Serbian Armed Forces: Difference between revisions

The Military of Serbia (Serbian: Војска Србије or Vojska Srbije) is the successor of the Military of Serbia and Montenegro, which ceased to exist after Montenegro voted to end the union of Serbia and Montenegro. In accordance with the agreement which established the union, Serbia inherited the joint Ministry of Defense — this was confirmed in a decree by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia on June 5. Those forces and assets inherited by Montenegro are being incorporated into a new Military of Montenegro, a completely new structure.

The Armed Forces of Serbia are the armed force of the defense system. They develop on best domestic and foreign experiences and achievements of science in the field of security and defense.

The Armed Forces are assigned missions and tasks. The missions of Armed Forces are defined by the Serbian Parliament, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, based on the international law principles which regulate the use of force and based on the Serbian Constitutional Charter.

The Serbian Armed Forces missions are:

• defending Serbia from armed foreign threats.
• participating in the process of building and maintaining peace in the region and across the world.
• providing support in case of natural disasters and catastrophes.

Basic tasks of the Serbian Armed Forces are:

• deterring armed threats and other military challenges, risks and security threats.
• defending the territory, territorial waters of Serbia and air space.
• enabling soldiers, commanders, commands, units and institutions to accomplish objectives and missions.
• Participating in international military cooperation under the UN patronage and the system of joint security.
• Providing support in the case of natural disasters and catastrophes of larger proportion where lives are at stake, as well as the environment and material property.

Basic organizational structure and the number of the Armed Forces members are defined by the Supreme Defense Council, at the proposal of the Ministry of Defense, depending on the level of threats, resources, missions, tasks and international standards. The army is staffed with professional, duty and reserve corps members, with the tendency to be completely professionalized. It develops its respective systems of training and logistics, relying on Serbia’s and its foreign partners’ resources. Based on the Supreme Defense Council’s decision, places its capacities to the disposal of other users. The Armed

During XVIII century, Serbs had fought the Turks jointly with the Austrian army on both sides of the Turkish border, and imprinted in their memory lay the 20-year Austro-Hungarian rule over Belgrade and the northern parts of Serbia. Neither had paled the memory of the promise made after the Treaty of Swistowa between Austria and Turkey that the Belgrade pashaluk would be divided into 12 nachia/regional principalities, with one supreme principle as a guarantee of autonomy, all this being the same the Serbs had been used to during the Austrian rule. Numerous demands and complaints made by Serbs of Turkish usurpations and were filed to the Sultan. Fearing new uprisings, Porta ordered reforms and administrative revision in Bosnia; however, it did not succeed in imposing these fermans upon agas and janissary corps in Serbia. Serbs on different occasions made a total of 33 requests, five of which pertaining to relations with spachias (landowners) and obligations on land. The Serbs demanded autonomy just like their fellow patriots made the directed the same requests to the Austrian Emperor at the Temisvar Council in 1790. The Serbs in Temisvar emphasized that a nation without autonomy is no nation.

As for the European powers, they tried to see their own strategic interests and then strike.

As the armed struggle progressed at the territories where Serbs lived, they gradually became aware of the core of their statehood. The idea of Serbia would emerge only as a result of uprisings and the transformation of struggle for autonomy within Turkish domains into a struggle for independence. This transformation occurred in 1806 following great Serbia victories: namely the victories over the Turkish army at Ivankovac, Misar and Deligrad as well as the siege of Belgrade gave the uprising an international tone as it then became a front line for the great powers of those times. The rebels not only defeated the Turkish army, but also inadvertently Napoleon himself who equipped and instructed the Turkish army to strike from three sides, and who saw every withdrawing of the Turkish army as the advancement of Russia. Though allies in ideology, Austrians also fear Russian intentions. Russia preferred to see the Balkan peninsula divided and the Serbian uprising as an incentive to Greek Liberation Movement. Unaware of the rules of top politics, as early as February 1806 Serbs appealed to the Russian Tzar to support their right to the national state in the Balkan provinces where they could rise the army of up to 200.000 men. Though almost illiterate and uneducated in military profession, Serbian leaders recognized the importance of strategic factors, the role of the army and security challenges of those times while making decisions.

After their refusal to accept the terms of Russian-Turkish Treaty, the Serbian army suffered defeat in 1813. Russia, which was in expectation of another invasion of Napoleon, signed an agreement in Bucharest, which was rather indefinite for the Serbs.

It was up to them now to agree with the Turks on tax rates and the sale of weapons. The Turks were to reestablish the former garrisons. The hajduks (outlaws also freedom fighters) were allowed to flee to Russia and Germany, while Russia designated Austria as the protector of Serbia’s autonomy, the country whose Chancellor supported the Ottoman Empire. At the national assembly in Kragujevac, where the elders refused this offer, it was stressed that “this land belonged to our forefathers and that we have redeemed it with our blood”. If a Russian has promised the Turks fortifications, he will have to deliver them some other fortifications”.

The commitment of soldiers and the commanders till the last moment, their bearing in face of a much more numerous enemy, the Turks would remember well. The very thought of this and the possibility of seeing this again made the Turks yield later on. When the new uprising broke out in 1815, they were readier to yield.

During the uprisings the Serbian army was of the national character. The leaders of the Serbian army drafted farmers only when a battle was ahead. They provided equipment and weapons themselves. In addition to this mass of fighters drafted on call, during the first Serbian revolutionary statehood there were standing regiments of skilled and armed lads who were paid for their service. They were called becari or lads, and thy served as some sort of security for the Duke Kardjordje and other dukes. They protected fortifications and secured borders.

Duke Milos following the Second Serbian Uprising disbanded the army but it was not disarmed. Though it was not until King Milan cancelled this Swiss system of armed reserve corps, the peasants of Timok Krajina refuse to lay down the arms and start an uprising which the standing army would soon suppress.

Vožd Karađorđe19 century was a century marked by upgrading the system of national but also of the standing army in the autonomous Principality and later Kingdom of Serbia. The army kept abreast of times with the then current European experiences, economical powers.

The Serbian effort to organize an adequate standing army will be opposed by Austria and the Ottoman Empire. On the other hand, the already attained autonomy was not certain, and without the armed forces and military organization, the idea of further struggle for independence was inconceivable.

With the Yedren Treaty (1827-1829), Russia gained patronage over the Serbian Army, so and thus had its impact on the Serbian Army. A small army after its won army was organized by Russia, active officers were from Russia, Russian laws and exercises were introduced. In the period 1830-1835 an infantry battalion, equine squadron and a gun battery were formed. The first group of 12 youths was sent to Russia to be educated as officers. The first Law on the Establishment of Garrison Army was adopted in 1838. The army fell under the competencies of the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

By the end of 1847 the standing army of Serbia barely totaled 2.438 officers, professional military members and soldiers. The infantry was augmented by another battalion consisting of four companies.

Austria did not favor Serbia’s growing statehood and its Army’s. In 1860 junior Serbian officers came from the Austro Hungarian Army into Serbian Army. Also other civilians, mostly Slovenians, doctors, engineers, musicians and branch officers, came into Serbian Army. In 1867, Serbia adopted the Law on Accepting foreign Officers.

But it was France that had a predominant influence on the growth of the Serbian Army, while Prussia had less influence following its victory over Napoleon III. As to the military theory it was based on the thoughts of German military writers, who still kept Napoleon’s military thought alive.

It was no longer possible to improvise with infantry and artillery. An idea of a modernized army was promoted by the most distinguished Serbian politicians and soldiers of those times. All these ideas as well as his experience gained in his later education in France and Vienna general Milivoje Blaznavac passed on to Garasanin as well as the idea of opening the Artillery School ( Military Academy). On the other hand, the vested interests of France in Serbian Army because of the Crimea War led to close cooperation on building a gun factory and on staff education. Then created relations would lead to appointing a Frenchman Hippolyte Monden (1861-1865) Minister of the Army Ministry, who was charged with making a complete study on Serbia. However, it should be noted, that the idea of military professional leading the army followed the death of Duke Milos as in his exodus of the Karadjordjevic dynasty he banished the most distinguished modernization promoters, Blaznavac being among them.

It was Monden who actually established the Army Ministry, and under his competences fell the Ministry of Civil Engineering as bridges, roads, water supply systems and later railway system were a prerequisite in all European countries for mobilization and military operations. Monden’s right hand was Blaznavac. Russian Laws and Regulations were substituted with French or were somewhat tailored to suit Serbian circumstances. Pension funds for officers and NCOs were established, health care service was reorganized, and horse breeding as a prerequisite for raising the army was improved. The Serbian Assembly adopted a Law on National Army. Only the French posit their trust in this army of 100-150.000 soldiers who had reports from Monden as well as experiences in Crimea wars and Garribaldy’s operations. The national army, now equipped with numerous artillery weapons, made visible progress thanks to nation’s zeal.

The Serbian officers’ complaints of the Russian command and of armaments, and of the lack in professionally trained active NCOs and active commanding officers, resulted in an increase in the number of cadets in schools, in establishing a wider peace keeping formation. Following an imposed war on Bulgaria in 1885, King Milan became the military commander in chief and initiated the most important reform which will set foundations for future liberation wars in the period 1912-1918.

In all periods, it was of paramount importance for the strengthening of the Serbian Army for the ruling dynasty and the most prominent political factors to agree. In the periods marked by the domination of political factors over the army and its needs it was sometimes difficult to make even the crucial demands pertaining to army.

A prominent place in the tradition of the Serbian Army the following leaders had: Kardjordje, Duke Milos, Hajduk-Veljko, Tansko Rajic. The units which bore the names of these champions of Serbian people on their flags never disgraced them.

Sretenje (Encounter) or Candelmas (The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple) in Western Christianity, 15/02 February-The Independence Day of Serbia is a date which was in 2001 taken as a Day of the Serbian Armed Forces. This day was taken as a starting day for the establishment of the modern Serbian state and as a national holiday as a remembrance day on Candlemas Day in 1804 when the First Serbian Uprising began in Orasac, and on the same day in 1835 Duke Milos Obrenovic proclaimed the First Serbian Constitution, which was regarded as one of the most liberal and modern constitutions of European in those times.

Today once again, Serbia has its own army, which failed to exist to on 1 December 1918.

The Serbian Army is organized at 3 levels: strategic, operational and tactical.

Forces are organized on strategic, operational and tactical level and into commands, units and institutions. It is basically constituted of arms, branches, services. The Arms represent integrated branches and services which have relatively limited autonomy in warfare at land, sea and air.

Army branches constitute: the infantry, armored units, artillery, engineering, air defense artillery missile units, aviation, navy, electronic reconnaissance and warfare.

Army services can be general and logistics.

General army services are: intelligence, security, liaison, informatics, nuclear-biological-chemical, air reconnaissance and reporting, geodetic, hydro meteorological and hydro-navigational and legal service.

Logistics services are: technical, procurement, medical, transport, vet, construction, and financial service.

The Armed Forces of Serbia consist of

• Serbian Land Forces

• Serbian Air Force and Air Defense

• Training Command of Serbian Army

Since Serbia was the dominant partner in the former union, it has inherited the considerable bulk of the army and air force. However, as Serbia is landlocked, the only navy it could maintain would be on the Danube river.

Land Forces:

• LF 1ST Brigade
  • 10. Command Battalion
  • 11. Infantry Battalion
  • 15. Tank battalion
  • 16. Mechanized Battalion
  • 17. Mechanized Battalion
  • 12. Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion
  • 13. Self-Propelled Missile Launcher Artillery Battalion
  • 14. Air Defense Artillery Battalion
  • 18. Engineer Battalion
  • 19. Logistic Battalion
  • 110. Pontoon Battalion
  • 111. Pontoon Battalion
• LF 2ND Brigade
  • 20. Command Battalion
  • 21. Infantry Battalion
  • 22. Infantry Battalion
  • 26. Tank Battalion
  • 27. Mechanized Battalion
  • 28. Mechanized Battalion
  • 23. Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion
  • 24. Self-Propelled Missile Launcher Artillery Battalion
  • 25. Air Defense Artillery Battalion
  • 210. Engineer Battalion
  • 29. Logistic Battalion
• LF 3RD Brigade
  • 30. Command Battalion
  • 31. Infantry Battalion
  • 32. Infantry Battalion
  • 36. Tank Battalion
  • 37. Mechanized Battalion
  • 38. Mechanized Battalion
  • 33. Self-Propelled Howitzer Artillery Battalion
  • 34. Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion
  • 35. Air Defense Artillery Battalion
  • 310. Engineer Battalion
  • 39. Logistic Battalion
• LF 4TH Brigade
  • 40. Command Battalion
  • 41. Infantry Battalion
  • 42. Infantry Battalion
  • 46. Tank Battalion
  • 47. Mechanized Battalion
  • 48. Mechanized Battalion
  • 43. Self-Propelled Howitzer Artillery Battalion
  • 44. Self-Propelled Rocket Launcher Battalion
  • 45. Air Defense Artillery Rocket Battalion
  • 410. Engineer Battalion
  • 49. Logistic Battalion
• LF Combined-Arms Artillery Brigade
  • Command Division
  • Combined-Arms Artillery Rocket Battalion
  • 1. Howitzer-Cannon-Artillery Battalion
  • 2. Howitzer-Cannon-Artillery Battalion
  • 3. Howitzer-Cannon-Artillery Battalion
  • Logistic Battalion
• 246. NBCW Battalion
• 3. MP Battalion
• 5. MP Battalion
• 21. Liaison Battalion
• River Flotilla of Serbian Armed Forces
  • 93. River Center

Air Force and Air Defense:

• 204th Air Base
  • 101. Fighter-Aviation Squadron
  • 252. Mixed-Aviation Squadron
  • 138. Mixed-Transport-Aviation Squadron
  • 1. Reconnaissance Aviation Section
  • 24. Air Force Technical Battalion
  • 17. Air Base Security Battalion
  • 117. Air Force Air Defense Artillery Battalion
• 98th Air Base
  • 241. Fighter-Bomber-Aviation Squadron
  • 714. Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron
  • 119. Combined-Arms Helicopter Squadron
  • 2. Reconnaissance Aviation Section
  • 24. Air Force Technical Battalion
  • 161. Air Base Security Battalion
  • 98. Air Base Security Battalion
  • 98. Air Force Air Defense Artillery Battalion
• 250. Air Defense Missile Brigade
  • Command Battery
  • 1. Air Force Air Defense Missile Battalion
  • 2. Air Force Air Defense Missile Battalion
  • 3. Air Force Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Battalion
  • 4. Air Force Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Battalion
  • 5. Air Force Air Defense Self-Propelled Missile Battalion
• 126.Center for Air Reconnaissance/Intelligence and Guidance (VOJIN)
  • Command Company
  • 20. VOJIN Battalion
  • 31. VOJIN Battalion
  • Company for air force-technical and technical maintenance and procurement

Training Command of Serbian Army:

• • Command Hq.
  • Training center 1,2,3,4,5,6,7.
  • LF training center
  • Air Force training center
  • Logistics training center
  • Center for training and specializing of lisision,IT and EI.Warfare personnel
  • Center for educating NBCW personnel
  • Combined-Arms training ground "Pasuljanske Livade"

Other units:

• Liaison Brigade
  • 1. Center for stationary liaison
  • 2. Center for stationary liaison
  • 3. Center for stationary liaison
  • 4. Center for stationary liaison
  • Liaison Battalion
• Central logistics base
  • 1. Storage Battalion
  • 2. Storage Battalion
  • 3. Storage Battalion
  • 4. Storage Battalion
  • Command Company
  • SPC Belgrade
  • SPC Belgrade
• Special Brigade
  • Command
  • Commanding Battalion
  • 63rd Paratroop Battalion
  • 72nd Reconnaissance-commando Battalion
  • Antiterrorist Battalion
  • Logistics company
• Guard
  • Adjunct HQ units
  • Honorary Battalion
  • 25. MP Battalion
  • Cobras MP Battalion
  • Logistic Battalion
  • Residential compounds
  • Special-purpose compounds

Serbian army is using various camouflage patterns. In year 2001 M-02 was introduced, with updated "Hrastov List" and new KARST pattern, but only in some special units. M-03 style uniform and new MDU camouflage pattern was introduced in 2006 after a year of extensive testings. High-tech material used on M-03 offers better water resistance, very low visibility in visible specter and when using thermal, photo sensory and opto-electronic detection equipment.

The new Serbian MDU camouflage pattern is a five-colour pattern, comprising black, chocolate brown, Grey-green and medium green swathes on a light green background. The shapes have been elongated horizontally, however — presumably to meet NATO requirements. But even today the most common pattern used is M-93, officially-"Hrastov List", commonly called "Jigsaw" or "Puzzle". This 5 colored pattern was produced with lots of variations but primarily in two shades. One towards brown (fall, no snow winter) and one in green (spring, summer).

Serbian Army also uses NATO Woodland pattern, black uniforms for special forces units, white winter camouflages and many other different camouflage and color uniforms.

As for now, M-MDU03 it's primarily worn by the officers, professional soldiers, army special forces as well by regular army stationed at the administrative Kosovo and Metohija border and will soon be in used by all soldiers.

However, Serbian army has concluded that M-03 as well as MDU-03 kamouflage doesn't meet requirements of Serbian army, and therefore it will not be issued as standard. Serbian army is currently developing new combat, ceremonial, dress uniforms and digital pattern M-03, which is expected to become a standard pattern in near future

• Serbian Army officers.
  Serbian Army officers.
• The Serbian Army Guard
  The Serbian Army Guard
• Serbian Sailor
  Serbian Sailor
• Serbian M-MDU-03
  Serbian M-MDU-03
• MDU-03 in active use.
  MDU-03 in active use.
• NATO Woodland pattern, for fall and mild snow winters.
  NATO Woodland pattern, for fall and mild snow winters.
• Gilly suits, used by sniper teams.
  Gilly suits, used by sniper teams.
• M-03, 3 color desert pattern.
  M-03, 3 color desert pattern.
• Desert camouflage.
  Desert camouflage.
• Serbian Army snow MDU.
  Serbian Army snow MDU.
• Serbian Army snow MDU, perfect for winter conditions.
  Serbian Army snow MDU, perfect for winter conditions.

Some official sources in the army are reporting new ceremonial and dress uniforms; there is also a project to digitize MDU and YPA(JNA) mountain sniper camouflage by the year 2010.

• The symbol of the Army used on dress uniforms
  The symbol of the Army used on dress uniforms
• The symbol of the Army used on camouflage uniforms
  The symbol of the Army used on camouflage uniforms

On February 15, 2007, the new arms and symbols of the Serbian Military were unveiled in Central Cultural Center of the Army in Belgrade. They replaced the old symbols of the Military of Serbia and Montenegro.

Modernization of Land Forces

The Serbian Armed Forces had started mass modernization an reorganization of all components, as stated in its reorganization plan. The first step of modernization was reorganizing all units and command structures to reduce the over all size of the army and make it more maneuverable and professional to respond to dangerous situations, this part of the reorganization plan was fully completed in under 13 months. The withdrawal of old and obsolete weapons such as T-55 tanks, BRDM-2 and BTR-50 APC's, old artillery like D-30, old trucks and so on are also currently in the process. The withdrawn T-55s will be put on sale. The 50 T-72 MBT's will also be put on sale as they are considered surplus. The money from the sale will be used for planned modernization of M-84 MBT's into M-84AB1 MBT. The old APC's and IFV's like BRDM-2 and BTR-50 may be modernized in small numbers but bulk of which are to be withdrawn. The M-80 IFV's will be modernized into M-98 Vidra and will stay in service for some 20 or so years to come. MT-LBs will also stay in service but only as air defense components.

The Army is already putting in service the new VIU-55 Munja engineering vehicles (around 50-100) converted from old T-55 tanks. Artillery will get new NORA B-52 self-propelled cannons converted from M84 "NORA" canons mounted on FAP-2632 military trucks. The army is also putting in service the new FAP-1118 trucks and TARA vehicles. There are also new infantry weapons like M21S Assault Rifle, M93 Black Arrow, M90 rifles and Bumbar RPG's, which are already in service. It is projected that in about three years most of the modernization will be complete and the entire army will become professional.

Modernization of Air Force and Air Defence

There are plans to obtain around 20 or more new fighter aircraft to replace the aging MiG-21 fleet that is due to retire around 2010 to the latest, although Serbia does plan to retain its MiG-29s for some time. Plans are also being made to obtain new transport helicopters and aircraft as well. The Air Force will also modernized all G-4 Super Galebs in to G-4M, and it will begin the use to new Lasta 95s Lasta trainer airplanes to replace old Lola Utva 75s as soon as analysis is completed.^{[citation needed]} Currently Serbia is modernizing 4 MiG-29's, 1 An-26, 3 Mi-8's, 2 Mi-17's, 2 Mi-24's, and next year it will modernized 4 An-26's, the last MiG-29 is also planned to be modernized.

These are some possible options for replacement. No formal decision has been made yet on when or what purchases will be made, The ministry of defense is expected to increase its budget in the following years providing assistance in the modernization of the air force. The Air Force will get 20 new multi-role fighters to replace MiG-21's, 15 new helicopters to replace Mi-8's, and five new cargo aircrafts to replace An-26's and An-2.

• New fighters:
  • 20x F-16C/D or JAS 39 Gripen or MiG-29SMT

• New transport helicopters:
  • 15x SA.330 Puma or Euromil Mi-38

• New cargo aircraft:
  • 5x Alenia C-27J or C-130J

• Serbian Air Force and Air Defense
• River Flotilla
• Serbian military ranks
• Special Brigade
• 63rd Paratroop Battalion
• 72nd Reconnaissance-commando Battalion
• Battalion of Military Police Cobras

• Serbian Ministry of Defense
• Official Website

Template:Military institutions in Serbia