The Aviation Magazine – No. 79 – 2022-07&08

Page 92

SERBIAN SHIE

T

he Serbian force development program started after the 78 days of the NATO air war in 1999. Yugoslavia, of which Serbia was the central power after the Balkan Wars, which made Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina independent states, suffered another major territorial loss with the annexation of Kosovo, which was imposed by the Western powers. NATO's air war destroyed many economic and military targets, including bridges, power stations, oil refineries, and factories. The Serbian military arsenal

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suffered heavy losses, especially in the infrastructure of aircraft, air defense units, and airfields. Serbia unveiled its force development program in 2016, which also led to a transformation of the force organization in 2019. The Stít 22 (Shield 22) event took place at Batajnica airbase. Almost the entire armament of a battalion combat team was on display, some of which was used for a dynamic demonstration. Air Force and Air Defense armament was also on display, together


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