Serbia opens factory to assemble Israeli combat drones

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that he had inaugurated a factory in Serbia for assembling Israeli-made combat drones as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s military capabilities.

Vučić announced in April that Serbia would produce combat drones in cooperation with Israel. Local media reported at the time that Serbia’s state-owned arms producer Yugoimport SDPR would establish a drone plant together with Israeli defense company Elbit Systems, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

In an Instagram post on September 17, Vučić said the new factory would employ around 100 people and produce “the most modern equipment” for the Serbian military and the armed forces of other countries.

No further details about the facility were disclosed. Vučić said the press could not be invited to the opening because of the “confidentiality of the production process.”

“Our plans are huge,” Vučić wrote, adding that Serbia aims to establish at least three more factories across the country in cooperation with its Israeli partners.

Videos posted on Instagram showed Vučić touring the facility, inspecting a drone and briefly operating it.

“Now you can see how the drone is used and how it works,” Vučić said. “They go through the windows and chase the opponent; they are incredibly efficient.”

“I am very happy that we have reached this level of development,” he added, noting that warheads for the drones would be produced at Serbia’s Krusik weapons factory.

The video also showed Vučić listening to a Serbian employee explain the drone’s operation. “It looks even more complicated than I expected,” he responded.

Vučić is facing a high-stakes early parliamentary election on October 25, which will test his political dominance following nearly two years of anti-government protests.

Serbia ordered 12 French-made Rafale fighter jets in 2024 as part of efforts to modernize its military. Belgrade has also acquired military equipment from China and Russia, maintaining close ties with both countries while formally pursuing European Union membership.

By Vafa Guliyeva