According to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the growing defense cooperation between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo could wait for a “favorable moment” to act against Serbia. Therefore, Belgrade purchased hypersonic missiles with a range of 400 kilometres.

Serbia purchased Chinese hypersonic missiles

Serbia’s announcement that it has acquired Chinese-made hypersonic missiles has raised tensions with neighboring Croatia, highlighting growing concerns over military developments in the Western Balkans.

On March 9, the Serbian Armed Forces shared photos showing Chinese-made missiles mounted under MiG-29 fighter jets, saying the acquisition strengthens the country’s defense capabilities. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Belgrade will continue investing in advanced weapons systems to enhance its military capacity. According to Vucic, the Chinese CM-400 missiles are air-to-ground systems capable of striking targets at distances of up to 400 kilometers and have already been integrated into Serbia’s Russian-made MiG-29 aircraft.

Serbian warplane carrying CM-400 Chinese ballistic missile
MIG-29 of Serbia Air Force carrying CM-400 rocket on 9 March. Photo: Creative Commons

The announcement prompted a reaction from Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, who said he was concerned about Serbia’s growing military capabilities and suggested that parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Albania could potentially fall within the range of such weapons. Milanovic also cited reports that Israel had sold weapons to Serbia, warning that such developments could negatively affect regional stability. Responding to the criticism, Vucic said Serbia has no intention of attacking any country and emphasized that it seeks peaceful relations with its neighbors.

Forming anti-Serbia coalition on the Balkans

“My message is simple: be careful with what you are doing. They saw the missiles and want to make decisions for us. They can buy everything they want, but we also have the right to ask questions,” he said. In recent remarks to Serbian state broadcaster RTS, Vucic linked the missile purchase to what he described as a potential security threat posed by growing defense cooperation between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo, claiming those countries could wait for a “favorable moment” to act against Serbia, though he provided no evidence.

Viktor Orbán Alaksandar Vucic
President Vucic with Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán. Photo: Facebook/Vucic

The acquisition makes Serbia the first European country known to operate the Chinese-made CM-400 air-to-surface missile, a high-speed weapon developed by China’s defense industry and previously exported primarily to Pakistan. The development reflects Serbia’s broader military modernization efforts, as Belgrade continues to balance relations with NATO and the European Union while maintaining close defense ties with China and Russia.

In 2022, Serbia received the Chinese FK-3 surface-to-air defense system, making it the only European country that had the Chinese missile system and CH-92A combat drones. “I am proud of the Serbian army and I am proud of its progress,” said President Aleksandar Vucic then.

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