Partner 2015

This was the seventh bi-annual PARTNER Exhibition held in Belgrade, Serbia. This regional show is maturing, and gathering some momentum. There were many delegations from neighboring countries, showing a cooperation that had been missing in the 1990s and gradually getting better during the 2000s. There were 116 exhibitors, mostly local Serbian companies, but there were 18 other countries represented among the exhibitors.

During the four days of Partner 2015 the show was visited by official delegations from Pakistan, Iraq, Russia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, NATO, the European Defence Agency, Belarus, Myanmar, Mexico, Slovenia, Algeria, France, Croatia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Zambia, DR Congo, Lebanon, Malawi and Jordan. No numbers were presented on the full attendance, but on the last day there were over 1500 attendees.

Outdoor exhibits had everything from field tents to artillery and rocket launchers. Tanks were open for visitors to climb and see inside, and soldiers were stationed around to discuss their vehicles and exhibits with attendees. Indoors, everything from ammunition to boots was on display, with a very interesting showing of “Smart” artillery rounds and guidable 128mm rockets, amongst the new drones and small aircraft in the center of the show.

SADJ has attended all of the Partner Exhibitions since the first one, and we enjoy seeing a regional show growing like this. The next show is in 2017, and promises to have even more interesting developments from the partnerships that Serbian companies have developed with other international counterparts.

Serbia’s famous Tactical Training Team (TTT) is adding a full 1000 meter shooting range. Long time friend of SADJ TTT Director Dragan Leštaric (Center right) explained the new long range program he’s adding. TTT has worked heavily with French speaking countries recently, helping to stabilize Central African problem areas. www.tactical-spec.com.

60mm Mortar NSB-3 sighting device and marking lamps were on display.

Slobodan Orasanin a long-time suppressor designer from Serbia, has a new “Quick-couple” suppressor mount for the Uzi and other submachine guns. He has applied this to pistols as well (not shown). Markings are on his AK series suppressor, for the Zastava M70. He has also conquered the muzzle blast from the 7.62x54R caliber M84 (PKM) from Zastava. The caliber is closer to 30-06 than 7.62x51 and is a beast to suppress, thus the dual can diameters.

Zastava is now offering their belt loaders for the 12.7x108mm cartridge, working with DSHKM and NSV/Coyote style belts. www.zastava-arms.rs.

Recently Zastava announced their NSV Variant- “Coyote” would be available in 12.7x99mm (.50BMG) caliber. SADJ was invited to see the interior workings, and it is indeed an NSV action, pushing rounds forward out of an M15 (M85 machine gun) style link. www.zastava-arms.rs.

International uniform and equipment manufacturer Mile Dragic Productions always has an amazing display of camouflage and other uniforms, from the supply they provide internationally. www.armyequipment.com

Prvi Partizan, the small arms ammunition manufacturer from Serbia, has announced that they are entering the .300 blackout arena with both a subsonic and supersonic offering. Additionally, they have the 9.3x74R hunting cartridge, and announced they will be offering 6.8 SPC rounds very soon. www.prvipartizan.com.

Komanija Sloboda from Cacak, Serbia, a name familiar to many of our readers, had a full display of everything from their 64mm M80 to the 20x110mm Oerlikon and Hispano ammunitions. The word at the show was that they have perfected their 40x53mm linked ammunition for the MK19 and HK GMG grenade machine guns. www.sloboda.co.rs.

KRUSIK - www.krusik.rs - Front: Maljutka 9M14P1-2T for anti-reactive armor; Rear Maljutka 9M14P1-2F Thermobaric; Right - standard Maljutka guided missile system on case. Controller to front right.

KRUSIK - www.krusik.rs - Quick Air Target Simulator rockets- used for practicing ground to air defence.

KRUSIK - www.krusik.rs - Front- TMA-4 anti-magnetic antitank mine. Rear- TMRP-6 Anti-Tank destructive piercing mine- shaped charge.

KRUSIK - www.krusik.rs - a variety of Krusik’s unguided 57mm aircraft rockets, including HE and Cumulative.

TP3K, the Serbian manufacturing facility specializing in fuzes and mines, has a Fuze upgrade program for existing TMRP6 series mines.

The Serbian Army Demonstration Area is a section of Partner that always gives an insight into the current use items of the Serbian Army. In these two photos, most of the small arms are represented, from sniper up to mortar and Maljutka guided missile.

128mm “OGANJ” rocket- similar to the old Combloc 122mm “GRAD” rockets, the 128mm is unique to the former Yugoslavia, in particular Serbia. Serbia’s well known Military Technical Institute was showing one of their new projects- an extended range 128mm rocket. With the new changes to propellant, the ranges is extended by almost 50% from 20600 meters on the old, to 30,000 meters on the new. Note the various nozzles on the new ogive- these are for target acquisition correction in flight. The new 128mm is capable of much greater accuracy. www.vti.mod.gov.rs

Serbia’s “Soldier of the Future” program is based on the Zastava made M21 select fire assault rifle in 5.56x45mm. It is an integrated system, allowing for many modern technologies to be added including this indigenous night vision optic.