Defense official says Rafale fighters most expensive purchase

Ministry State Secretary Nemanja Starovic told the pro-government TV Prva that the procurement process for Dassault Aviation Rafale fighters is very complicated and that it has been underway for years. “All the requirements defined by expert military services are completed but what remains, and that was surely discussed yesterday and will continue to be discussed, is the financial component, the financial part of the arrangement because these are very extensive finances,” he said.

President Aleksandar Vucic said in Paris on Monday that the deal to buy the 4th generation Rafale fighters would be confirmed by himself and French President Emanuel Macron at a formal dinner.

According to Starovic, the purchase of the fighters is expensive but “Serbia’s security has not price”. He recalled that Serbia has a number of Airbus helicopters as well as Mistral missiles and French radars.

“Increasing capacities has to be an absolute priority given the circumstances on the European continent and the rest of the world…. Serbia is a politically and militarily neutral country, we are not under the umbrella of some great power, military alliance and we have to be capable of defending our country,” Starovic said.