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Ex-Belarus MiG-29s bolster Serbian Air Force

12th May 2021 - 14:44 GMT | by Alexander Mladenov, Krassimir Grozev in Sofia

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A MiG-29 is loaded onto a cargo aircraft before delivery from Belarus to Serbia. (Photo: 558 ARZ)

Serbia is receiving MiG-29s from Belarus while the Balkan country also upgrades its existing fleet of seven single-seater MiG-29s.

Serbia has received its first pair of modernised MiG-29 fighters from Belarus, with two more to follow under a February 2019 government-to-government deal.

The two Soviet-era aircraft, built in the so-called 9-13 configuration, were cycled through a general overhaul and airframe life extension before Belarus-based MRO company 558 ARZ delivered the MiG-29s to Serbia on 16 April.

The Serbian MoD covered the cost of the overhaul, although the cost remains undisclosed.

Belarus also agreed in February 2019 to donate two Buk (SA-11 Gadfly) ground-based air defence (GBAD) systems to Serbia, with overhaul costs covered by Belgrade — but there

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Author

Alexander Mladenov

Alexander Mladenov is a Shephard correspondent based in Sofia, Bulgaria.

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Author

Krassimir Grozev

Krassimir is a journalist based in Sofia, Bulgaria

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