The Ministry of Defense has issued a tender for the selection of appraisers for old military assets slated for sale, including aircraft, helicopters, armored vehicles, and multiple rocket launchers, along with ammunition.

The tender, which is split into several lots, has a value of €50,000 including VAT, with a deadline for completion ranging from one to two months following the signing of a contract with the most advantageous bidder.

This military equipment is located at the “Knjaz Danilo” military airport in Zeta, the “13. jul” barracks in Nikšić, the “Taraš” depot, and the “Milovan Šaranović” barracks in Danilovgrad, as well as the Lepetane depot in Tivat.

The Ministry is seeking an appraisal for ten light helicopters of the “Soko Aerospatiale SA-341/342 Gazelle” type, which includes related armament, equipment, and a supply of spare parts. These helicopters have been out of operational service in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Montenegro for several years after experiencing two significant accidents alongside a few minor incidents, and are currently stored in hangars at the military airport in Golobovci. The long-term defense development plan from 2019 to 2028 initially called for only four SA-342 helicopters, which are armed with the anti-tank variant “Hn-45M gamma,” to remain operational following upgrades, but this plan was ultimately scrapped.

The “Gama” helicopters, armed with four 9M14M Maljutka anti-tank guided missiles as well as two 9M32M Striela-2M air-to-air missiles, were the only aircraft in Montenegro capable of providing partial fire support for infantry units and executing aerial anti-tank operations at distances of up to three kilometers. Due to their remarkable maneuverability and speed, the “Gazelle” was a preferred choice for military pilots in the former Yugoslavia, where the Mostar-based “Soko” factory produced about 160 of these helicopters for the former Yugoslav National Army under a license from the French company “Aerospatiale.”

The VCG plans to equip and arm two out of its three existing medium multi-purpose helicopters of the “Bell-412 EP/EPI” type to perform simpler combat support missions for infantry units on the ground in the near future; however, they are not nearly as capable in anti-tank roles compared to the armed “Gazelles.”

For the appraisal of the ten remaining “Gazelles” and a total of 783 spare components for these helicopters, the Ministry of Defense has allocated €15,000 excluding VAT. An additional €3,000 excluding VAT is earmarked for assessing 152 spare parts for medium transport helicopters of the “Mil Mi-8” type, which were taken out of service by the VCG and sold to Kazakhstan around 15 years ago.

They are also seeking a valuation for two “Supergaleb G-4” combat training aircraft, which were withdrawn from operational use a decade ago, along with a supply of spare parts totaling 3,628 items, for €4,000 excluding VAT.

The Ministry has set aside €6,000 excluding VAT for assessing 12 self-propelled multiple rocket launchers of the M63/94 Plamen-S type, which includes a stockpile of ammunition (800 high-explosive unguided 128 mm rocket shells). These rocket launchers, which can hit targets nearly 13 kilometers away, along with 12 Soviet D-30 howitzers of 122 mm caliber, are currently the Armed Forces of Montenegro’s principal artillery assets, expected to remain in active service until at least 2028.

Additionally, the same amount of €6,000 excluding VAT has been allocated for the assessment of ten light armored combat vehicles on wheels of the BOV-1 type, equipped with Maljutka anti-tank missiles, two instructors for the training of personnel for these vehicles, as well as six BOV-1 units in the M-86 variant used by military police, alongside two MT-55A bridge-laying tanks and one JVBT-55A recovery tank.

A total of just over €2,600 excluding VAT has been designated for the valuation of various naval weaponry components, including 230 mm AK-30 deck guns, 20 mm triple-barrel and single-barrel anti-aircraft guns, and 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns.

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