Serbian shift: Buying French jets amid Ukraine MiG‑29 rumor
A new development has emerged regarding Serbia's purchase of French Rafale fighters. Former Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Elena Panina, commented on Belgrade's agreement with the West, claiming that Serbia will give Ukraine its MiG-29s in exchange for the sale of Rafales.
Let us recall that Serbia and France reached an agreement on a contract for the purchase of Rafale fighters at the end of August this year. In this way, the Serbs are slowly distancing themselves from Russia, with which they were previously militarily aligned. Belgrade primarily bases its army on Soviet equipment, including MiG-29 fighters and Mi-35M helicopters.
Serbia distances itself from Russia. Moscow comments
The agreement with the French concerns the purchase of 12 aircraft, worth approximately 2.9 billion USD. As a result, Serbia will remain one of the largest armies in the Balkans, albeit with a much more valuable arsenal than before. Note that the replacement of post-Soviet equipment has been ongoing for many months. In September 2023, Belgrade received an Airbus C-295 transport aircraft, which replaced the Antonov An-26.
In the context of the agreement between Serbia and France, Elena Panina recently spoke to the Defense Romania portal. The Russian claims that Serbia intends to hand over its MiG-29 fighters to the French before the end of 2024, and subsequently, the equipment is to be delivered to Ukraine.
Serbia's response was not long in coming. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić refuted these reports and emphasized that handing over the MiG-29s to Ukraine through France is out of the question. – I wouldn't give away our MiG-29s for anything in the world. Imagine us giving away equipment that I worked very hard to get – said the politician, as quoted by Serbian media, emphasizing that the "twenty-nines" will not be sent to the front in Ukraine, even with intermediaries' help.
French Rafale fighters
The Rafale fighters, produced by the French company Dassault Aviation, result from a project initiated in the 1980s. The first prototype flight took place in 1986, and they were introduced into service in 2001. Since then, the machines have been progressively modernized to meet the latest combat requirements. Rafale is available in three main versions:
- Rafale C – single-seat fighter for air operations
- Rafale B – two-seat strike, fighter, and training aircraft
- Rafale M – carrier-based version for aircraft carriers
The French machines are characterized by their delta configuration and are powered by two turbofan engines, allowing the fighters to accelerate to speeds of 1,370 mph. The Rafales are highly maneuverable, significantly enhancing their usability during combat operations.
One of the main features of the Rafale fighters is their multirole capability. They can serve as air superiority fighters, tactical bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, and units for engaging naval targets. This makes them extremely versatile and suitable for various combat missions.
As for armament, the Rafales can carry various types of missiles and bombs. Their arsenal includes MICA EM and MICA IR air-to-air missiles, SCALP-EG cruise missiles, and AM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles. Guided bombs, such as GBU-12 and AASM, are also part of their payload.
