Serbia can be said to be one of the major customers of Chinese weapons in recent years. In 2020, Serbia purchased the Changhong 92A of the Rainbow UAV family from China. Serbia signed a contract with China for 9 aircraft worth 30 million US dollars. All Changhong 92A were deliver

Serbia can be said to be one of the major customers of Chinese weapons in recent years. In 2020, Serbia purchased the Changhong 92A of the family of rainbow drones from China. Serbia had signed a contract with China for 9 aircraft worth 30 million US dollars. All Changhong 92As were delivered in June 2020. In addition, 50 air-to-ground missiles FT-8C mounted on the Changhong 92A drones were also included. The Changhong 92A UAV has a combat radius of more than 250 kilometers, a maximum flight altitude of 5,000 meters, and a speed of slightly less than 200 kilometers per hour. It can mount two missiles

Serbia buys FK-3 Long-range surface-to-air missile system

In addition, this year, Serbia also ordered the FK-3 medium- and long-range surface-to-air missile system from China. FK-3 is a medium- and long-range surface-to-air missile system developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation . The FK-3 missile system made its debut. At the 10th China International Aerospace Expo held in Zhuhai in 2014, the FK-3 surface-to-air missile has a range of 5-100 kilometers and a shooting height of 0.05 kilometers-27 kilometers. It adopts tilt launch and radar can track 12 targets and launch attacks on the 6 most threatening targets. can intercept various low-altitude and high-altitude flying targets, including fighter planes, helicopters, missiles, etc. missile radio command plus semi-active radar guidance mode uses an 8×8 off-road truck chassis. The

radar control part uses the active phased array radar , and is also backward compatible with and 's ability to command old command-guided surface-to-air missiles such as Hongqi-2/S-75. The

FK-3 air defense missile system combat unit is a battalion. Serbia has purchased a total of three battalions of this type of equipment. One battalion includes 6 missile launch vehicles , a close-in defense radar vehicle, a fire control radar vehicle, a command vehicle, and a power supply vehicle and ammunition preparation vehicle.

China has dispatched transportation 20 delivery

However, Serbia’s purchase of Chinese weapons was blocked by NATO . Germany threatened Serbia for this if Serbia wanted to become EU members should have their foreign policies consistent with the EU. NATO even stated that completing the arms delivery would "threaten peace in the European region"

Previously, in April 2022, China dispatched six PLA Air Transport-20 aircraft to deliver to Serbia. FK-3 air defense missiles, and 15 drones . The entire set of equipment adds up to at least thirty launch vehicles, command vehicles, bomb-loading vehicles, etc.

The Y-20 large transport aircraft is a new generation of large military transport aircraft independently developed by China. Its maximum take-off weight is 200 tons. It adopts a cantilevered upper monoplane, a swept leading edge, and no winglets. It has high reliability and safety, as well as certain expansion capabilities, and can perform long-distance air transportation tasks of various materials and personnel under complex weather conditions. China has successively flown Y-20 aircraft to Tonga, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other places to carry out humanitarian relief missions. As far as the range of the Y-20 is concerned, it will have no problem sending field troops into Australia without refueling midway.

American flight trackers also discovered that the Y-20 aircraft appeared in Turkish airspace and flew westward toward Serbia. The fact that 6 Y-20s went overseas to perform missions at the same time is a record, highlighting the improvement of the strategic delivery capabilities of the Y-20.

China's delivery still encounters difficulties

However, in the face of obstruction from NATO, China's weapons delivery still encounters difficulties. Recently, Serbian Defense Minister Vucevic participated in the "Good Morning" program of local TV Prva television media. During the show, he admitted for the first time that there were some problems with Serbia's plan to import weapons.

He said that there are obstacles in the transportation of weapons imported by Serbia from China. There are difficulties in delivering two sets of FK-3 air defense missile systems to Serbia at the end of the year. NATO countries Bulgaria does not allow China’s Y-20 transport aircraft to pass through its airspace to transport weapons to Serbia. But on the other hand, these weapons are unique because other countries have not provided similar advanced weapons to Serbia.

This is indeed a very embarrassing thing, because of Serbia’s special status and location, it is completely surrounded by NATO countries. If China wants to send out the Y-20 to deliver goods, it must pass through the airspace of NATO countries. When the Y-20 arrived in Serbia in April, it passed through multiple NATO member states. The route in April is roughly through Central Asia - Caspian Sea - South Caucasus - Black Sea - Turkey - Bulgaria - Serbia, passing through the skies of two NATO member states, namely Türkiye and Bulgaria.

Last time, Türkiye and Bulgaria agreed to allow the Y-20 transport aircraft to pass through their airspace, but currently NATO countries do not agree to the passage of the Chinese Y-20 transport aircraft through their airspace.

This is one of the problems that Chinese weapons need to solve if they want to gain a foothold in the international market. If we can't even deliver goods, then why should other countries buy Chinese weapons?

It can be said that how to solve the problem of delivery of weapons orders from Serge is very important to China's military industry . has established a safe and reliable image for our country's military industry. Military industry is no better than other transactions. It is safe, reliable and trustworthy. After all, the weapons imported by any country are based on demand and are also to enhance national defense strength. If weapons and equipment cannot be delivered on time or even be blocked, then it will be impossible to establish prestige in the international military industry market. In addition, if China can break through NATO's obstruction, it also proves that if China wants, it can quickly project more powerful forces to any country or region in the future. This will act as a deterrent to some countries.