Serbia is looking to have Russian-made S-300 air defense missile system 81804172.

The prime minister had previously said the S-300 was "too expensive" for Serbia, but Russia expressed its willingness to help by means of certain agreements. Russian Vice-Premier Dmitry Rogozin, who presented Aleksandar Vucic an S-300 model, said Russia would consider the technical details of Serbia’s request for armament, including the S-300. According to Rogozin, Russia would not interfere in the security matters of Serbia that is entitled to the acquisition of sophisticated defensive weaponry.

The S-300 matter resurfaced in the wake of the speculation by Croatian media alleging Russia had sold Croatia the S-300 back in the 1990s. The Russian embassy in Croatia denied the reports. Prime Minister Vucic, too, said he had no such information. "A [missile] system is not a needle, you cannot hide it easily," he said. A key subject on Vucic’s agenda during his March 27 visit to Moscow was military-technical cooperation. The parties discussed the feasibility of Belgrade’s acquisition of the Buk (SA-17 Grizzly) SAM system.

Previously, Russia had given Serbia six Mikoyan MiG-29 (Fulcrum) fighter jets that are due to Serbia during March and April. Once upgraded, they will have entered service with the Serbian Air Force before year-end. In addition, the Serbian military will receive 30 T-72 tanks and 30 BRDM-2 armored scout vehicles. Talks are in progress on the Buk-M1 and Buk-M2 SAM and Tunguska (SA-19 Grison) anti-air gun/missile systems for Serbia. Belarus promised Serbia assistance too in the form of eight MiG-29s and two Buk AD missile battalions to be delivered in 2018.