By Aleksandar Vasovic and Ivana Sekularac
BELGRADE, June 9 (Reuters) - Serbia is still seeking to buy Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault but is discussing the price and related weapons systems, the president said on Friday, in a further sign of Belgrade's shift away from its longtime arms supplier Russia.
"Financing is an issue," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told Reuters in an interview, adding talks continued about which missiles to use and the price tag for the plane deal, which he last year put at around 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion).
Serbia, a candidate to join the European Union that has one of the largest militaries in the Balkans, still relies on Soviet-designed aircraft, such as MiG-29 jets and MI-35m helicopter gunships, alongside Russian missiles and tanks.
Vucic said purchasing Rafale jets "would make Serbia a different country and a much bigger force."
In addition to Soviet and Russian air defences, Serbia has Chinese combat drones and mid-range surface-to-air missiles.
In a deal with the United Arab Emirates in February, it ordered loitering munitions, a type of drone that flies to a target and detonates. It also has Airbus helicopters and transport planes.
Serbia is a member of the NATO Partnership for Peace, a programme for states which do not aspire to join the alliance.
Vucic said Serbia had raised the combat readiness of its troops after violence flared in May in north Kosovo, a region of its neighbour that is dominated by Serbs who remain loyal to Belgrade. Serbia does not recognise Kosovo's independence.
He said talks with France included discussions about missiles for the Rafale, although he said Paris would be reluctant to sell its Meteor air-to-air missile that is produced by the MBDA multinational to a non-NATO member.
Vucic said "the question is whether you'll have the second-best", adding that having weapon systems from multiple manufacturers and countries made Serbia's rearmament more complicated.
Belgrade curtailed military co-operation with Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine and has condemned the invasion, but unlike the EU and others it has not imposed sanctions on Moscow.
Separately, he said Belgrade planned to finalise a deal to buy 118 U.S.-made HMMWV military utility vehicles, known as Humvees, and import most of them by September.
The president has previously said Serbia wanted to invest an additional 700 million euros in its military and defence industry in 2023.
Zistok on June 10th, 2023 at 12:47 UTC »
This is not all that surprising despite what the article is mentioning. Rafale was one of the prime picks by our experts and airforce in 2021 and the process and visits between French and our officials have been ongoing since then. It's more cost effective from Gripen, it would be better than f16 versions even if US would approve a sale, the China planes were unproven and Russian ones are not a serious option in the current political climate.
Nonions on June 10th, 2023 at 12:36 UTC »
Ralafe isn't cheap, I'm a bit surprised they wouldn't opt for Gripen as it would be more than adequate for their needs.
Winstonoceaniasmith on June 10th, 2023 at 10:33 UTC »
SS: Serbia is considering the purchase of French Rafale jets to replace its aging mig 29s mirroring moves from other nations in the Enighbourhood such as Croatia and Greece but are currently seeking to negotiate a discount.
This is a rather surprising move as Serbia has traditionally sourced the vast majority of its complex weaponry from Russia or its predecessor the USSR. This move seems to suggest an ever ongoing westwards realignement for the Balkan nation a move the west has mirrored and encouraged by adopting a more flexible stance on the ongoing Serbia-Kosovo situation.
Belgrade has reduced military co-operation with Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine and has condemned the invasion, but unlike the EU and others it has not imposed sanctions on Moscow.
Vucic said purchasing Rafale jets "would make Serbia a different country and a much bigger force." Separately, he said Belgrade planned to finalise a deal to buy 118 U.S.-made HMMWV military utility vehicles, known as Humvees, and import most of them by September.