Serbia will acquire 12 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation for 2.7 billion euros, President Aleksandar Vucic announced yesterday.

After his meeting in Belgrade with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, the Serbian president announced that Belgrade would pay two installments of 420 million euros in 2024 and 2025 for the aircraft. 

Nonetheless, Vucic said that the Rafales would be delivered equipped with medium-range MICA missiles, made by France’s MBDA, instead of the advanced Meteors, which have a longer range.

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This agreement includes the delivery of the new aircraft until 2028, of which three will be two-seaters and nine single-seaters.

Serbia becomes the fourth European country to acquire the French multi-role fighter, after France, Greece, and Croatia. Rafale’s international customers also include Egypt, Qatar, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.

When questioned about Belgrade’s friendly ties with Moscow, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the agreement and spoke of a change of strategic importance.

Serbia reduced its military cooperation with Russia after the start of the invasion of Ukraine. Although it condemned Russia’s attack on its neighbor, it did not impose sanctions on Moscow as other Western countries have done.

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