Rafale fighter aircraft for Serbia
On 29 August 2024, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, Bratislav Gašić, and the General Director of Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier, signed a contract for the procurement of Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft.
The contract, valued at €2.7 billion, is for twelve brand-new Rafale F4 fighters and includes logistics and spare parts. The Serbian Air Force and Air Defence will receive nine single-seat Rafale C and three dual-seat Rafale B fighters. According to Eric Trappier, the first Rafales will be delivered in 2028, with the final aircraft arriving in 2030.
The bilateral documents were signed at an official ceremony in the presence of the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić, and the President of the Republic of France, Emmanuel Macron. This contract will make Serbia Dassault's eighth export customer and the third in Europe, after Greece and Croatia, to acquire the Rafale.
The Rafale will replace the MiG-29SM+ and MiG-29UB currently operated by the 101. Lovacka Avijacijska Eskadrila (101st Fighter Aviation Squadron) at Batajnica Air Base, of which fourteen are active.
Credit photo: Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace