Serbia and Israel Sign Landmark Defence Data-Sharing Deal to Fast-Track Arms Cooperation
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BELGRADE — Serbia and Israel have signed a sweeping defence data-sharing agreement designed to facilitate the secure exchange of classified intelligence and accelerate arms procurement between the two nations, Serbian officials confirmed on Wednesday .
The “General Defence Agreement” establishes a legal framework for the exchange and reciprocal protection of classified information in the defence sector, bypassing standard bureaucratic hurdles that typically delay weapons deals .
📜 The Agreement: What It Covers
According to documents submitted to Serbia’s National Assembly, the agreement, which was initiated by the Israeli side, applies to all entities involved in defence deals—whether private or public—including any transfers of classified information between “representatives, employees, and consultants,” regardless of their status .
The memorandum specifically covers:
- Classified defence data & intelligence sharing
- Sale of defence goods, armament, and military know-how
- Dual-use goods, software, and technology transfers
- Joint ventures and industrial cooperation
- Co-production of advanced weapons systems
The agreement includes a clause that any potential disputes “shall not be subject to any national or international tribunal or court, or any law,” and both parties “refrain from making any public disclosure of any kind relevant to the areas of mutual cooperation” .
The Serbian Parliament’s Defence and Internal Affairs Committee approved the provisional implementation of the agreement on April 29, following a presentation by Defense Ministry Material Resources advisor Marko Jovanovic, who said the initiative came from Israel and “creates conditions for cooperation between state bodies and defense industry companies” .
📦 Expected Deliveries: What Serbia Is Buying
The classified procurement is most likely linked to Israeli arms company Elbit Systems, which has rapidly become Belgrade’s primary supplier of advanced military technology.
In 2025 alone, Elbit Systems sold Serbia advanced artillery systems and drones worth $335 million . In August 2025, another deal valued at $1.6 billion was signed for the delivery of drones, long-range missiles, electronic warfare systems and other military equipment .
The data-sharing agreement is designed to bring these contracts into force more quickly. A government document obtained by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) states that provisional implementation of the deal would “enable the earlier signing and entry into force of a contract related to the procurement of weapons and military equipment and the enhancement of the operational capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces” .
🤝 Joint Drone Production: The ’50-50′ Partnership
Beyond the data-sharing deal, Serbia and Israel are moving toward co-production of advanced military drones. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced on April 14 that the two countries would launch a joint drone production plant, with ownership split 50-50 .
“We will do this together, half and half. That shows we will have the best drones in this part of the world.”
— Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia
Investigative reports by BIRN and Haaretz have identified the factory’s location in the Šimanovci industrial zone, about 30 kilometers west of Belgrade . The facility will be owned 51 percent by Elbit Systems and 49 percent by Serbia’s state arms exporter, Yugoimport SDPR .
Planned UAV Types
The factory is expected to produce two types of unmanned aerial vehicles:
| Type | Capabilities |
|---|---|
| Short-range strike drone | High payload, rotary wings; designed for tactical reconnaissance and strike missions |
| Long-range surveillance UAV | High-altitude (6+ km), long endurance; described as “more advanced” than Serbia’s domestically-produced Pegasus model |
Engineering teams from Utva, an aircraft factory owned by SDPR, will participate in production, indicating significant investment in local technical expertise .
The long-range drone is reportedly the “crowning glory” of the project, designed for deep-penetration surveillance missions and potentially armed with loitering munitions . “The essence of the whole story is the technology transfer, because our engineers will also work on it,” a source familiar with the deal told BIRN .
🏭 Why Serbia? Strategic Relocation Amid Iran War
The timing and nature of the agreement are significant. According to investigative reports, Israeli defense industries are seeking to diversify production outside Israel to protect their supply chains from Iranian ballistic missiles . During the recent US-Israeli war with Iran, the Israeli regime suffered catastrophic losses of its Hermes 900 drone fleet, with estimates suggesting the attrition rate may have exceeded 80 percent .
Serbia offers a European production and logistics hub outside the range of Iranian retaliation, while also providing Belgrade with access to advanced military technologies it cannot produce domestically .
🔌 The Elbit Factor: Controversy and Allegations
Elbit Systems, the Israeli military giant at the center of the Serbia deal, has been repeatedly named by UN experts as profiting from what they have called the “ongoing genocide” in Gaza . A UN Special Rapporteur report published in June 2025 listed Elbit among companies profiting from the war, stating that “drones, hexacopters and quadcopters have become ubiquitous killing machines in the skies over Gaza” .
Elbit’s record includes:
- Divestment campaigns resulting in Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, HSBC, and Canadian investment arms pulling funds
- Direct action activism, including break-ins and occupations of UK facilities by groups such as Palestine Action, leading to Elbit closing a UK site in 2025
- International procurement restrictions, with a NATO-affiliated agency barring Elbit from contracts due to a corruption investigation, and France banning the company from displaying weapons at the 2025 Paris Air Show
- Surveillance technology, including “NoviSpy” spyware used by Serbian authorities to monitor journalists, employing methods with the “unmistakable signature of Israeli technology”
In March 2026, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese stated from Belgrade that Serbia is one of the “most constant and most determined allies” of Israel . Critics note that Serbia has increased arms exports to Israel 42-fold since 2023, reaching €114 million in 2025, with the vast majority conducted through Yugoimport SDPR .
📋 Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Agreement Signed | General Defence Agreement for exchange and protection of classified defence data |
| Effective Date | April 29, 2026 (provisional implementation approved) |
| Key Israeli Partner | Elbit Systems (controlling 51% of planned drone factory) |
| Serbian Partner | Yugoimport SDPR (49% stake in drone venture) |
| Existing Contracts | $335M (2025) + $1.6B (August 2025) for drones, missiles, EW systems |
| Drone Factory Location | Šimanovci industrial zone (30 km west of Belgrade) |
| Planned Drone Types | Short-range strike drone + long-range surveillance UAV (6+ km altitude) |
| UN Rapporteur Position | Serbia described as one of Israel’s “most constant and most determined allies” |
| Arms Export Surge | Serbian arms to Israel increased 42-fold (€114M in 2025) |
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