Montenegro has exported 64 mm M80 "Zolja" rocket launchers to Serbia in the past three years, worth 1.288.680,40 euros. During this period, we also sold 40 mm L70 "Bofors" anti-aircraft guns to our neighbors for 220.000 euros, according to data from the Montenegrin Customs Administration.
"Old equipment from the Montenegrin Army is being withdrawn from Montenegro to Serbia. It is an exchange of 'old for new'," he explains. Aleksandar Radić, military analyst.
The “Bofors” L70 is an automatic anti-aircraft gun of Swedish origin, developed after World War II as a more modern version of the famous “Bofors” 40 mm. The L70 designation means that the barrel is 70 calibers long, which in practice gives a higher initial velocity and better range compared to the older model. The gun uses 40×365R ammunition and is intended primarily for short-range air defense - shooting at aircraft and helicopters, and in modern conditions it is often mentioned as a means against smaller and slower targets, such as drones. The rate of fire depends on the variant, but in the literature it is most often stated in the range of about 240 to over 300 rounds per minute. Although it is an older design, the system has remained in use for decades in various land and ship versions, especially when paired with more modern sighting devices and ammunition.
"It is an old Swedish cannon that was introduced into the armament of the JNA in the late seventies, and procurement continued into the eighties. It was part of the Air Force, intended for the defense of airports, and part of the Navy. So these cannons remained among the equipment in Montenegro, and they are interesting to Serbia because it has initiated the modernization process and is building 'PASARS', a self-propelled version of this cannon, and it is obvious that Serbia's ambitions in production are greater than its reserves, so surpluses were withdrawn from Montenegro," explains Radić.
"PASARS" is not a "cannon" in the strict sense, but a self-propelled/hybrid short-range air defense system on a truck platform, in which the main cannon armament is a 40 mm L70 "Bofors", with the addition of surface-to-air missiles.
This self-propelled artillery-missile air defense system serves to protect ground units and facilities from low-altitude targets (aircraft/helicopters, and increasingly UAVs/drones). It is characterized by rapid reaction and operation from a place or short stops (shoot-and-scoot) in day/night conditions.
It is armed with a 40 mm L70 "Bofors" cannon, and the system is designed to use IR-guided missiles with a range of up to 12.000 meters.
The system is on an armored FAP 2026BS/AV 6×6 truck chassis, with a turret/weaponry at the rear of the vehicle.
Public sources state that the project was developed at the Military Technical Institute, and domestic companies are mentioned in the production chain, for example, Zastava TERVO, FAP, PPT special purpose, depending on the series and configuration.
"PASARS" is basically an attempt to "upgrade" the existing 40 mm L70 Bofors into a mobile system with missiles and sensors, in order to obtain a cheaper and more massive short-range air defense system for escorting ground forces.
There is practically no publicly available, official market price for “PASARS” (per piece). Serbia does not sell it through transparent price lists, and contracts, if any, are generally not public. Estimates in open sources range from around 2 million euros, for a cheaper, basic version, up to around 3-3,5 million euros for a more expensive configuration, with air defense missiles, for example "Mistral".
According to a document from the Customs Administration of Montenegro, 64 mm M80 “Zolja” hand-held rocket launchers worth 1.288.680,40 euros and 90 mm “Osa” hand-held rocket launchers worth 41.280 euros were exported from Montenegro to Serbia from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025.
“Zolja” is a disposable, portable 64 mm anti-tank rocket launcher, intended for an individual soldier. It weighs about 3 kilograms, has a telescopic body, and the projectile exits at a speed of about 190 m/s. The effective range on a stationary target is about 220 meters, while the maximum (ballistic) range is stated to be about 1.280 meters. As a HEAT weapon, the penetration of about 300 millimeters of RHA is usually stated.
"Osa" is a portable 90 mm caliber multiple anti-tank rocket launcher, weighing about 11,2 kilograms, with an effective range of about 350 meters (up to 600 meters against larger, static targets), with a penetration of up to 400 millimeters of RHA.
The difference, as stated, is that the "zolja" is light and fast, "one shot - done", while the "osa" is heavier, reloadable and typically stronger, with a larger caliber and better range and penetration.
Aleksandar Radić believes that some of the assets exported to Serbia were certainly intended for re-export to third-party buyers, but that this is not evident from the customs documents. As an example, he cites the OFAB 250-270 M79 high-explosive aerial bomb, which is also on the list of weapons exported from Montenegro to Serbia.
"It's a Soviet bomb. A certain quantity arrived in the Balkans in 1991 through the Port of Bar. These bombs can be sold to a third party buyer, but this is not reflected in official reports because both Serbia and Montenegro report their exports to the United Nations and the OSCE. This only applies to heavy weapons and light infantry weapons, so the air bombs are in a 'vacuum' and it remains unknown to whom this re-export is going."
When it comes to "zolje", Radić has no dilemma.
"Hand-held rocket launchers, such as the 'Zolja', are certainly intended for re-export. The 'Zolja' previously went to various buyers in the Middle East through companies from Serbia. The problem is when people look at it linearly and say that it is only between the two countries. No, many deals in Serbia and Montenegro are carried out through brokerage. For example, a company from Serbia, which has a partner company in Montenegro, takes funds from Montenegro's surplus, imports them into Serbia and then exports them to a third country," the military analyst points out.
M55 A3 anti-aircraft guns also appear in export lists.
"Serbia has huge stocks of these cannons, but there are probably third-party buyers. A few years ago, we had a situation where Serbia exported such cannons to Armenia. We do not know whether these cannons are from Serbia or Montenegro. They are most likely from Serbia, but I am only mentioning this as an example," Radić points out.
A typical problem for Balkan countries is the United Arab Emirates (UAE), explains Radić.
"Everyone wants to trade with the Emirates because they have great needs and payment capabilities, but what if they ask you for second-hand hand-held rocket launchers? It is clear to you that their army, which is highly sophisticated, has no need for assets that are a legacy of the JNA and that have remained in, say, some warehouses in Nikšić. It is clear that this is for some of the movements that they support, but according to Montenegrin and Serbian regulations, of course, this should be taken into account, to make an assessment of where these assets will ultimately end up. However, you cannot always make an assessment and there is a "gray zone" there. Then someone in the world writes that weapons were exported from Serbia or Montenegro. Okay, yes, but you do not know to whom the Emirates will send the weapons that they imported from Montenegro, for example. Maybe they give them to Marshal Haftar, who holds the east of Libya," Radić points out, emphasizing that a distinction must be made between some quantities that are exported in this way and thousands and thousands of new missiles that are delivered to Ukraine.
He points out that an "unusual export ban mechanism" has been in effect in Serbia since June last year.
"It's unusual because the ban was issued verbally by President Vučić and there are no legal acts under which it works, there is no regulation as to why it is like that. The problem was the alleged re-export to Ukraine. In Serbia, an entire industrial branch with thousands of employees collapsed because Serbia tried the impossible - to export to Ukraine and remain on friendly terms with Russia," explains Radić.
"Vijesti" obtained documentation from the Customs Administration of Montenegro using the MANS application "Ask the Institutions".
Who sells weapons?
As BIRN reported, arms sales in Montenegro are handled by the companies Montenegro Defence Industry (MDI) from Podgorica, Tara Aerospace from Mojkovac and Poliex from Berane.
All three companies were majority state-owned, with MDI and Poliex being privatized in 2014 and 2015, while the government holds a 12,5 percent stake in Tara Aerospace.
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