Serbia, a country nestled among the small countries of Europe, exudes a sense of fortitude, despite being a small country in the Balkans. Rather than being reduced to being a pawn of others, Serbia has chosen to follow its own path, and this independence is reflected in its arms procurement. Serbia recently announced a high-profile announcement: the introduction of Chinese-made Hongqi-17E anti-aircraft missiles, a decision that will leave a strong mark on Serbia's armament system.
At a time when the international situation is changing, Serbia's armament strategy focuses on diversification** and no longer overly dependent on the West. Arms purchases, which once favored Russia, have changed significantly due to the factors of the Russian-Ukrainian war. On February 1, 2024, Serbian ** Vučić announced: "On February 15, 2024, at the exhibition of military equipment on Serbia's National Day, Chinese-made FK-3 anti-aircraft missiles and Hongqi-17 anti-aircraft missiles will be displayed. "This means that the Chinese missile will be officially delivered in the near future, becoming the new equipment of the Serbian army, and it also marks that Serbia has become the first overseas user of the Hongqi-17E anti-aircraft missile.
The Hongqi-17E anti-aircraft missile is an export model of China's Hongqi-17 anti-aircraft missile, which is designed and positioned as a short-range anti-aircraft missile system, mainly used to hit medium-altitude and low-altitude targets, including unmanned aerial vehicles, manned fighters, etc. The missile system uses the chassis of the latest generation of Dongfeng 6 6 highly maneuverable vehicles with a compact monolithic turret, which integrates the target search radar, guidance radar and missile module to form a medium-sized companion anti-aircraft missile system. With a range of up to 20 km, it provides Serbia with strong short-range protection.
The design of the Hongqi-17E anti-aircraft missile is inspired by the Russian "Daur" anti-aircraft missile system, but after several generations of development, it has been reborn, and only the design concept of "Daur" has been retained. At the recent exhibition, a new type of ammunition - cruise missiles was also unveiled, which makes the Hongqi-17E air defense missile system have a wider application prospect in the future, which can not only hit ground targets, but also attack air targets.
For Serbia, the introduction of the Chinese Hongqi-17E anti-aircraft missile system solves the problem of insufficient combat capabilities of its air defense and fills the loopholes in the low-altitude defense network. Serbia had previously purchased Russian Pantsir-S1M anti-aircraft missile systems, but due to the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the actual number received was small, which made it difficult to meet the actual needs. And due to NATO sanctions, it has become difficult to continue the purchase of anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia. The choice of China's Hongqi-17E air defense missile system has become a wise move for Serbia, which effectively makes up for the shortcomings of its air defense capability and makes Serbia no longer worry about NATO's obstruction.
The main air defense system of Serbia will consist of FK-3 anti-aircraft missiles and Hongqi-17E anti-aircraft missiles, forming a two-tier strike system of medium and long-range and short-range air defense. The FK-3 air defense missile system has a maximum range of up to 100 km and is capable of striking medium-range and long-range targets, including cruise missiles, fighters, attack aircraft, bombers, etc. This has made Serbia's armament system more complete and laid a solid foundation for it to build the strongest Chinese armament army.
In addition to anti-aircraft missile systems, Serbia has procured Chinese drones, including CH-902 and CH-95. With the help of Chinese technology, Serbia has successfully developed the "Pegasus" armed drone. According to Vučić, the self-produced suicide drones will soon be put into large-scale service, which will greatly enhance the combat power of the Serbian army's drones, and the number of drones is expected to rise to more than 1,000.
At a time of changing international conditions, Serbia has successfully bypassed the NATO blockade and maintained the urgent need for armaments by introducing Chinese-made equipment. The introduction of the Hongqi-17E anti-aircraft missile not only marks the deepening of Sino-Serbian cooperation, but also weakens NATO's influence on Serbia to a certain extent. As a small country, Serbia's smart decisions in the field of armaments have earned it respect in the international arena. This is not only a trust in the strength of China's leading industry, but also a firm choice of Serbia in its independent military strategy.
As Serbia continues to strengthen its military equipment in the field, its air defense and drone capabilities have been significantly improved. The combined use of the FK-3 anti-aircraft missile and the Hongqi-17E anti-aircraft missile system provides Serbia with a comprehensive air defense system with wide coverage and a variety of targets. This not only provides Serbia with a strong guarantee for its homeland security, but also strengthens its bargaining chips in regional affairs to a certain extent.
Serbia's drone power is also one of the highlights of its military prowess. The Chinese-made CH-902 and CH-95 UAVs, as well as the "Pegasus" armed UAV independently developed by Serbia, constitute a multi-level and multi-functional UAV formation. The imminent mass service of self-produced suicide drones will further improve Serbia's battlefield mobility and intelligence-gathering capabilities.
Serbia's armament choice is not only aimed at strengthening its own defense, but also as a statement to the outside world. At a time when the international political landscape is turbulent, Serbia has demonstrated its firm determination to safeguard its national independence and adhere to its independent military strategy through close cooperation with China. This independent attitude stands in stark contrast to the pressure and interference that Serbia has suffered in its history, and demonstrates Serbia's persistence and courage in its own path.
The introduction of the Hongqi-17E anti-aircraft missile is not only an armament decision, but also a political statement. The choice of Chinese-made ** equipment means that Serbia is no longer at the mercy of external forces, but more firmly defends its own interests. This initiative also provides a reference for other countries to demonstrate Serbia's willingness to engage in equal and mutually beneficial military cooperation with different countries, free from the shackles of external interference.
In the turbulent global political and economic landscape, Serbia has successfully safeguarded the interests and dignity of the country with its independent armament decisions. Through cooperation with China, Serbia has not only strengthened its military strength, but also contributed to the maintenance of regional peace and stability. In the future, Serbia's development in the military field will attract much attention, and its insistence on independence will also set a brave example for the international community.
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