New contracts within framework of procurement of Rafales – UTVA in supply chain of Dassault, at VTI AI laboratories

At the international armaments and military equipment fair Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, contracts were signed between the French companies Dassault Aviation, Dassault Systemes and Thales and Serbian partners - the Military Technical Institute (MTI) and the UTVA avio-industrija factory from Pancevo. As announced by the Ministry of Defense, these are projects that are being implemented within the framework of the program of procurement of multi-role combat aircraft Rafale and the establishment of industrial cooperation with the domestic defense industry.

A delegation of the Ministry of Defense, led by the Acting Assistant Minister for Material Resources, Dr. Nenad Miloradovic, is visiting the Eurosatory 2026 in Paris.

On this occasion, contracts were signed with the French companies Dassault Aviation, Dassault Systemes and Thales at the Jugoimport SDPR stand, which represent part of Dassault Aviation’s obligations within the framework of industrial cooperation with the Serbian defense industry after the contract for the procurement of Rafale aircraft.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the signed contracts include projects with the Military Technical Institute and the UTVA avio-industrija factory from Pancevo, and their goal is to improve the development and production capacities of the domestic defense industry.

It is planned to establish a modern integrated system for the design, development, simulation and production of new weapons and military equipment using software solutions and technologies from French partners. The Ministry states that this system will connect nine entities of the Serbian military-industrial complex, which should accelerate the development of new products and improve production efficiency in accordance with the principles of Industry 4.0.

The signed agreements also envisage the establishment of an artificial intelligence laboratory at the Military Technical Institute. As stated, the laboratory will be intended for the development of domestic tools and algorithms for the application of artificial intelligence in the field of robotic combat systems, data processing, command and control, using the capacities of the National Data Center and supercomputers.

When it comes to the UTVA avio-industrija, the contract provides for the transfer of technology for the production of complex assemblies for the Rafale fighter aircraft, which, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense, should enable the inclusion of the Pancevo factory in the Dassault Aviation supply chain.

The Ministry announces that additional contracts will be signed with Dassault Aviation and its partners in the coming period, with the aim of fully implementing the industrial cooperation program and further strengthening the capacities of the domestic defense industry.

Vojnotehnički institut VTI Beograd

Utva-avio industrija d.o.o. Pančevo

Ministarstvo odbrane Republike Srbije

Jugoimport-SDPR Beograd

Dassault Aviation

Dassault Systèmes

Thales

Military Technical Institute

UTVA

Ministry of Defense

Jugoimport SDPR

Nenad Miloradović

Eurosatory 2026

Rafale

Refales

Rafale aircraft