Serbia has signed a $1.635 billion arms deal with Israel’s Elbit Systems, one of the largest defence procurements in the country’s history. The package is expected to deliver advanced artillery, drone systems, and electronic warfare technology.
The agreement signals Belgrade’s determination to modernise its armed forces at a time when the Western Balkans is recalibrating its security posture.
It also highlights Serbia’s growing reliance on Western and Israeli suppliers, even as it maintains ties with traditional partners such as Russia.
Beyond military hardware, the contract underscores how defence spending has become an economic and geopolitical lever in the region—shaping industrial cooperation, technological transfer, and Serbia’s positioning in a shifting global order.
