The Armed Forces of Serbia (Serbian Cyrillic: Bojcka Србије, Serbian Latin: Vojska Srbije) are the unified military forces of Republic of Serbia consisting of Air Force and Defense, Land Force, and Training and Command. General Staff handles the Strategic Command. Serbia is a military neutral country, has observer status in the Non-Aligned Movement, and its army is under the democratic civilian control.
coat of arms of SAF
The symbols of the Army used on dress uniforms (left side) and camouflage uniforms (right side)
Turk1 wrote:What is with the White Eagles? You have white eagles in Serbia?
Serbian white bicephalic eagle seen on the Coat of Arms and other national symbols of Serbia, is of the House of Nemanjić (which in turn took on the eagle from the Palaiologos dynasty of the Byzantine Empire).The House of Nemanjić ruled the Serb lands between c. 1166 and 1371.
Bird specimens could be seen in Uvac gorge (Southwest of Belgrade, towards the border with Montenegro).Uvac gorge is home for over 150 bird specimens.Some of them are: Goosander, Griffon Vulture (over 250 individuals) Golden Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, Nutcracker, Rock Thrush, Corncrake, Black Redstart, Black Woodpecker, European Eagle Owl, Scops Owl, European Nightjar, Wallcreeper, Crested Tit, Sombre Tit, Grey Wagtail.
I hope this is a sufficient answer to your question, Turk1.
Pozdrav Jelena! XD Well I just have to say new insignia is fine, but its worth for nothing when our president and the rest of the scum in power have litteraly destroyed our military! We need to recover fast...if we sucseed in taking the matter to our hands I hope that the first move will be to buy one or 2 S-300 PMU2 "Favorit" missle systems...wich would momentally place us as a dominant force in the region...while we are still strong and have good soldiers, our air deffence and aviation is pathetic and is our main flaw...if we had at least one S-300 during 1999...there would be a different end to that war! And by a system I mean command vehicle with the aquisitiion radar and 8 batteries, of wich every battery would consist of 8 launchers (four missiles), one illumination and guidance radar and one all-altitude radar...that would make us a serious threat to any country in our soroundings even those who are NATO members!
Aleksandar_Nevski wrote:Pozdrav Jelena! XD Well I just have to say new insignia is fine, but its worth for nothing when our president and the rest of the scum in power have litteraly destroyed our military! We need to recover fast...if we sucseed in taking the matter to our hands I hope that the first move will be to buy one or 2 S-300 PMU2 "Favorit" missle systems...wich would momentally place us as a dominant force in the region...while we are still strong and have good soldiers, our air deffence and aviation is pathetic and is our main flaw...if we had at least one S-300 during 1999...there would be a different end to that war!
First thing first...Our opposition is not up to task to make a change right now but we'll see what future will bring. Economic situation is catastrophic and we are well into red zone and in enormous debt!You can read about it here (add to all this previous debts):
Serbia economy to shrink beyond IMF guess Jul 22, 2009
Serbia’s recession-hit economy will shrink by up to 5 percent this year, far exceeding estimates by the International Monetary Fund, the country’s finance minister said Wednesday.
Diana Dragutinovic said the government estimates output will fall between 3.5 and 5 percent this year. When it granted a euro3-billion ($4.2 billion) loan in March, the IMF had estimated that Serbia’s economic growth would contract by 2 percent in 2009.
The figures released by Dragutinovic indicate the country might need to ask the IMF for more money or resort to more austerity measures such as an increase in value-added tax — currently 18 percent — on all goods.
That would be highly unpopular and could worsen inflation, currently around 8 percent annually. http://serbianna.com/news/?p=2708
Further, as a fresh news Russia will grant Serbia a EUR 1 billion loan.
Russia will grant Serbia a EUR 1 billion loan, as informed by Russian ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Konuzin. Russia is currently reviewing the conditions of the credit financing.
Serbia has asked EUR 1 billion from Russia for the stabilization of the budget, construction of an underground railway system and other structural projects. Konuzin informs that Russia has agreed to grant the loan, but still have to arrange the conditions. http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/7769/2/
I'm not sure how we're going to pull out of that mess but keep that in mind when talking about purchasing any kind of missile systems or weaponry.
And by a system I mean command vehicle with the aquisitiion radar and 8 batteries, of wich every battery would consist of 8 launchers (four missiles), one illumination and guidance radar and one all-altitude radar...that would make us a serious threat to any country in our soroundings even those who are NATO members!
I am sure that guys will be more competent to debate on details ( I am more useful in political questions and history of the Balkan region, geography etc.)and came here mostly to learn from others on military. About HATO countries in our region...There is no single country in region, with an exemption of Serbia who is not HATO member or has an aspiration for membership. Take a look at the map:
Current members Acceding members Promised invitation(dark green on map) Intensified Dialogue(lime on map) Membership not goal Undeclared intent (grey on map) source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO
Since I have you here and this thread is dedicated to Serbian army, what do you think about "Lazar" MRAP?
His description and specs:
In its concept and applied technical solutions, the vehicle is particularly adapted for use by modern infantry units and special forces engaged in missions within anti-terrorist and peacekeeping operations, with emphasis on engagements in urban conditions, settlements and on intersected terrains, in environments involving ambushes, antitank mines and improvised explosive devices set up by an adversary. The concept of this vehicle practically represents an advanced MRAP, featuring certain properties (mobility, terrain negotiating capability and fire power) of MRAV class combat vehicle, this combining main characteristics of both, nowadays highly important classes of wheeled armored vehicles. When designing the concept of the vehicle, special emphasis was placed on achievement of high mobility, system of armor protection, armament system, ability to transport 10 infantrymen who should be able to quickly embark or evacuate the vehicle using tail gate.
High level of armor protection was achieved by adopting of steel armor hull that, in its basic version, includes ballistic glass panes and provides protection that meets STANAG 4569, level III+ (protection against 12.7x107 mm B-32 API round fired from 100 m) at front and level II at the sides and rear. By fitting add-on armor of laminated composite structure, attached on basic armor, vehicle ballistic protection is rated level V at front and level IV at all other sides. Armored hull design allows quick fitting and replacement of add-on armor sections by vehicle crew, which, when fitted, do not degrade basic functions of the vehicle. Optionally, fitting of reactive explosive armor attached to add-on armor will provide effective protection against infantry hand launchers of RPG-7 type which nowadays represent main threat in already mentioned type of warfare. Hull bottom is V-shaped that, in addition to high ground clearance and solid drive train, ensures very high level of protection from antitank mine and IED, according to level IIIa (resistant against blasts of AT mine or IED containing 6kg of HE occurring under vehicle wheels and floor) Vehicle armament system is situated in the area between drivers and commanders compartment and area that accommodates embarked troops. Concept of the vehicle allows incorporation of a variety of turrets, cupolas and weapon stations, depending on main application of the vehicle and planned budget of the user. Simplest armament consists of partially armored modular cupola M06 with detachable mounts, able to support the following weapon alternatives: - machine gun cal. 7.62 x 54 mm M86 with electric trigger, - machine gun cal.. 12.7 x 108 mm, - automatic grenade launcher cal. 30 mm. - cannon M55 (HS 804) cal. 20 x 110 mm Existing functional model, as illustrated, mounts lightodbrambene weight cupola LK08 armed with cannon cal. 20 x 110 mm M55 (HS804), with belt feeding, and machine gun cal. 7.62 x 54 mm M86. The concept permits installation of different weapon stations equipped with optoelectronic fire control system and an integrated weapons system that may consists of a combination the following weapon alternatives: Cannon cal. 20 mm M55 Cannon cal. 30 mm M86 Wire-guided AT missile system Malutka 2 with twin launcher Machine gun cal. 7.62 mm M86 Machine gun cal. 12. 7 mm M87 Automatic grenade launcher cal. 30 mm M93 Overall mass of cupola with weapon station is up to two tons, diameter of its support bearing is up to 1600 mm. All versions of the turret, cupola or weapon stations in addition to listed weapon alternatives are equipped with 4 dispensers of smoke charges.
Jelena our oposition is shit, they are just old communists that know that communism no longer pays off...so they are "nationalists" now...they should be shot! So we need new ppl, and I myself am negotiating with some ppl and seeing that you're interested in politics makes me happy, so I'll give you my msn adress (mail.com) and contact you, because I have some questions and propositions! There is a way out of this mess and its not that hard, but when your goverment is USA controled then there is no exiting the shithole! We can always loan more from Russia and make ourselves independent, we can contact our diaspora (5 billion euro potential, but they dont want to invest in a country so corupted and anti-serbian...so the way out isnt that hard...only it is Russia oriented and that isnt what "they" want! I could make our military feared in whole europe in 5 years with 5-6 billion $...wich isnt a lot! So...we'll talk about this on MSN! Also everyone else is free to add me, ofcourse meaning good intent russian brothers!
Last edited by Aleksandar_Nevski on Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:34 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : because...)
Aleksandar_Nevski wrote:Jelena our oposition is shit, they are just old communists that know that communism no longer pays off...so they are "nationalists" now...they should be shot! So we need new ppl, and I myself am negotiating with some ppl and seeing that you're interested in politics makes me happy, so I'll give you my msn adress (billy.88@hotmail.com) and contact you, because I have some questions and propositions! There is a way out of this mess and its not that hard, but when your goverment is USA controled then there is no exiting the shithole! We can always loan more from Russia and make ourselves independent, we can contact our diaspora (5 billion euro potential, but they dont want to invest in a country so corupted and anti-serbian...so the way out isnt that hard...only it is Russia oriented and that isnt what "they" want! I could make our military feared in whole europe in 5 years with 5-6 billion $...wich isnt a lot! So...we'll talk about this on MSN! Also everyone else is free to add me, ofcourse meaning good intent russian brothers!
I don't have time right now for a long post with details as I would wish so I'll write about it tomorrow but to give you some idea I'll tell you that we are held hostages over South of Serbia.It is all tied in one knot with no easy solution.
From my experience I'll advise you to remove your personal MSN ID from your post (I'll add you to my list of course) and use next time PMs for that purpose, especially if you're not apolitical. I had many bad experiences with all kind of "internet brave guys"
On Serbs in diaspora, since I'm here, I don't have a high opinion and doubt that many would help the way they should and can...
Currently there are some 40 members of the Serbian Army engaged in UN peace missions, and deployed in Congo, Chad, Liberia and the Ivory Coast, state Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac. He told the national television that the number of Serbian participants in those missions is modest, while adding that Serbia has the capacity for much greater engagement in such missions around the world. Members of the Serbian Army are taking part in the peace operations on a voluntary base, reminded Sutanovac, while pointing that the mission in Chad will be sent for the first time on the basis of parliamentary decision. Serbia belongs to those countries that understand the threats, challenges and risks of the time we live in, so we wish to partake in something that is called the global peace, underlined the minister. While speaking of the degree of risk to the members of the peace missions, Sutanovac said they are aware of the risk, but that the interest for such engagement is great.
Vladimir79 wrote:Speaking of Serbian peacekeepers, how do you feel about Serbia joining NATO?
Serbian peacekeepers are under UN program. I completely oppose such an idea for Serbia to join HATO (same as overwhelming majority of Serbian people). I know that Serbia is not some super power but believe that we can resist for a long time!More to it we adopted declaration of neutrality. Serbia is in "Partnership for peace" but same is Russia and other countries of Ex Soviet Union. Partnership for peace map:
Partnership for Peace members Former members that joined NATO
There are many people involved in shaping Serbian foreign policy due to coalition based government and sometimes it looks like a big mess! I'm sorry that I can't provide articles in English here for members to read but for example there is Vuk Draskovic (former minister of foreign affairs and president of SPO-political party) who is trying to force Serbia to join HATO. Here is the article about it but it is in Serbian language: http://www.novosti.rs/code/navigate.php?Id=1&status=jedna&vest=149694&title_add=Dra%C5%A1kovi%C4%87%3A%20Srbija%20mora%20u%20NATO&kword_add=vuk%20draskovic%2C%20na%20Dedinju You can use some translators if you wish to read it like google translate : http://translate.google.com/?hl=en#
13 September 2009 | 10:51 -> 16:00 | Source: B92, Beta BELGRADE -- The military airport in Batajnica today hosted the international air show Batajnica 2009, which reports say attracted some 100,000 visitors.
200 participants from 15 countries took part, including Serbian, Czech, Greek, Romanian, British, Danish, Spanish, Hungarian, Slovenian, Italian, Austrian, French, Turk, and U.S. pilots and crews.
The air show in Batajnica, just north of Belgrade, kicked off this morning and lasted until 17:00 CET, during which time visitors were be able to see aircraft displayed on the ground, and in their performance in the air.
The Serbian Army's Air Force was represented with the following jets: MiG-29, MiG-21, J-22 Orao, G-4 Supergaleb, An-26, Utva-75, Antonov An-2 and Gazela helicopters.
Pilots from abroad flew in their F-16s, Alpha Jets, Grippens, and Eurofighters.
The first plane constructed in Serbia since the breakup of Yugoslavia, Lasta-95, was also presented at the show, which was officially opened by Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac.
Interior Minister Ivica Dačić, other cabinet ministers, army chiefs and members of the diplomatic community in Serbia were at the airport today.
Some 250 journalists and photographers were reporting from the event, the largest of its kind in Serbia to date. This year's Batajnica air show, which closed with the performace of the Čenej airport-based air acrobatic group Leteće Zvezde (Fyling Stars), marked 100 years since the founding of the Serb aviation.
Serbia adopting defense, security strategies for first time
7:56 BELGRADE, Oct 6 (Tanjug) - Serbia's Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac said Tuesday that Serbia was adopting defense and security strategies for the first time since it had become an independent country, and that those were strategically important documents needed to protect its vital national interests.
Explaining the National Security Strategy and the Defense Strategy, Sutanovac pointed out that Serbia had to grow stronger, build up its own capabilities, modernize and professionalize its armed forces.
Sutanovac underscored that membership in European and other institutions meant a confirmation of Serbia's political and civilizational maturity, and he emphasized that it was in Serbia's national interest to actively participate in the work of international organizations.
The minister said that the strategies were important documents on defense and security reforms, explaining that their fundamental goals were to protect the vital interests of the country and its citizens in those two fields.
He stated that terrorism, the expansion of organized crime, corruption, drug and arms trafficking, as well as human trafficking, which was most prominent in Kosovo and Metohija, were a significant burden to security in Europe.
Pointing out that Serbia was working on preserving peace in the region, Sutanovac said that it would deploy its defense potential in peace operations based on its Constitution, UN Charter and principles of international law that regulate the use of force.
23 November 2009 | 09:51 -> 14:39 | Source: B92, Tanjug CEPOTINA -- The Serbian Army (VS) Base Jug (South), located near Bujanovac, has been officially opened today.
The base, known also as Cepotina after a nearby hill, was hailed as the largest and most modern of its kind in the region.
Serbia's top military and state officials attended the ceremony, including President Boris Tadić, Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac, VS CoGS Lt. Gen. Miloje Miletić, PM Mirko Cveković, and Police Director Milorad Veljović.
"All Serbian citizens who wish for peace and stability in the region and for the best possible inter-ethnic relations, ought to be pleased with the opening of Base Jug. All those who do not wish for peace and who are involved in organized crime… should not be pleased," Tadić said during the ceremony today.
The president stressed that "the army is one of the key factors" for the state as it fights organized crime, and added that the base is located strategically, and offering "key guarantees" for security and peace in the south of Serbia.
The base, Tadić continued, is important for the overall state and army security capacity in many ways, but it also represents a development potential for the south, "since residents of the region will be able to find employment there".
He said that Jug would have an important role in the preparations for peace missions, and that the completion of works on the base – started six years ago – and those on Corridor 10, would provide for the region's equal development.
Serbia, the president, repeated, has two "key strategic goals", one being membership in the EU, and the other preservation of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity in Kosovo.
"Serbia will never give up on either of these goals," said Tadić.
Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac also addressed those present at the ceremony to say that the base had been MoD's largest and most important infrastructure project in the past decades.
He also stated that the ministry will strive to bring other military installations in Serbia to the same standard, and that the base's modern medical unit will be at the disposal of the local community.
The base is located some five kilometers south of Bujanovac in southern Serbia, near the Ground Safety Zone (GSZ), and the administrative line with Kosovo and Metohija.
Its location is some 90 kilometers from Bulgarian border and 30 kilometers from Macedonia.
The base covers 35 hectares of land, with more than 30 facilities built so far, able to accommodate almost 1,000 people.
According to the announcements from the Serbian Defense Ministry, the base could be expanded to another 65 hectares, in order to become a training center for peace operations.
Reactions
Faculty of Security professor Zoran Dragišić told B92 that the base has a strategic importance for Serbia, considering its location.
"The base has excellent location. It is in a place of greatest Serbian security problems and where greatest security challenges for Serbia can be expected. This is one of the key concrete steps related to the reform of the defense system," this expert believes.
According to him, the military installation's true significance "will depend on political circumstances".
"Considering the policy that is being conducted in Serbia I think that this base can be an important factor for the security of the whole region," said Dragišić.
The southern Serbian region, sometimes referred to as "the Preševo valley", is home to the country's largest ethnic Albanian minority outside of Kosovo, and was on the brink of war after the 1999 conflict in the province.
Local Albanian leaders do not approve of the new base.
Bujanovac municipal chief Saip Kamberi sees Base Jug as "a militarization of the region".
"From the beginning we stood against the idea to have special police and military forces in the region, therefore I do not think this base will contribute to its stability, there was no reason to militarize this region by opening a base, and create an illusion of the state of emergency," said he.
Preševo municipal president Ragmi Mustafa was even more critical, and said that ethnic Albanians will now be "surrounded on all sides by people in uniforms".
"Albanians from the Preševo valley will be occupied in their own homes. We believe that days of armed conflicts are behinds us and therefore there is no need for a military base in the Preševo valley," he was quoted as saying.
Albanians are trowing fits over our new military base
CEPOTINA, 23. 11. 2009. The opening ceremony of VS Base Jug (South), near Cepotina Hill in southern Serbia (Tanjug)
CEPOTINA, 23. 11. 2009. Soldiers are seen at the newly opened VS Base Jug (South) near Cepotina Hill in southern Serbia (Beta)
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