Military of Serbia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Serbian Army Војска Србије |
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| Branches of service | |
 Serbian Land Forces Serbian Air Force and Air Defense Training Command of Serbian Army |
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| Leadership | |
| Civilian authority: | Dragan Šutanovac |
| Chief of staff: | Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponoš [1] |
| Personnel | |
| Active personnel: | 31,000 ranked 86th[2] |
| Military age population: | 2,579,620 |
| Total fit for service: | 2,077,660 |
| Reaching military age annually: | 81,547 (2003 est.) |
| Military age: | 17 years of age |
| Industry | |
| Annual spending: | 60,4 Billion RSD or 1.2 billion US $(2007) |
| Percent of GDP spent on military: | 2.4% (2007 est.) |
| Major domestic suppliers: | Defence companies of Serbia |
| Major international suppliers: | Russia Germany |
| History | |
 Military history of Serbia |
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| Ranks and insignia | |
| Serbian military ranks and insignia
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The Armed Forces of Serbia (Serbian:Војска Србије or Vojska Srbije) 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.
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[edit] Organization
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
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.
[edit] Serbian Land Forces
The Land Forces (LF) are the oldest and largest branch of Serbian military. It contains four land forces brigades, Special Brigade, Combined arms artillery battalion, river flotila, 246. NBCW battalion, 3. and 5. military police battalion and 21. signal battalion. The 1st Brigade contains one command, infantry, one tank battalion, two mechanized battalions, one self-propelled artillery and one self-propelled artillery rocket battalion, one air defense battalion, one engineer, one logistic battalion and two pontoon battalions. Other three LF brigades contains each from one command, two infantry battalions, one tank, two mechanized, one self-propelled artillery and one self-propelled artillery rocket battalion, one air defense battalion, one engineer and one logistic battalion.
[edit] Main Battle Tanks
The Serbian Land Forces are using M-84 and T-72 MBT's. The 212 M-84's are disposed into battalions. 15 T-72's are used for training and 50 are also in reserve. The Serbian LF have withdrawn all 511 T-55's, and most of them will be scarped or sold.
[edit] Armored Combat Vehicles
The Serbian LF are primary using M-80A IFV's in mechanized battalions, with few BTR-50's as command vehicles. There are also BRDM-2's and BOV-VP's used by reccon and military police units and BTR-60's fitted with Aluminum/Steel armor and BTR-50's used as command vehicles in Air Defense units and MT-LB's used by artillery.
- M-80A - 562 curently being upgraded to the M-98 Vidra
- BOV-M86 - 58 (Used by Military police)
- BOV-1 - 84
- BRDM-2 - 28
- BTR-50 -20
- MT-LB - 50
- BTR-60 - 6 (air defense command vehicle)
[edit] Artillery systems
- M-74 and M-75 120 mm mortars - 560
- M84 "NORA A" - 36
- M-46 [4] - 180
- D-30 - (303 in reserve)[5]
- M-94 "Plamen S" - 18 (30 in reserve)
- M-77 "Oganj" - 60 (40 in reserve)
- M87 "Orkan" - 4
- 2S1 Gvozdika - 72
[edit] Serbian Air Force and Air Defense
The Serbian Air Force has about 3,000 active personnel and 170 aircraft in 2 main bases. Although largely neglected, the air force is currently begun mass modernization to bring it up to standards. Fighter aviation contains from about 25-30 MiG-21 aircraft's and 5 MiG-29's (which will be overhauled in Russia). The Serbian Air Force also have a number of Yugoslav-built aircraft such as the J-22 Orao and G-4 Super Galeb. Currently Serbia is modernizing 5 MiG-29's, 1 An-26, 3 Mi-8's, 2 Mi-17's, 2 Mi-24's.
The Air Defense is equipped with SA-6 and S-125 Neva SAM systems, which will be modernized during next years. During the 1999 NATO bombing in Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav Air Defense units brought down several NATO aircraft. Confirmed are two F-16 Fighting Falcon's, an F/A-18 Super Hornet, and many UAVs, as well as a large number of cruise missiles. The greatest achievement of these units was when the 3rd Battalion of the 250th Missile Brigade under the command of Colonel Zoltán Dani shot down a F-117 Nighthawk Stealth fighter jet using an SA-3. One F-117 Nighthawk is also seriously damaged by Serbian Air Defense and it was withdrawn after landing.
[edit] Combat aircraft
- MiG-29 - 5 (upgrading)
- MiG-21 - 25-30
- J-22 Orao - 33
- G-4 Super Galeb - 25
[edit] Transport and non-combat aircraft
- An-26 - 6 (To be phased out)
- An-2 - 1
- YAK-40 - 2 (Government)
- Lola Utva 75 - 12
[edit] Helicopters
- Mi-8 - 29 .est
- Mi-17 - 2 (upgrading)
- Mi-24 - 2 (upgrading)
- Soko Gazelle - 61
[edit] SAM's
[edit] Training Command of Serbian Army
Key novelty in the organization of SAF is the establishing of the training command on 23 April 2007, by merging parts of Operation Forces,LF and Air Force units. This completes the merging of seven territorial centers for basic training and five centers for specialist training of the members of military arms, branches and services. In addition to the training centers, the Training Command also comprises training grounds and firing grounds.
[edit] Modernization
In late 2003, the Serbian Armed Forces had started mass modernization and reorganization of its entire structure. 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 equipment and procurement of replacements is currently in the process. Professionalization of the armed forces is going to be fully completed and implemented by 2010, operating at international standard (NATO) and participating in active peacekeeping operations.
Modernization of Land Forces
T-55 tanks, BRDM-2 and BTR-50 APC's, old artillery such as D-30, old trucks and so on are also currently in the process for being withdrawn and replaced. The withdrawn T-55s will be put on sale. Around 50 T-72 MBT's will sold as they are considered surplus (currently stored). A planned modernization of M-84 MBT's into M-2001 MBT is also due. Older APC's and IFV's such as BRDM-2 and BTR-50 may be modernized in very small numbers, the bulk of which are to be withdrawn. M-80A IFV's will be modernized to serve for a prolonged 10 years. New systems entering in use such as long range Serbian designed ALAS missile system,anti-tank Bumbar, AT-11 Sniper.
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 as well as J-22 that is due to retire around 2010 to the latest, although Serbia does plan to retain its MiG-29s currently. 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. Currently Serbia is modernizing 4 MiG-29's, 1 An-26, 3 Mi-8's, 2 Mi-17's, 2 Mi-24's. The last MiG-29 is also planned to be modernized later on.
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 three new cargo aircraft to replace An-26's and An-2.
[edit] Uniforms
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 camouflage doesn't meet requirements of Serbian army, and therefore it will not be issued as standard pattern. Serbian army is currently developing new combat, ceremonial, dress uniforms and digital pattern, which is expected to become a standard pattern in near future
 The symbol of the Army used on dress uniforms |
The symbol of the Army used on camouflage uniforms |
 Subdued version of national flag worn on camouflage uniform |
 Serbian flag with desert digital camouflage pattern |
 M-03 camouflage uniform |
 Variant of new digital camouflage pattern for Serbian Army |
 M-03, 3 color desert pattern. |
 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.
[edit] Peacekeeping operations
Currently peace keeping operations involving Serbian Armed Forces are located in the troubled regions of Africa. The Serbian Armed Forces has expressed wishes to continue its active participation in these peace keeping roles and to further expand them and ensure lasting peace world wide.
Current peace keeping missions
Future peace keeping missions
[edit] Gallery
 Serbian soldiers on patrol. |
 Serbian Army engineers |
 72nd.in gilly suits |
 NBCW units cleaning TAM-150 equipped for bio-hazard cleaning. |
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.vojska.mod.gov.yu/eng/organizacija/cv-nacelnika_gs.htm
- ^ http://www.vojska.mod.gov.yu/lat/o_vojsci/dan_vojske.htm
- ^ http://www.vojska.mod.gov.yu/eng/naoruzanje/kov/oklopno_borbena_sredstva/Tenk_M84.html
- ^ http://www.vojska.mod.gov.yu/lat/jedinice/kov/mabr.html
- ^ http://www.vojska.mod.gov.yu/eng/naoruzanje/kov/artiljerija/Haubica_122mm_D30.html
[edit] External links
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| Serbian Armed Forces •• Serbian Land Forces • Serbian Air Force and Air Defense • Training Command of Serbian Army Serbian Military Police  • Serbian Gendarmerie  • Intelligence and Security Sector  |
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