Serbia equips MiG-29 fighters with Chinese CM-400 supersonic missiles

Serbia has undertaken a program to arm its Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters with Chinese CM-400 series supersonic missiles, marking a significant upgrade to its air-to-surface strike capability.

“A public procurement procedure aimed at repairing up to ten engines for Bulgaria’s MiG-29 fighter jets has been cancelled after no companies submitted applications to participate Game Changer in the Region: Serbian MiG-29s Equipped with Chinese CM-400 Missiles and LS-6 Guided Bombs Serbia’s MiG-29 fighter jets have been equipped with new Chinese-made air-launched weapons, marking a notable expansion of the country’s strike capabilities”

Novinite

Reporting indicates that Serbian officials and defense ministry sources confirmed transfers of Chinese missile systems intended to integrate with the Air Force’s remaining MiG-29 fleet, with the government framing the move as a sovereign decision to modernize deterrence.

Novinite

Coverage from regional and international outlets notes this is part of a broader deepening of military-technical ties between Belgrade and Beijing, following recent Chinese defense cooperation and arms-delivery announcements to Serbia.

The CM-400 family is presented in reporting as a supersonic, sea-skimming design with a high-speed terminal phase intended to complicate interception.

Analysts cited by news outlets say its integration onto continental airframes like the MiG-29 represents a technical and tactical shift.

South China Morning Post

Serbian and international commentators emphasised that mounting CM-400-class missiles on fighters changes the aircraft’s mission set from purely air-to-air and limited ground-attack roles toward precision stand-off strike capability.

Reactions in the region and from Western capitals have been mixed and cautious.

“Serbia buys supersonic ballistic missiles from China, Croatia says it will talk to NATO allies Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić confirmed on March 12 that Serbia has purchased CM-400 supersonic ballistic missiles from China”

Telegrafi

Neighbouring countries and NATO officials expressed concern that the acquisition could destabilise existing security balances, while Serbia defended the move as lawful and defensive.

International reporting captures a spectrum of responses, from diplomatic queries and calls for transparency to statements signalling unease about how such armaments could affect crisis dynamics in the Balkans and the Adriatic.

Experts and defence commentators highlighted technical, logistical and interoperability challenges Serbia will face in adapting the Soviet-era MiG-29 to carry a modern Chinese supersonic missile.

Challenges include avionics integration, targeting datalinks, and pilot training.

Vox News Albania

Outlets quoted analysts who said the retrofit requires sustained technical cooperation, testing, and support equipment, plus maintenance and sustainment agreements to operationalise the capability.

Observers argue that beyond the immediate military effects, the deal signals a geopolitical deepening between Belgrade and Beijing that carries diplomatic implications for Serbia's relationships with the EU, NATO and Russia.

“A public procurement procedure aimed at repairing up to ten engines for Bulgaria’s MiG-29 fighter jets has been cancelled after no companies submitted applications to participate Game Changer in the Region: Serbian MiG-29s Equipped with Chinese CM-400 Missiles and LS-6 Guided Bombs Serbia’s MiG-29 fighter jets have been equipped with new Chinese-made air-launched weapons, marking a notable expansion of the country’s strike capabilities”

Novinite

Reports linked the transfer to broader Chinese outreach in the Balkans and suggested it may be leveraged for political bargaining.

Novinite

Serbian officials maintained the procurement was a straightforward sovereign modernization decision.