30.04.2015.

New pulling trains for the Armed Forces

The Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces have obtained three new pulling trains for transportation of combat vehicles and heavy means. The takeover at Bosko Palkovljevic – Pinki barracks in Sremska Mitrovica was attended by Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic and Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic with associates.

Minister Gasic stressed that results achieved by the defence system in 2015 were visible, and that the new pulling trains that are “enforcing” the vehicle stock in Belgrade, Kraljevo and Nis provided further proof of that.

- Knowing that the oldest pulling train in SAF was procured in 1967, and the youngest one in 1982, then it is clear that modernization in this sector is very important for us – Gasic said, adding that the investment is worth over 140 million dinars. Minister announced a procurement of another three pulling trains planned in early 2016.
He said that he was glad that SAF would take over 10 new FAP trucks by the end of May, which would provide new support of the military to national industry, stressing that the defence system had had great cooperation with this company for years.

When it comes to the equipment and modernization of mechanized units, Minister reminded that modernization of M-84 tank was already under way, and that substantial means had been allocated for the purpose. He stressed that a large portion of production had been started in many factories of special purpose industry, and that significant means had been allocated for the modernization of G-4 aircraft this year as well.

Minister was presented with the replica of truck keys by General Director of MAN Importer Serbia Srdjan Pezo, who stressed that the vehicles delivered to the Armed Forces were the last generation of vehicles in this company and that they were in the rank of pulling trains of most contemporary armed forces in the world.

The procured pulling trains, primarily assigned for transportation of tanks and other heavy means, consist of a MAN TGS 33,480 triaxial puller and a De Angelis 4S79 semi-trailer. The aim of the procurement was to increase efficiency and security during transportation of the said means and systems, and to reduce maintenance costs and to preserve the remaining resources of the existing pulling trains.