BELGRADE, April 15 (Reuters) - The Serbian army should create units with attack drones, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday, as the Balkan country seeks to modernise its armed forces from its
Serbia to Modernise Military With New Attack Drone Units and Defense Technology
Serbia's Military Modernisation and Strategic Defense Initiatives
Presidential Call for Attack Drone Units
BELGRADE, April 15 (Reuters) - The Serbian army should create units with attack drones, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday, as the Balkan country seeks to modernise its armed forces from its obsolete Soviet-era technology.
International Procurement and Modern Warfare Adaptation
Belgrade has already bought modern weapons and equipment from Europe, Israel and China and it wants to adapt its military strategy to conform with modern warfare.
Military Neutrality and Diplomatic Balancing
Serbia is military neutral and is balancing a partnership with NATO and aspirations to join the European Union with its ties with Russia and China.
Formation of Drone Units and Digitisation Efforts
After meeting top military commanders in Belgrade, Vucic, the supreme commander of the army, said he had proposed the formation of units equipped with long-range attack drones and drones that hover over a strike area before flying into targets.
"In addition to the increased production of drones, which I expect to explode this year ... we will significantly devote ourselves to the ... digitisation of our army," he said.
"I think that in this regard we will be one of the armies with the most pronounced interoperability and the greatest capabilities, not only in our region, but also wider than that."
Army Size and Defense Spending
Serbia maintains a 22,500-strong army and in 2026 it allocated 3.3% of its GDP for defence expenditure.
Regional Reactions and Stability Concerns
Serbia's rearmament has triggered criticism from Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo, its neighbours and wartime foes from the 1990s, who see it as a threat to regional stability. Belgrade denies that.
Recent Defense Acquisitions and Partnerships
Joint Serbian-Israeli Drone Manufacturing
Vucic's comments come after the announcement of the creation of a joint Serbian-Israeli drone manufacturing plant a day earlier.
Major Military Purchases
Israeli Artillery and Drone Systems
In early 2025, Serbia also bought Israel's PULS artillery systems and Hermes drones manufactured by Elbit Systems for $335 million and in August 2025 it also purchased long-range missiles, drones and electronic warfare equipment for around $1.6 billion.
European and Chinese Equipment
It has bought cargo aircraft and helicopters from Airbus and Chinese missiles and drones.
French Rafale Jet Fighters
Belgrade also purchased Rafale jet fighters manufactured by France's Dassault for 2.7 billion euros ($3.18 billion), to replace its ageing Soviet-made MiG-29 planes.
($1 = 0.8484 euros)
(Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Alison Williams)
