The Serbian Army (Serbian: Копнена Војска / Kopnena Vojska) is the land-based component of the Serbian Armed Forces, which is responsible for deterring armed threats; defending Serbia's territory; participation in peacekeeping operations; and providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief. There are plans to increase the Serbian army's involvement in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations abroad, which would improve its reputation.[1][2] Active from 1838 to 1918 after which Serbia would be part of a Yugoslav state. The current Serbian army has been active since 2006 when Serbia restored its independence.
Current status[edit]
The Serbian army (land forces) is the largest component of the Serbian Armed Forces. Currently there are about 33,000 active members and 100,000 reservists who were incorporated from the old conscript branches. After the reorganization, the number of professional troops has grown, while the number of conscripts has decreased. Conscription was abolished on January 1, 2011.
A 35-hectare (86-acre) Cepotina military base, has been built near the administrative frontier with the disputed territory of Kosovo[a] and the state border with the Republic of Macedonia, some 5 kilometers southeast of the Serbian city of Bujanovac. The ground security zone extends along 384 kilometers of the administration line and covers the area of total 1,920 square kilometers. Units of the Second, Third and Fourth Brigades are placed at more than 20 camps and checkpoints in the zone.[3]
Structure[edit]
The Serbian Army consist of units of brigades to battalions in size. The four army brigades are larger than a conventional modern brigade, their size is more akin to a division. Each brigade consists of ten battalions: one command battalion, an armored battalion, two mechanized battalions, two infantry battalions, one self-propelled artillery battalion, air defense battalion, one logistic and one engineering battalion. The only exception being the 1st brigade, which has only one infantry battalion. The current army chief of staff is Major General Milan Mojsilović.
Formations include:
Structure of the Serbian Army
Serbian military units and bases
Source: Jane's World Armies Issue 23 - 2008
- Army Command (Niš)
3rd Military Police Battalion (Niš)
5th Military Police Battalion (Belgrade)
246th NBC Battalion (Kruševac)
21st Signal Battalion (Niš)
1st Brigade (Novi Sad)
- 10th Command Battalion
- 11th Infantry Battalion
- 12th Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion
- 13th Self-Propelled Missile Launcher Artillery Battalion
- 14th Air Defense Artillery Battalion
- 15th Tank battalion
- 16th Mechanized Battalion
- 17th Mechanized Battalion
- 18th Engineer Battalion
- 19th Logistic Battalion
2nd Brigade (Kraljevo)
- 20th Command Battalion
- 21st Infantry Battalion
- 22nd Infantry Battalion
- 23rd Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion
- 24th Self-Propelled Missile Launcher Artillery Battalion
- 25th Air Defense Artillery Battalion
- 26th Tank Battalion
- 27th Mechanized Battalion
- 28th Mechanized Battalion
- 29th Logistic Battalion
- 210th Engineer Battalion
3rd Brigade (Niš)
- 30th Command Battalion
- 31st Infantry Battalion
- 32nd Infantry Battalion
- 33rd Self-Propelled Howitzer Artillery Battalion
- 34th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion
- 35th Air Defense Artillery Battalion
- 36th Tank Battalion
- 37th Mechanized Battalion
- 38th Mechanized Battalion
- 39th Logistic Battalion
- 310th Engineer Battalion
4th Brigade (Vranje)
- 40th Command Battalion
- 41st Infantry Battalion
- 42nd Infantry Battalion
- 43rd Self-Propelled Howitzer Artillery Battalion
- 44th Self-Propelled Rocket Launcher Battalion
- 45th Air Defense Artillery Rocket Battalion
- 46th Tank Battalion
- 47th Mechanized Battalion
- 48th Mechanized Battalion
- 49th Logistic Battalion
- 410th Engineer Battalion
Mixed Artillery Brigade (Niš)
- Command Battalion
- Mixed Missile Artillery Battalion
- 1st Howitzer-Cannon Artillery Battalion
- 2nd Howitzer-Cannon Artillery Battalion
- 3rd Cannon Artillery Battalion
- 4th Cannon Artillery Battalion
- 69th Logistics Battalion
River Flotilla (Novi Sad)
- Command Company
- 1st River Detachment
- 2nd River Detachment
- 1st Pontoon Battalion
- 2nd Pontoon Battalion
- Logistic Company
Equipment[edit]
Artillery[edit]
Anti-Tank[edit]
Air-defence[edit]
Small arms[edit]
References[edit]
External links[edit]