24.04.2020.
Nine new FAP trucks for the Serbian Armed Forces
Minister Vulin: The Serbian Armed Forces always buy domestic products
In comparison with the previous year, the Serbian Armed Forces have doubled the volume of products procured from the "FAP Corporation" joint-stock company Priboj, said the Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin today during his visit to this member company of the Defence Industry of Serbia Group that produces materiel for the needs of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence. He was accompanied by the Assistant Minister for Material Resources, Nenad Miloradović.
- This year, we have ordered and already paid 744 million for various vehicles produced by FAP, from trucks, to brand new 6x6 container type platforms that we are taking over today, to the modernization of combat armoured vehicles (BOVs). FAP is very important to us. It is a strategic company, but more importantly, the military always buys domestic products and thus protects the technology, preserves the workers and jobs in the defence industry - said Minister Vulin.
Following the instructions received from the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Health, FAP did not stop its production during the state of emergency, so today, Minister Vulin says, we can get nine brand new trucks on a brand new platform.
- As the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, has promised that FAP must survive, that FAP’s production must be improved, and that the people of Priboj must be secure and satisfied. The Serbian Armed Forces are fulfilling the promises of their Supreme Commander, Minister Vulin said.
According to Assistant Minister for Material Resources, Nenad Miloradović, FAP is becoming more and more important for equipping the Serbian Armed Forces every year, and this year the volume of that company’s contracts, both in value and in product range, is much larger than before. Miloradović says that the Ministry of Defence intends to continue this trend.
- In addition to its standard truck production, FAP has played a significant role as an integrator of complex combat systems, primarily in the modernization of the “BOV” combat armoured vehicles, because it finalizes and integrates the efforts of a broader range of defence industry companies - Miloradović explains, adding that the business has been somewhat affected by current coronavirus epidemic, but that the FAP company has made efforts to execute the key contracts for the needs of the Ministry of Defence.
Miloradović says that the Military Quality Control Management has already received a series of vehicles for transporting containers based on the FAP 2228 chassis and that these vehicles will be elements of a complex combat system whose completion is expected soon.
As the Managing Director of FAP, Ranko Vuković, pointed out, the Minister of Defence had the opportunity today to see the vehicles that were completed last month, during the state of emergency. He emphasized that this was one of the indicators that the state’s decision to strengthen the FAP Company and direct it towards the defence industry, was good.
- At a time when everyone is fighting for the local defence industry, we have a factory in the Republic of Serbia that can make a vehicle like this one at any time, even during a state of emergency. FAP has survived and I would like to thank the workers who made great efforts to execute the contract with the Serbian Armed Forces, following the protective measures we implemented during the fight against coronavirus - said Vuković.
Vuković added that these are special purpose vehicles manufactured at this factory for the first time, which will carry containers of a certain type needed by the Serbian Armed Forces.
- This is the first time in the history of the FAP factory that a 6x6 or 2228 platform was made on a military vehicle, so that 5 and 10 inch containers can be towed - said Vuković, adding that these were three models of vehicles, for three types of containers, for various types of transport of special purpose equipment.
An MP from Priboj, Krsto Janjušević, said that the citizens of Priboj are happy that FAP has survived and that it is making progress.
- This full production line is another proof that FAP has survived. Currently, the Serbian Armed Forces have contracts with FAP worth more than five million euros, from military vehicles, trucks, combat armoured vehicles, to other assets, which gives us a reason for optimism and hope for even greater progress - says Janjušević, emphasizing that Serbia can manage using its own resources, without having to import military vehicles. He thanked the state for helping FAP by investing in its production and equipment, which has not been the done for decades.
Lazar Rvović, the President of the Municipality of Priboj, expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Defence, the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces for their friendly relations with FAP and Priboj.
- This means a lot to us. There are few factories and few countries that produce trucks. We have proven that a quality truck can be produced in Priboj and we must preserve that. I hope that other ministries will follow the example of the Ministry of Defence - Rvović emphasized.
According to him, there is room for the advancement of the FAP company and the real needs of the military are not sufficient for the sustainability of work, but, as he added, if other ministries are involved and if municipal vehicles needed by each local government are also produced here, FAP will be able to move forward, as well as that part of the country in general.
