and that won’t be test firing, because by then, they will have become part of the Serbian Armed Forces’ arsenal. You'll be able to see this on April 20th and see for yourself if we are capable of making those drones, if we have already made them and if those drones can hit anything. You will see Mosquito and Wasp drones for the first time, and I hope you will see Ravens, because it is the Raven that makes a big difference in comparison with all the others - emphasized President Vučić and added that it is important for us to be able to guard our own sky.

The President of Serbia was glad at the opportunity to see the technology and pilots who are on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.

- They have no days off or holidays, they must always be there and ensure the safety and freedom of our country. Soon, several dozen multiple rocket launchers will arrive in our country, which will enormously strengthen our firepower, but it is still not enough, because you have to take into account the specific position of our country, which is the only neutral country in this part of the world, and we need to understand the challenges we are facing - concluded the President of the Republic.

After the tour, Minister Vučević expressed his satisfaction with everything that had been done in the recent period to strengthen the Serbian Armed Forces and the defence capabilities of our country.

- I am proud of what we have done together. This is probably my last official event as the minister of defence in the outgoing government. I want to thank the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces for his support over the past year and a half, we have done great and important things together and you will yet see the results of all those joint plans and goals - said Minister Vučević.

He especially thanked his colleagues in the Ministry of Defence, the Chief of the General Staff and the entire General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces for the open, friendly and patriotic rapport and cooperation.

- I would also like to congratulate Air Force and Air Defence Commander Gen. Žarković on all this, which is only a part of what we have acquired, worked towards, and modernized in our Air Force and Air Defence as part of the Serbian Armed Forces - said the minister of defence.

According to Minister Vučević, new government will work on strengthening the military, same as the previous one.

- As the future PM, I will provide full support to the Serbian Armed Forces, together with the President of the Republic, because the Serbian Armed Forces are the guarantor of Serbia’s survival as a free, independent and sovereign state. Congratulations and thank you all once again for everything you have done to strengthen the Serbian Armed Forces - said Minister Vučević.

According to the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, it is wonderful to witness the overall progress of Serbia in terms of economy and infrastructure, and the fact that its security, as an important element of every country’s power, has not been neglected.

- I am glad to see an overall progress and modernization, as well as great competence and high morale of the people working here. The equipment they now have gives them the confidence that they can complete any task. Serbia is without a doubt capable of defending its sky, its territory, which is important because strengthening defence is one of the essential segments of the power of any country - said Dodik.

The aircraft CASA C-295, Orao, Lasta, H-145M, Mi-17 and Gazelle were displayed at the apron of Batajnica airport today.

President of the National Assembly Ana Brnabić, Minister of Finance Siniša Mali and members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces also participated in the tour of the Air Force and Air Defence units.