Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed Thursday that his country possesses Chinese supersonic surface-attack cruise missiles after photos leaked online this week. The images showed what appeared to be Chinese-made CM-400AKG cruise missiles attached to Serbia's Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets. Vucic told Serbia's national broadcaster that "we have things we do not show," officially acknowledging the weapons' presence for the first time.
The revelation highlights Serbia's complex military relationships as it navigates between Western and Eastern powers. Despite being a European Union candidate, Serbia has maintained close ties with both Russia and China, pursuing advanced weapons systems from both nations. The CM-400AKG is a supersonic anti-ship and land-attack missile developed by China, representing a significant capability upgrade for Serbia's air force.
The CM-400AKG missiles have a reported range of up to 400 kilometers and can reach speeds of Mach 4. Serbia's MiG-29 fleet, originally acquired from Russia, has been modernized to carry these Chinese weapons systems. The integration demonstrates growing military-technical cooperation between Serbia and China, part of Beijing's broader defense export strategy in the Balkans.
The confirmation could strain Serbia's EU accession negotiations and complicate regional security dynamics. NATO members and EU officials have expressed concern about advanced Chinese military technology proliferating in Europe. The disclosure also raises questions about other undisclosed military capabilities Serbia may possess as it continues balancing relationships with competing global powers.