Serbian military commissions newly bought Chinese anti-aircraft missile system

Asia-Pacific, Europe, News May 9, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Serbian military displayed its newly bought Chinese-made anti-aircraft missile system. The anti-aircraft missile system has been delivered as a part of the contract that also includes the delivery of Chinese-made drones to Serbia.

Serbian military’s procurement of four Chinese-made FK-3 (the Serbian export version of China’s HQ-22 anti-aircraft missile system) has raised concerns among the West and Serbia’s neighbors about the arms buildup in the region as it threatens the fragile peace in the Balkans. However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters at the time of delivery that it is a part of the China-Serbia annual cooperation plan and the deal does not aim to target a third party. He also stressed that delivery of the system “has nothing to do with the current situation.”

Serbia signed a contract with China in 2020 for the delivery of FK-3 as well as CH-92 armed drones. The contract between the two countries marked China’s largest-ever delivery of weapons to European nations.

Despite the fact that Serbia is actively seeking membership into the European Union, the country has also been inclined toward having an engaging relationship with Moscow and Beijing, as most of the Serbian arms needs are fulfilled by China or Russia. Serbian military’s line of active weaponry is full of Russian-made articles including T-72 battle tanks, MiG-29 fighter Jets, and Mi-35 attack helicopters and drones.

Back in 2020, when the deal between China and Serbia was underway for the purchase of the FK-3 system, U.S. officials warned Belgrade against it by stating that if Serbia wants to join the EU, it must align its military equipment with Western standards.

China’s HQ-22 anti-aircraft missile system is often compared to the U.S. Patriot and Russian S-300 surface-to-air attack missile systems. Serbia has become the first operator of the Chinese missile system in Europe. Apart from Serbia, different versions of Chinese HQ-22 are being used in Myanmar, Thailand, and Turkmenistan while Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Algeria are in line to receive their own export variants of HQ-22 anti-aircraft missile system soon.

*^{Serbian military commissioned the Chinese FK-3 anti-aircraft missile system. (Image Credit: Twitter)}*

The FK-3 version of the HQ-22 surface-to-air missile system has a maximum range of 150-170 kilometers and the missile is capable of traveling at a top of Mach 6.

While commenting on FK-3’s addition to the Serbian defense system, President Aleksandar Vučić stated that “We will no longer allow to be a punching bag for anyone.” Vučić was referring to the time when Serbia suffered a 78-day-long NATO bombardment in 1999 for its crackdown against Albania and Kosovo. Serbia still does not recognize the independence of Kosovo, which was declared in 2008.

The country also holds a frosty relationship with its Balkan neighbors and NATO member states of Croatia, Bosnia, and Montenegro. All three countries have accused Serbia of inciting insurgency in their countries through its planted separatist leaders. Serbia is also one of the few European countries that have refused to follow the western sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.