24.12.2025.
Message from President of the Republic Aleksandar Vučić on the occasion of Air Force and Air Defence Day
The President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces has sent a message on the occasion of December 24 – Air Force and Air Defence Day, which reads as follows:
“I wish to congratulate all Air Force and Air Defence members on December 24 – the Arm’s Day.
By decision of the Serbian Ministry of the Military and General Staff, Field Marshal Radomir Putnik, exactly 113 years ago, passed the Decree on the Establishment of the Air Force Command, headquartered in Niš. Ever since the first aviation units were established, a glorious history of the Serbian Air Force has begun, a history written with courage and unwavering loyalty to the fatherland.
In the year behind, you confirmed once again the exceptionally high level of skills and combat readiness, both during national and international exercises, and especially by participating in the “Power of Unity” Military Parade, thus proving unequivocally that you are one of the firmest and most reliable pillars of the defense system of our state.
Strict selection criteria, choosing only the best and most capable ones, made possible for the Air Force and Air Defense units to meet the highest world standards today and be considered rightfully one of the most representative and powerful strongholds of the Serbian Armed Forces.
Aware of the importance of the tasks you perform every day, we will continue with heavy, systematic and long-term investments, not only in equipping and modernizing the units, but also in improving the living and professional standards of each member through better living and working conditions, housing opportunities and strengthening material security, because people are the most valuable resource of any armed forces and source of their real power.
The admission of new helicopters, modern radar and missile systems, electronic protection assets and state-of-the-art combat equipment is a clear confirmation of the strategic orientation of the Serbian Armed Forces to develop and strengthen continuously, following the demands arising from modern security challenges.
I congratulate you on your holiday, hoping that you will continue to perform intended tasks with the same commitment and responsibility in the future as well, certain that Serbian Air Force and Air Defense modernization efforts will not decrease in the period to come, either, because it is only the strong, equipped and respectable armed forces that make the foundation of a free, stable and secure state.”
