The new defence procurement and organisational program proposed by Serbia’s ‘Student List’ for the country’s Armed Forces envisages increasing the defence budget to 5% of GDP and establishing a strategic air defence shield.

The plan was presented on public broadcaster RTS by Luka Ponorac, the coalition’s spokesperson for military affairs, who stressed that its implementation would depend on the actual financial position inherited by the incoming government.

Drawn up by leading Serbian experts, the plan aims to gradually increase military spending from its current level of 2%–2.5% to 3% initially, with a long-term target of 5%, bringing the country into line with developments across the wider region.

It also provides for an across-the-board pay rise of 20% to 30% for military personnel, alongside the immediate correction of existing disparities. These include cases in which lower-ranking special forces soldiers receive higher pay than generals or professors at the Military Academy because of additional allowances.

The modernisation of weapons systems will also be a priority.

“This process will cover several areas. These include, for example, the acquisition of missile systems with ranges of 150 to 300 kilometers. Naturally, there is also the task of creating a strategic air defence ‘shield’ with three range layers: short, medium and long. This will be accompanied by the operation of a network-centric command, communications, control and security information-sharing system, airborne surveillance and early-warning equipment and systems, as well as the procurement of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones),” Luka Ponorac said.

Plans also include upgrading the role of the Military Technical Institute (VTI) and the Weapons Testing Technological Center (TOC). As regards Armed Forces personnel, particular emphasis will be placed on providing clear and predictable career progression.

The ‘Student List’ has also pledged to ensure that the army’s security and intelligence services operate strictly within the legal framework and to investigate any individual responsibility for unlawful actions in the past.