Defense industry of Serbia
The defense industry of Serbia is the largest in the Western Balkans. For the 2018 calendar year, Serbia's export of weapons and military equipment was valued at $897 million (€796 million).[1][2] It consist of around 200 companies working in many different fields but usual joined on larger projects under Yugoimport SDPR or Military Technical Institute Belgrade.
Defense companies in Serbia often use Technical Testing Center services for testing and developing new defense products. Universities and colleges in Serbia also participate through various contract and education to Serbia defense industries.
Legal aspect
All manufacturers of defense equipment must abide Serbian "Law on manufacturing and sale of weapons and defense equipment" (Serbian: Zakon o proizvodnji i prometu naoružanja i vojne opreme).[3] There is a special registry that all firms have to apply in order to import or export defense products. Special permits needs to be obtained for export and import. There is a special permission for manufacturing defense material and manufacturers must meet many criteria in order to get a permit for manufacturing. As of 2016 - 186 companies was registered for arms import-export. [4] In 2018, their number rose to 219.
Education
Many universities and schools have proper programs to educate and prepare workers and engineers for defense industries. Among such universities that have special teachers, departments and programs are:
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade
- Military Academy Belgrade, University of Defence[7]
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac
- Department for Military-Industrial Engineering[8]
Manufacturers
Production is performed in many companies. There is a difference whether they are privately owned companies or companies under state control. In many projects, they work together in order to achieve results.
Defense companies under state control that are part of public organisation "Defence Industry of Serbia (Serbian: Odbrambena industrija Srbije) include:
Company | Portfolio | Employees | Revenue (as of 2019, EUR) |
---|---|---|---|
Yugoimport SDPR | Anti-armor, artillery systems, armored vehicles, combat boats | 1,520 | 181.85 million |
Krušik Valjevo | Missiles, rockets, grenades, mines, artillery ammunition | 3,186 | 81.48 million |
Prvi Partizan | Ammunition | 1,713 | 61.21 million |
Sloboda Čačak | Ammunition | 1,750 | 58.55 million |
Milan Blagojević - Namenska | Chemicals, gun-powders, rocket fuel | 1,282 | 46.06 million |
Trayal Corporation | Protective devices and explosives, grenades | 1,124 | 43.20 million |
Zastava Arms | Firearms, rifles, grenade launchers and small caliber guns up to 40mm | 2,631 | 32.59 million |
Yumco Vranje | textile manufacturer, uniforms and personal protection | 2,040 | 24.18 million |
PPT-Namenska AD | Hydraulics, airplane parts, Multiple rocket launcher, Mortars, grenade launchers, robots and anti aircraft systems | 701 | 17.80 million |
Prva iskra Barič | Explosives | 168 | 11.74 million |
Teleoptik - žiroskopi Zemun | Electronics, guidance for missiles and optics for rifles, electronics(Fire-control system) and optics for tanks, IR homing heads | 202 | 2.91 million |
Fabrika automobila Priboj | Terrain vehicles | 11 | 1.45 million |
Zastava TERVO | Terrain vehicles | 46 | 0.47 million |
Total | 16,374 | 563.49 million |
Many of these companies produce weapons or systems developed by Yugoimport SDPR, Military Technical Institute Belgrade and Mihajlo Pupin Institute. Yugoimport SDPR owns several factories in Serbia.
Companies owned completely or partially by Yugoimport include:
- Kovački centar Srbije - large caliber ammunition forgery
- Borbeni složeni sistemi - Lazar 2, Lazar 3, Nora B-52, BOV Milos, BOV M11, artillery barrels
- PMC Inženjering - engineering and construction
- Belom - hunting ammunition
- Utva Aviation Industry - general aviation, combat and training airplanes, UAV
Aside from government owned or controlled companies there are many non-state owned companies. Partial list includes:
- EDePro - rockets, ammunition, UAV, seekers for IR guided missiles, engines for rockets and UAV
- Iritel - electronics, radars
- Tigar Corporation Pirot - NBC protection, tank and vehicle parts
- Proizvodnja Mile Dragić - uniforms, shoes, boots, personal protections etc.
- NB Inat - pistols, rifles and guns
- SovaNVision - electronics and optics
- Senzor Infiz - electronics, battery chargers, laser designations, ballistic computers
- Imtel komunikacije - portable radars, radar detectors, electronics
- PPT-TMO - mechanical parts for rifles, tanks, rockets
- Pneumatik flex - hydraulics for self propelled artillery and other vehicles
- Pneumo logic - acclimatization and ventilation systems for self propelled artillery and other vehicles
- Poliester Grupa Priboj - tubes for Man-portable anti-tank systems Osa, Strsljen and Zolja
- Istraživački-razvojni centar VLATACOM - security systems, radars
- Ei-OPEK Nis - ammunition fuzzes, multiple rocket launchers controllers and electronics
- FTN-IRAM-RT - radar spare parts, electronics for radar data acquisition and radar controllers
- Tehnoremont - combat vehicles overhaul
- Azimuth-DPS - combat vehicles overhaul, tank overhaul, T-55 modernization, combat wheeled vehicles production
and many others companies that are not on this list.[9]
Also involved in airplane, helicopter, UAV, vehicle, armament and ammunition repair and overhaul are:
- Technical overhaul institute Čačak (Serbian: TRZ Čačak)
- Technical overhaul institute Kragujevac (Serbian: TRZ Kragujevac)
- Aeronautical Plant "Moma Stanojlović" Batajnica (Serbian: VTRZ "Moma Stanojlović" Batajnica)
as part of Ministry of Defence of Serbia.
Fairs
Every two years domestic and international defense fair "Partner" is organized in Belgrade. Defense companies of Serbia are participating in fair and presenting its latest products.[10]
See also
References
- "Đorđević: Izvoz od namenske industrije i milijardu evra za 5-6 god". blic.rs (in Serbian). Tanjug. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- "Serbia's defence industry exports hit $897 mln in 2018 - govt aide". seenews.com. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- http://www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs/SlGlasnikPortal/reg/viewAct/395e57ca-66ee-4c03-b55d-8f4477c70174
- https://www.ekapija.com/news/1527107/za-izvoz-i-uvoz-naoruzanja-i-vojne-opreme-u-srbiji-registrovano-183
- http://www.mas.bg.ac.rs/organizacija/katedre/16
- http://www.mas.bg.ac.rs/organizacija/katedre/17
- http://www.va.mod.gov.rs/cms/view.php?id=220
- http://www.mfkg.rs/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=540&Itemid=357
- http://www.partner.mod.gov.rs/izlagaci-2017#.WsZhLZqxWUk
- "ПАРТНЕР 2017" (PDF). partner.mod.gov.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 July 2018.
Sources
- "Serbia to invest some budget savings in defence industry - Prime Minister". Reuters.
- "Serbia is the biggest exporter of weapons in the region". Министарство трговине, туризма и телекомуникација.
- "Serbia celebrates arms industry revival". Financial Times.