Belarus donates MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Serbia

Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Eight twin-engine MiG-29 jet fighters and two BUK missile systems are being donated to Serbia by the government of Belarus.

The donation was announced by Serbian Defense Minister Zoran Dordevic following a visit last week to Belarus by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.

The deliveries, provided on a no-pay basis under the condition that Serbia cover repair and modernization expenses, are expected to be completed in 2018.

"We will also negotiate the purchase of the famous S-300 [long range surface-to-air missile] systems with Belarus," Dordevic told Serbian daily newspaper Politika.

The MiG-29 fighter and the BUK missile system were developed by the Soviet Union. Serbia currently operates four of the combat planes.