Serbia to Buy 12 Rafale Fighter Jets from France for €2.7bn

Serbia has signed an agreement with France to buy 12 Rafale fighter jets for 2.7 billion euros, Reuters reports. As part of the deal, Serbia will also receive spare parts and engines for these aircraft.

‘Serbia will have a dozen new aircraft <...> this will significantly increase the operational capabilities of our army. We are pleased to join the Rafale club,’ said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic after the signing ceremony.

It is noted that this acquisition, announced during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Belgrade, signals a fundamental change in Serbia's security and political position and its move away from Russia, a traditional ally and arms supplier.

According to Macron, Europe needs a strong and democratic Serbia, and Belgrade needs a ‘strong and sovereign European Union’. 

‘In this context, Serbia's choice of Rafale aircraft is an obvious choice for a long-term alliance between our two countries,’ Macron said.

President Vucic did not specify when exactly his country would receive the aircraft, but assured that it would not share Rafale technology with Moscow. 

‘We are not Russian spies to give them technology. We paid for them with the money of Serbian citizens,’ the president said.

Reuters notes that the purchase of these aircraft is Serbia's largest arms purchase since the collapse of its alliance with Montenegro in 2006.