Serbia has finalized the procurement of Israeli-made PULS artillery rocket systems and Hermes 900 reconnaissance drones to strengthen its position in the regional arms race with rival Croatia.
The deal, valued at $335 million, was initially announced by Elbit Systems in November 2024, but the company did not specify which European country was the buyer.
Local media outlets recently confirmed that Belgrade would be the destination for the advanced defense systems, citing remarks from Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
“I’d like to inform you that following persistent negotiations, we’ve signed a deal to buy the most powerful artillery systems in the world. We’ve also bought some of the most sophisticated drones in the world,” he stated, as quoted by Haaretz.
The artillery systems and drones are expected to be delivered by mid-2028.
The PULS, or Precise and Universal Launching System, is an autonomous artillery rocket system capable of accurately launching advanced rockets over distances of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles).
Its design eliminates the need for special modifications, enabling it to execute firing missions within one minute of initiation.
Meanwhile, the Hermes 900 drones feature high-performance sensors for precise detection of both ground and maritime targets, even in challenging weather conditions.
With a payload capacity of up to 350 kilograms (772 pounds), these drones support a wide range of missions, including intelligence, surveillance, maritime patrol, ground support, and communications relay.