Serbian Air Force- Stuck at the crossroads.

[Versus]

In terms of size? As I stated earlier your problems are no different or more serious than any other small European nation. In terms of politics? You either have to choose a side and live with the consequences or else? Just stay neutral and don't bother having any sort of real air force at all! (In the hope that no-one thinks your worth bothering with as a result.) You can't have your cake and eat it to, it's one or the other. So make a decision!

But they are...
We tried both sides through out our history, on multiple occasions and it sucked every time. Stay neutral and have kick ass air force and whole specter of deterrents is a preferable choice. Currently we are thin on that matter but at least we are moving in good direction. Those three nuclear reactors will finally remove that idiotic nationalistic romanticism that doomed us in both 19th and 20th century. Don't worry about us, no one would dare to touch France's nuclear dumpster but we need to be extra serious if we want to survive. It's time for us to finally grow up.

[Versus]

Restoration effort of our F-86.

[Versus]

The two months deadline hasn't passed yet and first cracks appear in the Rafale acquisition deal, regarding finances. It doesn't matter, its too late now. The countdown has begun yesterday.
The destruction of S-400 is a proof that my analysis is right. We have no choice but VTOL option.

[Versus]

Guy here makes fully functional F-16 cockpit so he could play DCS. Now that is commitment.

[Versus]

More arguments for vtol point base defense fighter for us.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/10/e...-ml/index.html

[Versus]

The deadline has passed regarding Rafale acquisition and not a word has been mentioned regarding that matter. Meanwhile, a new buzz has emerged, saying that, now, Serbia is interested in buying used Greek Mirage 2000's as a stop gap measure for aging fleet of MiG-29's. However, with the situation in Ukraine developing into a prelude for full scale s...storm, that scenario is highly unlikely. To add a bit of fire to already boiling and seeding Balkan cauldron, recent Croatian announcement for a new acquisition of AH-64 Apache's causes some pretty pathetic and funny reactions among our defense circles. Expected but very funny. Circus keeps rolling its act, for how long, remains to be seen.

[Versus]

It is done, they signed the deal for 2.7 billion today for 12 aircraft. What will be included in the package remains to be seen.

[Versus]

And as it was predicted, Croatian acquisition of HIMARS systems rendered all airbases useless and thus Rafale purchase equally useless...What a glorious waste of money.

[Monash]

And as it was predicted, Croatian acquisition of HIMARS systems rendered all airbases useless and thus Rafale purchase equally useless...What a glorious waste of money.

I'm sorry but you keep going on as if you expect an imminent war with Serbia's immediate neibhours. Why? Croatia is a member of NATO and while it could theoretically launch an unprovoked war of aggression on any of it's neighbors doing so with see it immediately at risk of expulsion from both NATO and the EU with serious impacts on its economy resulting. Why would Croatia want even to attack Serbia? Why would Bulgaria, Romania or Montenegro want one? You may as well be worrying about an imminent invasion from Mars as a looming conflict with any of your other neighbors and for the exactly same reasons as is the case with Croatia. They have no sane reason to want one!

Sure there might be a chance of some future conflict with or in Kosovo or Bosnia but even if that were to happen neither country is as militarily powerful as Serbia and again neither country want's to risk the ire of NATO and the EU by starting a war since they're both ultimately dependent on these institutions for their ongoing survival.

Lastly Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia etc. They are ALL geographically smaller than Serbia and none of them have any intrinsic problem operating conventional fixed wing combat aircraft from conventional runways. Why should Serbia so be different? All of Europe has faced the traumatic consequences of the previous century's wars and all of them have survived and gone on to prosper through mutual co-operation. Why can't Serbia do the same?

[Versus]

I'm sorry but you keep going on as if you expect an imminent war with Serbia's immediate neibhours. Why? Croatia is a member of NATO and while it could theoretically launch an unprovoked war of aggression on any of it's neighbors doing so with see it immediately at risk of expulsion from both NATO and the EU with serious impacts on its economy resulting. Why would Croatia want even to attack Serbia? Why would Bulgaria, Romania or Montenegro want one? You may as well be worrying about an imminent invasion from Mars as a looming conflict with any of your other neighbors and for the exactly same reasons as is the case with Croatia. They have no sane reason to want one!

Sure there might be a chance of some future conflict with or in Kosovo or Bosnia but even if that were to happen neither country is as militarily powerful as Serbia and again neither country want's to risk the ire of NATO and the EU by starting a war since they're both ultimately dependent on these institutions for their ongoing survival.

Lastly Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia etc. They are ALL geographically smaller than Serbia and none of them have any intrinsic problem operating conventional fixed wing combat aircraft from conventional runways. Why should Serbia so different? All of Europe has faced the traumatic consequence of the previous centuries wars and all of them have survived and gone on to prosper through mutual co-operation. Why can't Serbia do the same?

Because the rule in the "balance of power" game is not based on "Will" but on "Can" and it dictates that if Croatia is more powerful than Serbia it will launch an attack. Its reality, nothing more. That is the main reason for ongoing arms race in the Balkans and those things, well, never end well. Oh, but they do. Unfortunately discussing the reasons for it, is not the subject of this thread but I will try to explain in the autopsy thread.

[Monash]

Because the rule in the "balance of power" game is not based on "Will" but on "Can" and it dictates that if Croatia is more powerful than Serbia it will launch an attack. Its reality, nothing more. That is the main reason for ongoing arms race in the Balkans and those things, well, never end well. Oh, but they do. Unfortunately discussing the reasons for it, is not the subject of this thread but I will try to explain in the autopsy thread.

Granted relations with Croatia aren't good at the moment, the thing is relations between both nations have seen their ups and downs since the breakup of Yugoslavia and today is no different. Some local town burning effigies of the other sides politicians in public square may be in poor taste but it is not a sign of imminent war. As I said before Croatia would be kicked out of the EU if it ever attempted to attack Serbia. The chances of such a war breaking out in this generation is as near to zero as you can get. Climate change is probably a greater threat to Serbia going forward than Croatia will ever be.

[Versus]

Granted relations with Croatia aren't good at the moment, the thing is relations between both nations have seen their ups and downs since the breakup of Yugoslavia and today is no different. Some local town burning effigies of the other sides politicians in public square may be in poor taste but it is not a sign of imminent war. As I said before Croatia would be kicked out of the EU if it ever attempted to attack Serbia. The chances of such a war breaking out in this generation is as near to zero as you can get. Climate change is probably a greater threat to Serbia going forward than Croatia will ever be.

We will see. But you are right about weather, this summer was an absolute nightmare in terms of wildfires and that issue needs to be addressed urgently.

[Versus]

Also, as it was expected an unconfirmed rumor emerged today that the fine print in the contract includes transfer of our MiG-29 fleet to France where they will be inspected and transferred to Ukraine. This means that we will lose fighter cover a lot sooner as I expected. This is getting better and better by the minute if proven to be true.