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| Russia gives Serbia free MiG-29 fighter jets | Russia gives Serbia free MiG-29 fighter jets |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The first two of six Russian MiG-29 fighter jets being provided free to Serbia have been delivered, reports local daily Bilc. The remaining warplanes are due to arrive by the end of the week. | The first two of six Russian MiG-29 fighter jets being provided free to Serbia have been delivered, reports local daily Bilc. The remaining warplanes are due to arrive by the end of the week. |
| “We are proud to say that our aviation is obtaining new equipment for the first time since 1987. We are glad to make our military more powerful, well-organized and up-to-date,” said the Serbian Labor Minister Aleksandar Vulin, as quoted by the media. | “We are proud to say that our aviation is obtaining new equipment for the first time since 1987. We are glad to make our military more powerful, well-organized and up-to-date,” said the Serbian Labor Minister Aleksandar Vulin, as quoted by the media. |
| The Russian fighter jets are seen as a significant contribution to Serbia’s defense, according to the commander of the air force General Ranko Zivak. | The Russian fighter jets are seen as a significant contribution to Serbia’s defense, according to the commander of the air force General Ranko Zivak. |
| Russia is handing over six MiGs for free which Serbia will then upgrade. The market price of the fighter jets is €600 million. Belgrade is going to spend up to €230 million to modernize them. | Russia is handing over six MiGs for free which Serbia will then upgrade. The market price of the fighter jets is €600 million. Belgrade is going to spend up to €230 million to modernize them. |
| Earlier this year, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the country needed Russian weapons to ensure its security. | Earlier this year, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the country needed Russian weapons to ensure its security. |
| Serbia is also planning to improve its anti-aircraft defense. According to Vucic, Belgrade is negotiating with Moscow to purchase the Russian-made S-300 missile systems. | Serbia is also planning to improve its anti-aircraft defense. According to Vucic, Belgrade is negotiating with Moscow to purchase the Russian-made S-300 missile systems. |
| “We will continue to protect our freedom and independence,” the president said. | “We will continue to protect our freedom and independence,” the president said. |
| Moscow also gave Serbia 30 battle tanks and 30 armored vehicles, which will be reportedly delivered soon. | Moscow also gave Serbia 30 battle tanks and 30 armored vehicles, which will be reportedly delivered soon. |
| READ MORE: Montenegro’s accession to NATO a purely geopolitical project, won’t boost security – Lavrov | |
| Serbia's neighbor, NATO-member Croatia, is reportedly shopping for a new fighter jet to replace Soviet-made MiG-21s. The leading contenders are reportedly Swedish Saab's JAS-39 Gripen and the Israeli version of American Lockheed Martin's F-16. | Serbia's neighbor, NATO-member Croatia, is reportedly shopping for a new fighter jet to replace Soviet-made MiG-21s. The leading contenders are reportedly Swedish Saab's JAS-39 Gripen and the Israeli version of American Lockheed Martin's F-16. |
| Serbia has resisted NATO's eastward expansion. All of the nations in the Balkans have faced demands to join the anti-Russian campaign, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in June after Montenegro joined NATO. |