Serbia Eyes Russian Combat Helicopters, Missile Defense System

Serbia is eyeing to purchase combat helicopters, ballistic missiles from Russia.

"Now we will have to and we have already begun to look at buying combat helicopters, because some of our neighbours have already received 16 Kiowa helicopters," Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic was quoted as saying by Tass Sunday.

US approved 16 Kiowa helicopters to Croatia earlier this year.

The Prime Minister is on a visit to Russia this week and will be discussing weapon supplies.

"When we manufacture the Nora howitzer we need Kamaz frames that are capable of carrying more than 35 tonnes, and this is one of the grounds for talks with the Russians. Second topic is the artillery gun 242 we install on the Lazar armoured vehicle," he told journalists.

"We have to think about response in terms of ballistic missiles, though we seek no conflicts anywhere, with anyone ever. But we are simply to be prepared and are to know that Serbia has relevant forces for anyone who might think Serbia is an easy game," he said.

He said Serbia was keeping a close eye on what was going on in neighbouring countries and "cannot allow any violation of the balance of forces in the region."

Although "Serbia is a small country and a small nation," it will always have as much means of defense as necessary, "so that no one could ever think of using force against Serbia," Vucic said, adding that his country’s government was tightly working on that matter.