20.04.2023.
Minister Vučević and General Mojsilović at Dry Run for Demonstration of Capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces “Granite 2023”
Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević and Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces General Milan Mojsilović attended the dry run for the demonstration of capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces “Granite 2023” which is to take place on Saturday, 22nd April 2023 at the military airfield “Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlović” in Batajnica.
On that occasion, Minister Vučević pointed out that he had the opportunity to see first-hand that everything was ready for the upcoming demonstration of capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces.
- It is with great pride and satisfaction that I can state that the dry run for the demonstration of capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces “Granite 2023” was successfully executed, and such will be my report to the Presidend of the Republic as the Supreme Commander. The Serbian Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence are looking forward to 22nd April and the next Saturday with great impatience and hope, to show this once again in front of the entire public of the Republic of Serbia and numerous guests from abroad. I am truly proud and I take this opportunity to congratulate the Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces General Mojsiloviću and all members of the Serbian Armed Forces, my associates from the Ministry of Defence and all other who have participated in these preparations. This looks very, very impressive and our fatherland and all its citizens should be proud – the minister of defence stressed.
Minister Vučević noted: “It is clear to everyone that the Serbian Armed Forces have made a tremendous progress, and that they are much stronger, better equipped, and first and the foremost better trained, zealous and motivated than they used to be in the years behind us.
- Such thing are not to repeat again, and the fatherland and all its citizens are proud of the Serbian Armed Forces that are the strongest guarantee of freedom and independence of our state” – the minister of defence stressed.
He invited all citizens to come on Saturday to see the demonstration of capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces “Granite 2023”.
- I take this opportunity to invite all citizens of Serbia to come to the airfield in Batajnica, which bears the glorious name of one of the greatest heroes and sufferers of 1999 - Colonel- Pilot Milenko Pavlović, and make the celebration of the Serbian Armed Forces Day even more beautiful. I particularly invite parents to come with their children, and schools to come with their pupils, because it is going to be a magnificent day - the minister of defence stated.
Minister Vučević congratulated once again members of the Serbian Armed Forces for successfully executed dry run and he expressed his belief that they would be even more successful and even better prepared on Saturday, when they would present their knowledge and capabilities.
The demonstration of capabilities to mark the Serbian Armed Forces Day will feature more than 5,000 members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, about 2,300 pieces of arms and military equipment and over 60 aircraft. The display will include the state-of-the-art arms and military equipment owned by the Serbian Armed Forces, as well as assets developed by Serbian Defence Industry companies.
The flying programme will, among other, include aerial displays performed by aeroplanes MiG-29, Orao, and Lasta, helicopters Mi-35, H-145M and Mi-17, and there will also be the static display of FK-3 and Pantsir anti-aircraft missile systems, modernised missile systems Kub, anti-aircraft self-propelled artillery-missile system PASARS , anti-tank missile systems Kornet, 155 mm self-propelled gun-howitzer NORA, and modular Oganj.
The static display will present armoured fighting vehicles Lazar-3, Miloš, and Humvees, armoured personnel carriers MRAP 6x6, tanks T-72MS, armoured reconnaissance vehicles BRDM-2MS, unmanned vehicles Small Miloš, modern unmanned aerial vehicles of the best characteristics in their class CH-92 and Pegasus, and modern optoelectronic assets.
Apart from that the visitors will have an opportunity to view vertical manoeuvres of special units, flypast of aviation echelon and the march past of members of special units equipped with the state-of-the-art arms and military equipment.
On Saturday, the gates of the military airfield “Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlović” will be open for all citizens from 9.00 to 15.00 hours, but the most attractive part of the programme will start at 11.00 hours.
Visitors will be able to enter the military airfield using one of the three entrances - the main entrance to "Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlović" military airfield, the entrance to Aeronautical Plant "Moma Stanojlović", and the entrance to the airfield from the direction of Nova Pazova.
