Serbian Army

Serbian Army
Копнена војска Србије
Kopnena vojska Srbije

Emblem of the Serbian Army
Active 2006–present
Country Serbia
Type Army
Size 52,000 (2015)[1][2][3]
Command HQ Niš
Anniversaries November 16
Engagements
Commanders
Current commander Lieutenant general Milosav Simović

The Serbian Army (Serbian: Копнена Војска / Kopnena Vojska, lit. Land Army) is the land-based component of the Serbian Armed Forces, responsible for defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia from foreign hostiles; participating in peacekeeping operations; and providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Originally established in 1838, the Serbian army was incorporated into the newly established state of Yugoslavia in 1918. The current Serbian army has been active since 2006 when Serbia restored its independence.

History

Current status

The Serbian Army is the largest component of the Serbian Armed Forces. There are approximately 52,000 active members and 170,000 reservists. The army is composed entirely of professionals and volunteers following the suspension of mandatory military service on January 1, 2011.

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th army brigades are tasked with securing the 5 km (2.5 mi) wide Ground Safety Zone (GSZ) along the administrative line between Central Serbia and the disputed territory of Kosovo[a]. The GSZ extends 384 kilometres long and covers a total area of about 1,920 square kilometres. There are over 20 camps and security checkpoints in the zone.[4]

There are plans to increase the Serbian army's involvement in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations abroad.[5][6]

Formations and structure

Structure of the Serbian Army (click to enlarge)

Following the 2006 reorganization, the Serbian Army consists of six primary brigades. The four army brigades are larger than a conventional modern brigade, their size is more akin to a division. Each army brigade consists of ten battalions: one command battalion, one armored battalion, two mechanized battalions, two infantry battalions, one self-propelled artillery battalion, one air defense battalion, one engineering battalion and one logistics battalion. The only exception is the 1st army brigade, being one infantry battalion short.

Serbian Army - major combat units
green pin - army brigades, red pin - special brigade
Serbian Army uniform M10

Equipment

M-84 main battle tank

Armoured fighting vehicles

Artillery

Nora 152mm howitzer

Anti-armour

Zastava M21 assault rifle

Air-defence

Small arms

Zastava M93 anti-material rifle

Notes

a.   ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the Brussels Agreement. Kosovo has been recognised as an independent state by 108 out of 193 United Nations member states.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.mod.gov.rs/multimedia/dodaci/PRES_23.02.2014_prof_vojnici.pdf
  2. ↑ "Dobrovoljci jačaju vojnu rezervu". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Dug stroj činovnika u sistemu odbrane". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "NATO for suspension of security zone in Kosovo". Blic Online. 20 January 2009.
  5. ↑ "Plan of the Serbian Army participation in peace operations approved". International Radio Serbia. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "Army improves Serbia's global reputation". B92. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 "Armaments - armaments names in this reference are links with detailed explanation read them to clarify technical and other details". Serbian Armed Forces.
  8. ↑ "Course for operating off-road vehicles Hummer". Serbian Armed Forces. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Војска Србије - Наоружање Копнене војске - Противоклопна средства - Противоклопна вођена ракета МАЉУТКА". Retrieved 23 December 2014.

External links

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