By Naif Zaidani

 

HAIFA, ISRAEL, 17 March. - (ANA) - Arms exports from Serbia to Israel rose sharply last year, reaching a record €114 million, a 140% increase compared with 2024, according to official data from the Belgrade Central Statistical Office. The Hebrew-language newspaper Haaretz reported the figures on Monday, 16 March.

 

Open-flight data show that weapons were delivered to Israel in 2025 via 38 cargo flights, double the number of flights in 2024.

 

Haaretz and the BIRN network reported in August that exports continued despite the Serbian president's announcement that all security-related exports would be halted. Exports increased following the outbreak of the Gaza genocide war and Israel's aggression in Lebanon in October 2023.

 

Total arms and ammunition exports to Israel that year reached €3 million. One year later, exports jumped to €48 million. In 2025, total exports more than doubled again to €114 million. Data for 2025 were published for the first time last weekend by the Serbian site Radar.

 

Alongside the state-owned arms manufacturer, responsible for most exports to Israel, four other Serbian companies exported ammunition to Israel.

 

According to official data from Serbia's Ministry of Trade, Romaks and Ediber sold ammunition to Ta'as Ma'arachot, a subsidiary of the Israeli company Elbit Systems, which produces missiles and artillery shells. Serbia's Ministry of Trade, customs records, and export registers do not provide detailed information on the type of ammunition sent to Israel, and the Belgrade government has rejected several freedom-of-information requests on the matter.

 

Earlier reports indicated shipments included 155 mm shells. Photos taken at Belgrade airport's cargo area showed artillery platforms loaded with shells being placed on Israeli aircraft.

 

Flight data show that in 2024, 20 Israeli military and civilian cargo flights arrived in Belgrade to load ammunition for air transfer to the Nevatim Air Force base. In 2025, the number of flights doubled.

 

Arms exports have continued this year, with 17 ammunition cargo flights from Belgrade to Israel recorded in less than three months.

 

Security relations between the two countries are not one-way.

 

At the beginning of 2025, Elbit Systems sold Serbia advanced artillery systems and drones worth $335 million. In August, an additional $1.6 billion deal was signed with Elbit, providing Belgrade with drones, long-range missiles, electronic warfare systems, and more.

 

Serbia also purchased advanced cyber systems and, during years of social protests, extensively used Israeli-made mass surveillance technologies to monitor opponents of the government.  - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/17 March 2026  - - -