RAMSTEIN, Germany – A Serbian delegation visited NATO Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) from 11 to 13 March, reinforcing cooperation and enhancing mutual understanding between NATO and Serbia. The visit, organised by NATO’s Military Liaison Office in Belgrade and AIRCOM, aimed to foster dialogue and increase awareness of NATO’s role among the Serbian public.
General James Hecker, Commander of NATO Allied Air Command, hosted the delegation at AIRCOM’s headquarters in Germany. The group included Colonel Nenad Milojevic, Serbia’s Military Attaché in Germany, as well as journalists and representatives from Serbian non-governmental organisations. The visit offered a comprehensive insight into NATO’s operations, highlighting Serbia’s engagement as a Partnership for Peace (PfP) nation and the opportunities for cooperation between Serbia and NATO.
Partnerships are an integral part of NATO’s identity and essential to success
A key moment of the visit was the participation of retired Serbian Air Force Brigadier General Sreto Malinovic, who considered the visit a significant personal milestone, having long wished to see NATO operations firsthand. The delegation received briefings on NATO’s core tasks, AIRCOM’s mission, and the experiences of member nations in their transition to full NATO membership. The visit also included an introduction to NATO’s Mobile Training Team, which supports partner nations through flexible training programmes.
During a press conference, General Hecker underscored the value of Serbia’s engagement in the PfP programme since 2006, stating: “When you joined the Partnership for Peace (PfP) – that got our relationship going. Since then, we’ve done hundreds of different activities, enabling a dialogue.”
A Serbian delegation visited NATO Allied Air Command reinforcing cooperation and enhancing mutual understanding between NATO and Serbia. Photo by Arnaud Chamberlin.
A tour of the C-130J from the 86th Airlift Wing, highlighted how airlift aircraft could be used for aeromedical evacuation in the region if needed. Photo by Arnaud Chamberlin.
The delegation received an exclusive tour of NATO’s Airborne Warning & Control System aircraft, hosted by the unit’s Commander, Brigadier General Kristen Thompson. Photo by Arnaud Chamberlin.
One of the benefit of being a PfP-nation is the potential for increased interoperability with NATO-countries. He also highlighted the strategic advantage of interoperability, citing Serbia’s procurement of the Rafale fighter jet as an example of enhancing compatibility with NATO air forces.
“The most important thing when acquiring the Rafale is to start engaging bilateral relationships with your neighbors,” General Hecker said. “Buying the Rafael, we have several countries in NATO that have the aircraft. So you’re automatically interoperable, just buying that piece of equipment. “We’d like to engage with you as much as we can and exercise with you as much your politicians will let us,” he added.
The delegation also learned about NATO’s robust Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) capabilities, discussing strategies to counter aerial threats such as one-way attack drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. Insights gained from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine were shared, showcasing evolving defence techniques to improve cost-effective countermeasures against drone threats.
“Air superiority is crucial,” General Hecker emphasised. “By demonstrating our ability to control the skies, we deter adversaries and reinforce NATO’s defensive posture.”
The delegation then had a unique opportunity to visit the NATO Space Centre. They also received an exclusive tour of NATO’s Airborne Warning & Control System aircraft (AWACS), hosted by the unit’s Commander, Brigadier General Kristen Thompson; and a C-130J tour from the 86th Airlift Wing, showcasing how airlift aircraft could be used for aeromedical evacuation in the region if needed.
On their last day in Germany, the Serbian delegation visited the U.S.-led Inter-European Air Forces Academy (IEAFA) at Kapaun Air Station, Germany. The academy is NATO-accredited and students from Serbia have previously attended courses there. The final part of their visit to IEAFA included a special opportunity to participate in ‘Project X’, where the delegation and NATO members worked together to solve problems and obstacles, facilitated by IEAFA course instructors. ‘Project X’ is intended for students to strengthen their leadership skills. The activity fostered camaraderie and relationships between the Serbian delegation and NATO members, built over time during their visit.