{"id":56981,"date":"2017-10-02T18:48:08","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T18:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/10\/02\/serbia-receives-russian-mig-29-jets-during-tension-in-the-balkans\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:09:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:09:45","slug":"serbia-receives-russian-mig-29-jets-during-tension-in-the-balkans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2017\/10\/02\/serbia-receives-russian-mig-29-jets-during-tension-in-the-balkans\/","title":{"rendered":"Serbia receives Russian MiG-29 jets during tension in the Balkans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BELGRADE, Serbia \u2014 Russia on Monday started delivering six MiG-29 fighter jets to Serbia, part of Moscow\u2019s promised military hardware that could worsen tensions in the war-weary Balkans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two of the disassembled warplanes were transported on a Russian cargo plane that landed at a military airport near Belgrade on Monday afternoon. All six are to arrive by Oct. 20, when Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is expected in the Serbian capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moscow is handing over the MiGs for free, but it\u2019s estimated the overhaul of the secondhand aircraft will cost Serbia some $236 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia has also promised the delivery of 30 battle tanks and 30 armored vehicles to Serbia, which was at war with its neighbors Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s during the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Monday that in addition to the jets, the country will boost its anti-aircraft defense. It has been negotiating the purchase of the Russian-made S-300 systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\t