Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia
 
02.04.2019.

Conference on the occasion of “PARTNER 2019” Weapons and Military Equipment Fair




A promotional conference on the occasion of the 9th International Weapons and Military Equipment Fair “Partner 2019” was held today at the Belgrade Fair. Journalists and guests were addressed by Acting Assistant Minister of Defense for Material Resources, Nenad Miloradović, PhD, Head of Department for Defense Technologies, Major General Mladen Vuruna, Assistant Director of “Jugoimport-SDPR”, Aleksandar Lijaković and Advisor to General Director of Belgrade Fair, Mirjana Lukić.

Just as in the previous years, the sponsor of this event is the Ministry of Defense, with the co-organizers being “Jugoimport-SDPR” and Belgrade Fair.



Nenad Miloradović, PhD emphasized that the capacities in the field of research, development and production of weapons and military equipment in the Republic of Serbia, in addition to being a significant basis for maintenance and improvement of the defense capacities and capabilities of Serbia, also represent the potential for growth of total exports and economic development of Serbia. The growth of exports of the defense industry of Serbia (OIS) was 13.9 percent in the last year.

When it comes to capacities for research and development of weapons and military equipment, the Military Technical Institute is the backbone. However, over the years a modality of cooperation with other scientific, educational and research institutions in the country has been built.

- Last year, a record number of weapons and military equipment from domestic development was introduced into the capacities and capabilities of the Armed Forces – a total of 29, and in the first quarter of this year additional 13. By the end of the year it is expected to introduce at least 24 additional resources from domestic development, said Nenad Miloradović, PhD, and announced that at this year’s “Partner” fair, new sets of protective ballistic equipment of advanced performances will be exhibited, new families of small arms with appropriate optic and optoelectronic sights, including video-sight, then the family of guided anti-personnel weapons, small-range artillery Air Defense ones, crewless platforms both ground and airborne with adjoined weapons, modernized combat vehicles, the new off-road vehicles, including a variety of innovations, as well as assets that are already in use in the units of the Serbian Armed Forces. On the second day of the fair, a display and demonstration of weapons with live firing pertinent to the production program of “Jugoimport SDPR” and the OIS group will be organized at the Nikinci range.



Head of Department for Defense Technologies, Major-General Mladen Vuruna, said that at this year’s fair, weapons and equipment that could stand head to head with similar assets by other renowned producers around the world will be displayed.

- This is the result of years of work of experts from the organizational structure of the Department for Defense Technologies, and with a single goal – to be the key element in raising the operational and functional capabilities of the Armed Forces, so that our armed forces will be capable of performing all its tasks – said General Vuruna.

Assistant Director of “Jugoimport-SDPR”, Aleksandar Lijaković recalled that “Jugoimport” started participating in this event in 2004, at the time when it used to be but a national exhibition; today it represents a significant event at the regional level. At this fair, “Jugoimport” marketing integrates the exhibition of the Defense Industry companies of Serbia, as well as companies and groups of subcontractors in the production of complex combat systems.

Lijaković emphasized technological breakthroughs of “Jugoimport” in several main areas of weapons and military equipment that were achieved over the previous years. The first technological breakthrough is the development and production of complex artillery systems, and also the production and development of armored vehicles. Also significant is the technological breakthrough in the field of rocket artillery, guided missiles, guided bombs, as well as in ammunition and other OIS products.



Journalists were also addressed by Mirjana Lukić, Advisor to Director of the Belgrade Fair. She recalled the significant data showing the upward trend of the development of this manifestation over the past 15 years – since 2004, when 23 exhibitors appeared on the fair, the number kept increasing each year to 128 exhibitors from 21 countries in 2017.

- These data indicate how much work, knowledge and efforts underline the results achieved over the past 15 years by the Serbian Defense Industry and with this fair as the opportunity to show them. It is significant that “Partner” is happening in Serbia and that, with the least cost, it is possible to present the most complex weapons and military equipment. Furthermore, this manifestation draws the attention of businessmen who are willing to cooperate with the Serbian economy, with the Ministry of Defense and “Jugoimport”. The interest of foreign exhibitors is also growing, and is increasing every year – said Mirjana Lukić.

This year’s Weapons and Military Equipment Fair “Partner” is scheduled between 25 and 28 June in two halls of the Belgrade Fair – I and IV and in the open area.

 
photoPHOTOGALLERY
videoVIDEOGALLERY
02.04.2019
mp4 (386,89 MB)
Video
02.04.2019
mp4 (159,06 MB)
Video
02.04.2019
mp4 (374,7 MB)
Video
02.04.2019
mp4 (86,75 MB)
Video