"Impressive Video Showcases Serbian Military Exercise" Topic

"Anti-tank missile-slinging Gazelle rotorcraft were just one of the highlights of Serbia's Joint Action 2020 exercise.

While the extraordinary display of North Korean military might on show in Kim Il Sung Square was justifiably the focus of much attention last weekend, over in the Balkans the Serbian Armed Forces put on a military showcase that was dramatic in its own way, during the country's Joint Action 2020 maneuvers. The tactical exercise that took place on October 10, 2020, included a mixture of new and Cold War-era equipment, originating from China, Russia, and Western Europe. While not among the latest weaponry fielded by Serbia, the combination of the French-designed Gazelle attack helicopter and the Soviet-era 9M14M Malyutka missile made for an impressive show of force, as a quartet of the helicopters hovered in formation before unleashing their anti-tank guided missiles in unison…"

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Amicalement
Armand

Apparently the Gazelle's were pretty accurate. The MiG-29 and Orao attack jets not so and mainly missed their targets with unguided rockets and dumb bombs.

The article questions why Serbia is still using Gazelles in AT role when they have new Mi-35s. Only 4 Mi-35s have been acquired so the Gazelle continues in the AT role as well as training, light utility and observation.

Serbia's recent aircraft acquisitions:

6 MiG-29 donated from Russia. These are being upgraded and bring fleet to 10 MiG-29s. Belarus donated another 4 but these have yet to arrive and given Serbia slammed Lukashenko, they may not arrive.

5 x Mi-17V-5
4 x Mi-35
9 x Eurocoper H-145 (4 went to police, 5 to air force)

6 x CH92 UCAV (Chinese) + 18 FT-8C Laser guided missiles

Air defence saw following orders:

6 x Pazars SHORADS
50 x French Mistral SAM. Yet to be delivered. Some of these will equip Pazars
6 x Pantsir S1 (now there's wasting money given its poor performance).

There was a plan to acquire Chinese FK-3 long range SAMs (roughly similar to Russian S300) BUT given in the Washington Agreement the Serbs signed some anti-Chinese provisions I don't know if they will get it.

So how would you use Serbians on the tabletop?

Their performance in Yugoslav civil wars was pretty poor despite overwhelming firepower and complete air superiority for a large chunk of it.

From what I read the commanders had little or no understanding of combined arms warfare.

I doubt the modern Serb (or any Balkan military) would be any better.

All would have some small number of elite/veteran special forces with poor to mediocre conventional forces. Equipment is largely obsolete – 1980s vintage.

Designing a game to reflect doctrine would be hard – it would mainly be eastern with smatterings of western.

Use 1st edition AK-47 Republic rules.

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand