19.04.2024.

President Vučić: I am satisfied with overall readiness of our armed forces

The Distinguished Visitors Day for Joint Tactical Live-Fire Exercise Whirlwind 2024, attended by the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić, Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević and Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff Gen. Milan Mojsilović, was held today at the provisional exercise area Pešter.

The exercise was attended by the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović, President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Radovan Višković, President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Nenad Stevandić, President of the Parliament of Montenegro Andrija Mandić, Serbian government ministers, KFOR Commander Major General Özkan Ulutaş and defence attaches to Serbia.

The president congratulated the minister of defence, the chief of the General Staff and all members of the Serbian Armed Forces on the successful exercise and added that, as demonstrated today, our armed forces should look like this in the future.

- We need to do away with the “four brigade principle” and this is what our armed forces should look like in the future. Today, you could see for the first time how we are going to reorganize our military. A lot of new technology was showcased today, even the reserve tanks look the way our tanks should look. You could also see a large number of drone types, including the ones used for reconnaissance, as well as the Mosquito and Wasp kamikaze drones working in pairs and I would like to emphasize that we are going to increase the production of these types of drones. I am happy to say that the drones manufactured by private companies and carrying twelve 60mm shells have done a good job - all of them hit their targets. Congratulations to them, too. This tells us that we are on the right track when it comes to creating an industry of drones, UAVS that will be able to meet the needs of the Serbian Armed Forces - said President Vučić.

All types of aircraft made their sorties and demonstrated their live fire today, which gave the president cause for satisfaction with the overall readiness of our armed forces.

- We still have a lot to do, a lot more things to repair, purchase, build. We need to rely on our defence industry even more. Compared to what we had 10 years ago, almost everything you saw today is new. We had almost none of this 10 years ago. That shows how much progress Serbia has made, how successful it has become and how much it has invested in its military, freedom and independence - said the president of Serbia and once again congratulated the Serbian Armed Forces on the successful exercise.

The President of Republika Srpska Dodik said that the exercise had shown great operational capability and high morale.

- It is very important that we, citizens of Republika Srpska, know and observe the demonstration of the capability of the Serbian Armed Forces to defend Serbia, its territorial potential and integrity and ensure the freedom that we all strive for. Congratulations to all members of the Serbian Armed Forces. Serbia shows that is capable of making progress in all areas and that the segments of defence and military training have not been neglected either. Today's exercise is best proof, and I think that Serbia’s general progress is a source of satisfaction for the citizens of Serbia and Republika Srpska - said Dodik.

Exercise Whirlwind 2024 was designed to improve the competence and ability of the commands and units of the Serbian Armed Forces to carry out tactical and fire missions in preparation for and during the execution of combat operations. The Army, Air Force and Special Forces were involved, and in terms of the number and variety of participating troops, Exercise Whirlwind 2024 is one of the largest exercises ever conducted by the Serbian Armed Forces.

The exercise was, among other things, an opportunity to showcase modernized assets and assets currently in development, including the Pegasus reconnaissance UAV, the Vrabac (Sparrow) short-range drone, the Shadow armed short-range UAV, the Osica (Wasp) killer drone, the Obad (Gadfly) armed drone, and the Komarac (Mosquito) armed mini quadricopter.

Today’s exercise used a real-world scenario. Commands and units carried out various tactical and fire missions pertaining to the planning and execution of crisis response operations.

The activities at the provisional exercise area Pešter began with the surveillance of enemy dispositions and intelligence collection in the area of operation engaging reconnaissance troops and using the CH-95 remotely piloted aircraft, BRDM-2MS armoured reconnaissance vehicles, new off-road Hummer vehicles and reconnaissance drones.

Upon spotting the reconnaissance troops, the enemy tried to neutralize them by delivering fire from helicopters and a swarm of drones, and our radar systems detected an attack group of enemy planes. To defend own forces from low altitude air attacks, a PANTSIR artillery-missile platoon, a PASARS battery, a light air defence platoon, and an FK-3 missile system for high altitude operations were employed, effectively neutralizing enemy aircraft and drones.

During the reconnaissance, smaller groups of the hostile and covering forces were observed and then destroyed using the Sparrow Bomber remotely piloted aircraft and the Wasp killer drone.

Next, an enemy sabotage group was detected in a populated area, so, in order for our troops to be able to pursue the main line of advance and guard the flanks, special purpose MP units were given the task to neutralize it. The newly detected targets were destroyed by a Kornet rocket launcher mounted on a Hummer vehicle.

Delivering fire on the covering force continued, engaging the Little Miloš, sniper teams and a remotely controlled 12.7 mm combat station mounted on a Hummer vehicle and a BRDM-2MS’s machine gun, while a group of armed Mosquito mini-quadricopters and 20 combat drones delivered fire on the enemy. In order to neutralize the enemy, the Perun and ALAS artillery systems were employed next.

In order to neutralize the enemy troops occupying several essential infrastructure facilities, the brigade commander engaged Special Forces teams. The teams carried out the landing from Mi-17 helicopters, with Mi-35 combat helicopters acting as a covering force. Upon successful destruction of the strong points, the pull-out of the Special Forces teams ensued.

After establishing air supremacy with the use of MiG-29 aircraft, Orao aircraft delivered fire on the enemy troops in order to prevent their advance from the depth.
In accordance with the exercise scenario, an aircraft was shot down while providing aerial fire support, after which a special ops team successfully conducted a combat search and rescue of the pilot by engaging a Mi-8 helicopter, while a pair of H-145M combat helicopters acted as a covering force.

In order to make a fire preparation for the attack and introduce the first combat echelon into the battle, the brigade commander commanded the artillery, missile and battalion fire groups to deliver fire on the enemy troops. They fired using the 152 mm Nora-M84 self-propelled howitzer, 155 mm Nora-B52 self-propelled howitzer, 120 mm mortars, 122 mm M-21 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer and 128 mm Oganj M-17 and Tamnava rocket launchers.

In order to prevent the enemy force’s manoeuvre and neutralize it in the forward defence area, Mi-35 helicopters were introduced into the battle, firing laser-guided attack missiles and unguided shells on the battalion command post and the battalion fire group, while Mi-17 helicopters delivered fire on the enemy infantry. H-145M combat helicopters delivered fire on the enemy’s leading echelon.

Based on the assessment and in order to surprise the enemy, the brigade commander decides that Mosquito suicide drones and PASARS platoon should attack the enemy’s forward position.

Two T-72M tank platoons delivered fire on enemy troops detected at great distances. BVP M-80 AB 1/2 combat vehicles joined them, firing Malyutka missiles, after which the first combat echelon continued to advance. The digitized 128 mm M-17 rocket launcher and the modular rocket launcher delivered fire on the enemy to secure a safe introduction of the second combat echelon into the battle.

Three tank platoons accompanied by a BVP M-80 platoon and a BRDM-2M platoon followed the main line of advance, while an infantry company minus one platoon and with one tank platoon attached followed the auxiliary one. The viewers had the opportunity to see the procedures for fielding the first and second echelons and their advance towards phase lines 1 and 2. The CUBE self-propelled air defence missile batteries followed the advance of the attacking units, occupied firing positions and provided them with air defence.

When the second combat echelon emerged on phase line 2, reserve forces moved in. Simultaneously, in order to prevent the arrival of new enemy troops, Special Forces were also employed.

Among the assets used in the exercise were M-84 and T-72M tanks, BOV OT armoured fighting vehicles, Miloš, Lazar-3, MRAP, BRDM-2MS, 122 mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer – perfected version, 155 mm Nora-B52 self-propelled howitzer, modernized and digitized Oganj multiple rocket launchers and Hummer vehicles.

The following aircraft were also used in the exercise: MiG-29 aircraft, modernized Eagle (Orao), Mi-35M, Mi-17, H-145M, Gama helicopters and An-26 transport aircraft.

The remotely piloted CH-95 aircraft, FK-3 anti-aircraft systems, PASARS and PANTSIRS, as well as the Repellent UAV detection and jamming systems were also used.

Joint tactical exercises conducted by various services, and if necessary, other forces of the defence system, are an irreplaceable form of training in the Serbian Armed Forces. Thanks to them, commands and units improve their ability to carry out missions jointly, which is of the utmost importance for the overall combat readiness of the Serbian Armed Forces.