Dassault Aviation

BELGRADE - Serbian Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic on Tuesday dismissed as untrue reports by some local and regional media outlets that an agreement Serbia has signed with France's Dassault Aviation to buy 12 new Rafale fighter jets includes a clause under which Serbian MiG 29s will be transferred to France and then to Ukraine.

PARIS - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday his visit to Paris had begun with important meetings that were substantial for Serbia.

Speaking to reporters, Vucic said a Serbian delegation had had a discussion with Dassault Aviation representatives about all forms of cooperation.

PARIS - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Dassault Aviation representatives in Paris on Monday.

Vucic has announced earlier the meeting would address the defence industry and a purchase of 12 Rafale fighter jets.

After a reception at the Hotel des Invalides with full state honours, Vucic laid a wreath at a plaque commemorating Serbian soldiers.

The purchase comes as French lawmakers express concern over a Franco-German project to develop a successor to the Rafale. The Future Combat Air system, as it is known, is not expected to enter service before 2045 or 2050, according to the French Senate's defense committee, writes Defense News.

The Indonesian government bought 12 drones worth $300 million from Turkish Aerospace as part of efforts to strengthen Indonesia's defense system, according to a written statement from the Indonesian Defense Ministry on Wednesday.

ABU DHABI - Serbia is in talks with France about purchasing Raphale multirole fighters, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said at the IDEX 2023 arms fair in Abu Dhabi on Monday, noting that, if agreed, the purchase would be the country's biggest military budget expenditure yet.

Greece is due to sign a 2.3 billion-euro ($2.8 billion) deal with France on Monday to purchase 18 Rafale fighter jets as tensions grow with neighbor Turkey.

Florence Parly, the French defense minister, is due in Athens to sign the agreement to deliver 12 used and six new aircraft built by Dassault Aviation over two years, starting in mid-2021.

Parliament on Thursday approved the purchase of 18 French Rafale fighter jets by an overwhelming majority, with only the Communist Party (KKE) and leftist MeRA25 voting against.

The purchase of the jets and compatible air-to-air Meteor missiles are expected set Greece back 2.3 billion euros.

Greek lawmakers are scheduled to vote Thursday on a defense procurement program to purchase 18 French-made Rafale fighter planes, part of an armaments plan announced by the government in September.

Greece on Tuesday said it will take delivery of 18 French-made Rafale fighter jets next year, as part of a major 11.5-billion-euro ($14.5-billion) drive to modernize its armed forces amid tension with neighbor Turkey.