MILAN — Serbian defense authorities announced that the Chinese-made FK-3 air defense systems are now in service with the Serbian Air Force, marking a success for Beijing, which has sought out to expand its presence further within the Balkan country in recent years.
The 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade division has been equipped with the anti-aircraft missile system, which consists of vehicles with a command center as well as missile launchers and radars, the Serbian defense ministry said in a Dec. 30 statement.
According to the release, the FK-3, the export variant of China’s HQ-22 surface-to-air missile system, can target aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, drones and air-to-ground missiles flying at maximum speeds of 1,000m/s across distances ranging up to 100 kilometers.
The initial deal signed between the Serbian government and the manufacturer China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation, or CASIC, was significant when it was made public in 2020, as it represented the first purchase of a Chinese medium- to long-range air defense shield by a country on the European continent.
At the time, the United States warned that striking deals with Beijing may put Serbia’s proclaimed objective of becoming a member of the European Union at risk.
“Procuring military equipment is a sovereign decision – however, governments should understand the short- and long-term risks and costs involved in doing business with Chinese companies and procurement choices should reflect Serbia’s stated policy goal of greater European integration,” the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade said in a statement in 2020.
Serbia represents an ambiguous case in Europe stemming primarily from its decision to adopt a policy of military neutrality. This has allowed the country to preserve ties to two of the West’s most prominent foes, Russia and China, while also striking deals with countries such as France for Rafale fighter jets.
During a panel organized at the Globsec security conference in Prague last August, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said it was unlikely that his country would join the EU in 2028, a target other western Balkan states have set out.
While Serbia is bordered by five NATO members, and the military alliance has a liaison office in Belgrade, Vucic has made it clear that he has no plans to apply for membership.
At the Serbian government-sponsored Partner defense exhibition held in Belgrade in 2023, where a handful of Chinese defense firms exhibited for the first time, several manufacturers told Defense News that they had an “obvious interest” to further expand their activities in the country.
Serbia previously became the first operator of Chinese drones in Europe when it acquired the Chinese CH-92 and CH-95 unmanned aerial vehicles, publicly displayed for the first time five years ago.
Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo is a Europe correspondent for Defense News. She covers a wide range of topics related to military procurement and international security, and specializes in reporting on the aviation sector. She is based in Milan, Italy.
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Publish date : 2025-01-08 19:04:00
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