President Macron's official visit to the Serbian capital was an opportunity to rebuild the weakened ties between the two countries since the Yugoslav wars, and the inexplicable protocol blunder during the commemoration of the end of the Great War, or the Serbian president, representing one of France's most faithful allies in this conflict, was relegated to second place, while the Turkish and Kosovar presidents had the honors of first place. Whatever the case, Belgrade seems not to hold these events against France, since President Macron was, it seems, very well received, and he leaves Serbia with a Defense contract, a order for Mistral 3 anti-aircraft defense systems from MBDA.
In recent years, Belgrade has especially moved closer to Moscow in terms of defense equipment, with several orders for weapon systems such as the delivery of 6+3 modernized Mig29s, the order for T72 and BRDM-2 armored vehicles, and that of 7 Mi17 and 3 Mi35 helicopters. At the same time, the country was the first European country to implement a Chinese MALE Wing Long II drone, of which it acquired 7 examples. But the Serbian authorities have always maintained a strong link with the European Union in this area, for example with the order in 2018 for 9 H145M helicopters from Airbus Hélicoptères.
The Mistral short-range anti-aircraft missile is one of the great successes of the Franco-British MBDA group. Sold in more than 16.000 copies to more than 25 countries, it can engage aircraft as well as helicopters, cruise missiles and drones of sufficient size, whatever their exposure. Its range exceeds 6000 meters, and its speed reaches Mach 2,7, making it possible to engage fast aircraft in the rear sector. Since its entry into service in 1989, the missile has evolved to adapt to new engagement contexts. Thus, the Mistral 3 has a seeker displaying great resistance to decoys, and increased sensitivity allowing it to engage both aerial and terrestrial targets.
In this regard, an ALAT Tiger helicopter used, during the French intervention in Libya in 2011, a Mistral missile to destroy an armored vehicle moving at high speed with significant deviation, while the Viviane gazelles equipped with HOT n missiles they couldn't do it. In addition to the Tiger helicopters, the Mistral equips the artillery regiments of the French land forces, as well as various naval units, via the SIMBAD and SADRAL systems, notably ensuring close anti-missile and anti-aircraft protection for the PAN Charles de Gaulle, Mistral PHAs and Light Stealth Frigates.
