On December 7, 2019, the official presentation of new Russian-made military helicopters received by the Air Force and Air Defense of Serbia was held at the Bataynitsa Air Force Base and Air Defense Base of Serbia near Belgrade in the presence of the President of Serbia, Alexander Vucic. Four Mi-35M attack helicopters and five Mi-17V-5 military transport helicopters. According to the Serbian official, Russia and Serbia “have never had such a volume of cooperation” since World War II.
Serbia entered into a contract for the acquisition of four new Mi-35M combat helicopters in Russia in 2017. Helicopters with tail numbers from 101 to 104 were manufactured at Rostvertol PJSC in Rostov-on-Don in the first half of 2019 and delivered to Batainitsa airfield from Russia on December 2. Two Mi-17V-5 helicopters of the new production of Kazan Helicopter Plant PJSC were delivered to Serbia in June 2016 (under the 2015 contract), and three more in 2019 (under the 2017 additional contract).
Cooperation between Serbia and Russia is well underway. In October 2018 the Serbian Air Force received six MiG-29 fighter jets handed over by Russia as part of military and technical assistance. Throughout the current year, Russia will deliver 10 helicopters to Serbia: seven Mi-35 and three Mi-17 rotorcraft. Serbia was also expected to get 30 T-72 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 reconnaissance and patrol vehicles from Russia for free. Serbia is also holding talks with Russia on Buk-M1 and Buk-M2 air defense missile systems and Tunguska anti-aircraft missile/gun weapons.
