According to the Observer Network, the Serbian armed forces calmly displayed a series of main weapons and equipment at the commemoration of the "Vidovdan Day", including the Chinese-made Hongqi-17AE short-range air defense system. Serbian Prime Minister Vucevic and Defense Minister Gacić and other senior government officials and generals attended the commemorative event, highlighting the importance that Serbia attaches to China's equipment. The Serbian Ministry of Defense pointed out that most of the weapons and equipment systems displayed to the outside world this time were recently received by the Serbian armed forces, and only now they have been disclosed to the outside world for the first time, such as the Hongqi-17AE short-range air defense system from China.
The Serbian Ministry of Defense also described the performance of the Hongqi-17AE, saying that the system can destroy enemy air targets at short and medium distances, not only with fast reaction speed, but also with inter-march shooting. For his part, Vucevic stressed that the Hongqi-17AE short-range air defense system can better defend the Serbian sky and is perfectly integrated with the "most powerful weapon" FK-3 anti-aircraft missile system.
It is not difficult to see from the statement of the Serbian side that they are extremely satisfied with the Chinese Hongqi-17AE, so as soon as the system is installed by the Serbian armed forces, they can't wait to pull it out and "show off" to the outside world. And the FK-3 anti-aircraft missile system mentioned by Vučević is actually an export model of the Hongqi-22 that Serbia previously purchased from China, and it is in the same vein as the Hongqi-17AE, and it is normal that the two can be perfectly combined.
Serbia has successively purchased equipment from China, and China is willing to sell it to Serbia, which is enough to show that the close relations between the two countries and the political mutual trust between the two countries have reached a certain point, and military cooperation has also been further deepened. For Serbia, strengthening military cooperation with China can effectively deal with military threats from the United States and Western countries, as well as NATO. It is not difficult to understand why Serbia has just received the Chinese Red Flag-17AE and displayed it with great fanfare at the commemorative event.
On the one hand, Serbia can boost the morale of its citizens under heavy pressure from the West by demonstrating its military strength, and an incident similar to the wanton bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by the United States and the West will not happen again in the future. On the other hand, Serbia is also showing the West that Serbia is building a more complete air defense system, an air defense system that China has helped build, and that Serbia will not be left to its own devices.
In fact, there are traces of the strengthening of Sino-Serbian military cooperation, and the FK-3 air defense missile system obtained by Serbia is sent to Serbia by the Chinese Air Force through the Y-20 "Kunpeng" long-range transport aircraft across many regions and countries against the background of continuous military pressure from the West, which not only greatly alleviates the pressure faced by the Serbian side, but also demonstrates the efficient transportation capability of the Chinese Air Force. It also has even more far-reaching implications, potentially demonstrating China's ability to provide Serbia with the help it needs, or protection at the military level, in times of emergency.
As for the Serbian side now receiving the Hongqi-17AE, in fact, as early as October 2023, during the "Belt and Road" International Summit Forum, the Chinese side gave the model of the Hongqi-17AE missile launcher and other items to the visiting Serbian defense minister as a national gift. Then came the news that the Serbian side was seeking to buy Hongqi-17AE, hoping that the Chinese side would sell at least three Hongqi-17AE companies. Serbian President Vučić revealed the purchase of Hongqi-17AE for the first time in February this year, and said in a very positive tone that the Serbian armed forces will soon be equipped with Hongqi-17A.
From the perspective of the international geopolitical landscape, Serbia's strengthening of military cooperation with China should be in response to the complex and ever-changing international situation, but it also reflects the depth of China-Serbia strategic cooperation and the Serbian side's trust in China's military and technological strength. The appearance of the Hongqi-17AE in Serbia also indicates the progress of China's foreign arms sales, and perhaps in the near future, many friendly countries will obtain the Hongqi-17AE.