06.04.2016.

New hangar opened at Batajnica airport

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, accompanied by Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic and Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic, attended today at the Batajnica military airport the ceremonial opening of a new hangar for the needs of AF&AD and the promotion of new types of weapons produced in Serbia.

The Prime Minister toured the hangar, which is located on the site of the hangar demolished during the 1999 bombing, whose construction was completed on 30th December last year, and the cost was RSD 251 million.

- Today we could see the way how we work on improvement of the operational capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces in order to compete with far more developed countries using our own knowledge and intelligence. By that we show that we are not lagging behind in the functional and operational capabilities of our army. Our Technical Test Center houses 12 out of the 14 Lasta aircraft and I think that within a few months they will be in full operation for basic training of our pilots, Prime Minister Vucic said, adding that "we have worked hard to modernize the missile systems, following what is happening in the region, where some countries are arming themselves, acquiring helicopters, which can potentially destroy our targets, so we have to look for solutions in order to be able to operate at a much higher distance from them".

"Some observation and control centers that we have cost 70 times less than the bids of some foreign armies. We have modernized and fully equipped one Eagle and it costed us four times less than the bids that we received from the West, said the Prime Minister and confirmed that the reception of two Mi17 helicopters that we have already paid for is underway.

According to him, our officers are currently in Russia, while the aircraft will be in Serbia in early June, and with the advancement of our transport aviation this service branch of our army will be significantly improved.

The Prime Minister indicated also the modernization of equipment and pointed out that these were the weapons which were the product is "our knowledge and brains".

"We have also modernized the multi-barrel rocket launchers. You had the opportunity to see also the guided missiles with a range of 50 kilometers, as well as other assets which are very important for our army by modernization of which we show our knowledge, strength and mind. We have excellent professionals who can do a lot for their country with significantly less money than what is the case in the global market", Prime Minister said, adding that "it is very important that the hangar has been completed and is very proud of the army".