
The Ministry of Defense of Serbia stated today that a Protocol on a donation of 17 Hummer multi-purpose SUVs was signed with the US Department of Defense.
The basis for the conclusion of the Protocol on the donation is the conclusion of legislative procedures under the provisions of ”Letters of offer and acceptance”, signed by State Secretary of Defense Tanja Miscevic and US representatives on 23 December 2011.
On behalf of the Serbian Ministry and the US Department of Defence, the Protocol was signed by Acting Chief of International Military Cooperation Colonel Predrag Kraljevic and US Defense Attaché in Serbia Colonel Paul Brotzen.
Using the approved funds under the program of assistance to foreign armies, the United States has so far allocated approximately $3.7 million to Serbia.
Given that this is new military combat equipment, the US Department of Defense will soon sign a special contract with the Hummer manufacturer, under which a special production program of these vehicles for the needs of the Serbian Army will commence.
According to estimates, the first Hummer vehicles for the Serbian Army will be completed in spring 2012. The main idea of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Army General Staff is that the vehicles should be used for equipping the Special Brigade units and for training units that will be engaged in multinational operations.
The Ministry of Defense launched an administrative procedure to procure additional Hummer SUVs through the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), another US assistance program, the statement adds.