Serbian authorities, during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to the country, signed an agreement on the acquisition of 12 Rafale fighter jets.
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Macron was solemnly received by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday evening in front of the government complex “Chamber Serbia”. Then negotiations between the heads of state and delegations began, and a number of agreements are expected to be signed. According to Vucic, Macron’s visit has “immeasurable political and economic significance for Serbia.”
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The agreement on the acquisition of Rafale aircraft and related equipment and services was signed in the presence of heads of state and members of government by the Minister of Defense of Serbia Bratislav Gasic and the director of the manufacturing company Dassault Aviation Eric Trapie.
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The cost of the contract is not disclosed.
Vucic reported that he plans to discuss with the French President the acquisition of 12 Rafale fighter jets by Serbia. According to him, negotiations on the purchase of military aircraft by Serbia are ongoing; this is not so much a question of price as of certain guarantees that the French side insists on.
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Earlier, Vucic noted that the French MICA air-to-ground missiles practically turn the Rafale into a bomber, and the fighter itself, in his words, is “one of the three strongest in the world.” The Serbian leader also said in the spring that Belgrade acquired 22 GM-400 radar stations from France. In previous years, Serbia purchased French Mistral MANPADS and Franco-German H-145M helicopters.
