Following a series of photographs that quickly went viral days ago, the Serbian government officially confirmed the purchase of new CM-400 cruise missiles from China, which have been fitted to the Serbian Air Force’s MiG-29 fighters. The confirmation, made by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić himself, is a new sign of the growing military cooperation between Belgrade and Beijing, as part of the European country’s efforts to diversify its military equipment suppliers.
As previously reported, a number of images visually confirmed that MiG-29 fighters in service with the Serbian Air Force are already equipped with Chinese-origin weaponry. In particular, the presence of the CM-400 cruise missile stood out, as it would give the Russian/Soviet-designed combat aircraft a second life as a long-range strike platform.
This is not a minor detail, as the confirmation and signing of a contract with France for the purchase of new Dassault Rafale fighters had suggested that the French aircraft would almost immediately replace the MiG-29s. However, these new capabilities could open the door to a complementary use of both platforms, where the French-built fighters would be employed for air defense and air cover missions, while the Russian-origin aircraft could specialize in long-range surface attack and, thanks to the integration of the CM-400, operate outside the engagement range of air defense systems.
Returning to the Serbian president’s statements, he confirmed the acquisition of the Chinese missiles in an interview with the state broadcaster RTS TV, in which he not only stated that the Armed Forces already possess them, but also that the country would move forward with the purchase of additional units from China, further deepening its ties with Beijing.
Prior to acquiring the cruise missiles, and while the Russian conflict has complicated the supply of Russian-made equipment—historically a key provider of military hardware—Belgrade has advanced in diversifying its suppliers, as evidenced by the acquisition of Rafale fighters from France.
In the case of China, the Serbian Armed Forces already operate the FK-3 air defense system, an export version of the HQ-22 in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), which were acquired through agreements reached in 2019. Through these deals, the country confirmed the purchase of four batteries and associated systems for their operation.
Finally, in light of this latest development, the official confirmation also serves as a warning signal for NATO, which, despite past conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and ongoing tensions with Croatia, considers Serbia a partner of the alliance and promotes initiatives aimed at strengthening security and stability in Europe in general and the Balkans in particular.
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