Serbian President Aleksandar VucicBELGRADE, Mar 29Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic noted the importance for the defense of the country of military equipment received from the Russian Federation, especially in the field of aviation. Presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled in Serbia on April 3, Vucic is a presidential candidate and head of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. He assumed the post of head of state following the results of the general vote in June 2017. «When I became president, a big air show was held. Everyone arrived with their (multi-role fighters) Eurofighter, Gripen, there were Russian (aerobatic team on the MiG-29) «Swifts» «But we didn't have anything. Only «flying coffins» of the MiG-21 and one MiG-29. Now we have 14 MiG-29s, we have helicopters. We have the Pantsir-S1 system, one of the best against drones and low-flying aircraft.» , — the Serbian president said on TV Happy. «Our police will soon receive Kamovs (two Ka-32 helicopters under a contract with the Russian Federation — ed.) to extinguish fires, which will increase due to climate change, they carry an external tank with 5,000 liters of water,» Vučić emphasized. The President of Serbia said in December 2021 that the country's defense budget, which is planned for 2022 in the amount of more than 1.1 billion euros, will subsequently be increased by another 500 million euros for the purchase of equipment and armaments. So, in 2022-2023, Belgrade plans to buy about 30 helicopters: 11 H145 (Airbus), four Mi-35s, three Mi-17s, as well as 11 Mi-35s “used from one EU member state.” Serbia is the largest importer of Russian weapons and military equipment in Europe. At the end of 2021, Kornet ATGMs purchased in the Russian Federation arrived in the country. Over the past few years, Russia has transferred to Serbia 30 modernized T-72MS tanks, 30 BRDM-2 armored vehicles, seven Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters, and six MiG-29 fighters. Belgrade also acquired a battery of Pantsir-S1 missile and gun systems. Vučić stated that the country wants to have the Russian S-400 system, but cannot afford it yet. in Belgrade
