Serbia signs deal with France for 12 Rafale fighters
Serbia President Aleksandar Vučić announced Serbia’s intention to purchase 12 Rafale fighters in 2022. (Photo: Ashwin Kumar/Wikimedia Commons)
Deal to purchase 12 Rafale fighters from Dassault Aviation will see Serbia replace Soviet-era MiG-21s and MiG-29s.
Serbia has agreed a deal with France to purchase 12 Rafale fighters from Dassault Aviation for the Air Force and Air Defence of the Serbian Armed Forces after initially declaring its intention to do so in April 2022.
The deal, said to be worth almost US$3 billion by Serbia President Aleksandar Vučić, was in signed in the presence of the Serbian leader and France President Emmanuel Macron.
Shephard Defence Insight said it believed deliveries would take place between 2026 and 2029, with Éric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, remarking: “Serbia’s decision to equip itself for the first time with a Dassault aircraft confirms the Rafale’s operational superiority and its proven excellence in serving the sovereign interests of a nation.”
Belgrade had been negotiating for two years with French manufacturer Dassault for the Rafale multirole fighter aircraft to replace its ageing Soviet-era MiG-21s and MiG-29s. The order will consider of nine single-seat and three two-seat fighters.
In April 2024, neighbouring Croatia received the first six of 12 used Rafale fighters. The jets destined for the Croatian Air Force were four single-seat and two dual-seat.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![NATO expands high-altitude intelligence capability with MQ-4C Triton purchase]()
NATO expands high-altitude intelligence capability with MQ-4C Triton purchase
The proposed drone acquisition is intended to form part of a distributed structure of surveillance capabilities, complementing systems such as the RQ-4D Global Hawks already acquired by NATO.
-
![US Air Force unveils new details of Next Generation Airlift aircraft to replace C-17 and C-5]()
US Air Force unveils new details of Next Generation Airlift aircraft to replace C-17 and C-5
New planning documents reveal how the service is defining the aircraft expected to succeed the C-17 and C-5, including its initial requirements and procurement roadmap.
-
![Could CUAS demand open a new market for armed trainer aircraft?]()
Could CUAS demand open a new market for armed trainer aircraft?
As affordable counter-drone solutions become a military priority, repurposing training aircraft could emerge as a credible option to prepare for emergency scenarios.
-
![A new shape in the sky? Mapping out the F-47’s configuration]()
A new shape in the sky? Mapping out the F-47’s configuration
As images of what might be an F-47 prototype or proof-of-concept vehicle emerge from the Nevada desert, what do they tell us about the aircraft’s capabilities and enabling technologies?
