# Serbia Reviews Defense Deals

Serbia’s new government is expected to review previous arms agreements for irregularities and may slow major defense spending in the near term as it prioritizes anti-corruption measures and institutional reforms. The review could affect the timing or status of deals involving French Rafale fighters, Chinese air-defense systems and drones, and an Elbit drone-assembly arrangement. The government has also identified layered air defense, air-force modernization, defense-industry upgrades, military electronics, and defense software as priorities, while its stance on existing agreements—including Israeli-linked activity—may change.

- Contractors involved in existing Serbian defense programs should account for potential audits, schedule changes, and uncertainty about whether agreements will proceed as planned.
- Companies pursuing work in Serbia may find opportunities aligned with the stated priorities in air defense, aviation modernization, defense-industry capability, electronics, and software; these priorities do not establish active solicitations.
- The anticipated review makes contract integrity and clear documentation of existing commitments particularly relevant to suppliers and prospective bidders.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 29, 2026

### Government Entities
- Government of Serbia
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

### Vendors
- Elbit (Contractor for a drone-assembly deal)

### Key Quotes
> The new government will have other priorities — prominently, delivering on anti-corruption policies and reestablishing functioning political institutions, which will be challenging enough. Under such conditions, there could be less resources and less political consensus for major defense projects.
> — Katarina Djokic, Researcher at SIPRI

### Sources
- [After Vucic ouster, Serbia’s weapons-buying habits are under the microscope - Defense News](https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/10/29/after-vucic-ouster-serbias-weapons-buying-habits-are-under-the-microscope) - Defense News