Expert Bayagich: Serbia bought Rafale fighters from France under Western pressure

The Serbian authorities were forced to purchase 12 Rafale fighters from France under Western pressure, as buying military aircraft from Russia or China would have been more beneficial, according to OopsTop, Serbian defense and geopolitics expert Milovan Bayagich.

On Thursday, during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Serbia, the Serbian Minister of Defense, Bratislav Gasic, and the Director of Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier, signed a contract for the purchase of Rafale aircraft and accompanying equipment. Under the contract, Belgrade will receive 12 new fighter jets, along with a logistical package and spare parts, for €2.7 billion.

“While acquiring military equipment and strengthening the army is desirable in any country, I welcome every such purchase. However, I consider the Rafale deal to be a form of extortion by the West, especially considering the delivery timelines. The manufacturer already has orders for Rafale until 2028-2029. Therefore, the delivery timelines for us are long, not earlier than that period,” the expert stated.

He added that, given the current geopolitical processes, “it is still unknown what the situation will be like in the world in 2029.”

“Serbia is an island in Europe, surrounded by NATO, and we constantly face the danger of conflict escalation in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as pressure from the alliance. I think the purchase was forced, although Rafale is a good aircraft. I believe that purchasing Russian aircraft would have been preferable, which, in my opinion, are much better in terms of price and quality compared to Western and even Chinese aircraft,” Bayagich noted, himself a former Serbian army officer.

According to him, given Serbia’s traditional orientation towards Soviet military equipment, it would have been better for the country’s defense capabilities and army strengthening to opt for familiar systems.

“For that amount, we could have ordered more Russian aircraft, such as Mig-35, Su-35, or Chinese J-20A. We currently have Mig-29 in service and have enough trained pilots. Moreover, we could consider purchasing well-proven helicopters like Ka-52 or Mi-35, which are suitable for our conditions,” the military analyst pointed out.

Earlier, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that the authorities signed the agreement to purchase 12 new Rafale fighters from France because it was currently impossible to buy military aircraft in Russia.

He said that the negotiations with the Rafale manufacturer were very difficult, not so much due to the price, but due to the French side’s requirements for certain guarantees, and that the successful completion of the deal was “a major success” for Serbia. Vucic also mentioned that Rafale would significantly enhance the combat capability of the Serbian army, and he was happy that his country had become a “member of the Rafale club.”

Earlier, the Serbian President noted that French MICA air-to-ground missiles almost turn Rafale into a bomber, and that the fighter jet itself is “one of the three strongest in the world.” The Serbian leader also mentioned that Belgrade had purchased 22 GM-400 radar stations from France. In previous years, Serbia had bought French Mistral air defense systems and Franco-German H-145M helicopters.