Serbia bought FK-3 missile system in the year 2019
Categories: Trade
Serbia bought FK-3 missile system in the year 2019
Serbia bought the FK-3 missile system in the year 2019, reflecting the growing ties between China and this European country. This missile system was sent to Belgrade at a time when the Chinese President congratulated him on the re-election of the President of Serbia. The deployment of China's Y-20 aircraft fleet is seen as a demonstration of China's strategic reach in the midst of the Ukraine crisis. China has not condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine. Not only this, China has also voted in support of Russia in the United Nations. Serbia has openly supported Russia in the war in Ukraine. It is clear from this display of power by China that its transport capacity has improved a lot. At the same time this is a new and big development for the whole of Europe.
Serbia bought FK missile system in the year:
The only European nation currently using the Chinese missilesystem and CH-92A combat drones is Serbia.
While the world's attention was on Russia and its invasion ofUkraine, a significant military deal was struck between Serbia and China. AChinese FK-3 air defence surface-to-air missile system was delivered to theSerbian army on April 9 by six People's Liberation Army Air Force Y-20 deliveryaircraft at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport.
The agreement was finalised in 2019 and made public in 2020.The Serbian military established a new unit in March with the responsibility ofreceiving the FK-3 system. Given the conflict in Ukraine, the timing of thisdeal is remarkable. This is a known goal of Beijing's to use Serbia as agateway to the European defence markets. The agreement is supported byBelgrade's need to update its antiquated defence systems, the foreign policynecessity of balancing external major powers, and the leadership's desire towin over the populace.
The Serbian government wants to strengthen its negotiatingposition with the West by acquiring weapon systems from nations like China.Russia is a consideration. In particular, Serbia has been relying more on Chinathan Russia as its main East Asian ally over the past two years. In fact,Russian media pieces expressed ire at Serbia for purchasing the Chinese systemrather than the Russian-made S-300 missile system in 2020 when the FK-3 systempurchase was revealed.
Although the Russians have since created more sophisticatedmissile defence systems—such as the S-400 that NATO member Turkey recentlypurchased and the recently launched S-500—the original S-300 has a mythicalstatus in Serbia because it is thought that if Serbia had this system in 1999,NATO would not have intervened. Serbia chose the Chinese system over theRussian one, which speaks something about the new wave of Chinese missiletechnology represented by the FK-3.
Serbia is attempting to strike a compromise between itscenturies-old religious, ethnic, and political connection with Russia and itspartnership with NATO and aspirations to join the European Union.
Belgrade ordered the Chinese FK-3 surface-to-air missiledefence system in 2019 and received it earlier this month. This system iscomparable to the US Patriot or the Russian S-300.