Recent footage showing Serbian MiG-29 fighter jets armed with Chinese CM-400AKG air-launched standoff missiles has caught the attention of many analysts and media outlets, not only in the region, but beyond.

This is a significant enhancement of Serbia’s standoff precision-guided strike capabilities that could alter military power dynamics in former Yugoslavia. Beyond the technical dimension, the integration of Chinese weapons onto Russian-made aircraft also highlights Belgrade’s dynamic defense procurement strategy, demonstrating growing military ties with Beijing.

There’s some confusion over the capabilities of the CM-400AKG missile. Some sources claim it’s a hypersonic weapon with a speed that just exceeds Mach 5 (a bit over 1,7 km/s or nearly 6,200 km/h, depending on the altitude).

Others say it’s a supersonic missile with a near-hypersonic speed of Mach 4-4.5 and supposedly “limited” maneuverability. Some even call it a “mini-Kinzhal”, which is not entirely baseless. Namely, just like the 9-S-7760 of the 9-A7660 “Kinzhal” was based on the 9M723 of the 9K720M “Iskander-M”, the CM-400AKG was derived from the SY-400 MLRS (multiple launch rocket system) munition.

The weapon was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). Designed primarily for precision strikes against high-value targets (HVTs), such as ships, radar installations and hardened ground facilities, it represents a modern standoff precision-guided strike weapon intended to penetrate sophisticated air and missile defense systems. With a reported range of up to 400 kilometers, depending on its flight profile, it’s effectively a strategic weapon for a small country like Serbia, offering a massive boost to its power projection capabilities in virtually all of former Yugoslavia and beyond.

The CM-400AKG’s high speed and steep terminal trajectory are intended to make interception by conventional SAM/ABM (surface-to-air/anti-ballistic missile) systems significantly more difficult than with slower subsonic cruise missiles. The weapon reportedly relies on inertial navigation (INS) combined with satellite guidance, with optional terminal seekers depending on mission requirements. The CM-400AKG can also carry different types of warheads, including high-explosive and armor-piercing variants. Such flexibility allows it to engage a range of targets from naval vessels to hardened ground infrastructure.

This includes command centers, airbases, critical radar systems and other HVTs. Perhaps the most important aspect of the development lies in how it changes the operational role of Serbia’s MiG-29 fleet, effectively turning it into a strategic asset. Originally developed by the Soviet Union during the (First) Cold War, the MiG-29 was designed primarily as an air-superiority fighter focused on intercepting enemy aircraft and defending airspace. Its design emphasized maneuverability, high thrust-to-weight ratio and strong short-range combat capabilities. It had a rather limited ground-attack performance.

However, modern upgrades and weapons integration (thanks to extensive help from Russia and Belarus, both of which also donated their own MiG-29s to Serbia) have increasingly allowed these venerable jets to also perform multirole missions. Equipping the aircraft with a long-range standoff missile like the CM-400AKG significantly expands its capabilities. Instead of focusing solely on air defense, the MiG-29 could conduct precision long-range strike operations without entering heavily defended airspace. This fundamentally changes the tactical approach for air operations to operational and strategic roles.

In simpler terms, rather than having to penetrate deep into hostile territory, aircraft can launch weapons from hundreds of kilometers away and immediately disengage. This greatly reduces the risk to both the pilot and the jet while still allowing effective attacks on critical targets. As previously mentioned, this capability is particularly valuable for Serbia given the relatively small size of its air force and territory. With a limited number of frontline combat aircraft, enhancing the effectiveness and versatility of each platform becomes critical for maintaining credible deterrence.

With the CM-400AKG in Serbian service, it introduces an entirely unique capability in the wider region. Most NATO air forces rely primarily on subsonic cruise missiles or short-range precision weapons for air-to-ground missions. A near-hypersonic (or perhaps even hypersonic) missile capable of striking targets up to 400 km away would present a virtually insurmountable challenge for conventional SAM/ABM systems. Even with limited deployment, such a capability can tip the balance of power in Serbia’s favor and deter potential foreign aggression (particularly that from the political West and its regional vassals and satellite states).

In addition to the CM-400AKG, a MiG-29 of the Serbian Air Force and Air Defense (RV i PVO) was seen with Chinese LS-6 precision-guided bombs developed by Luoyang Optoelectro Technology Development Center (LOTDC). This is effectively inspired by Russian UMPK kits that turn unguided bombs into guided weapons. With a reported range of approximately 80 km, this further revolutionizes the MiG-29’s ground-attack performance against lesser priority targets. Thus, both Russia and China keep contributing to Serbia’s strategic security. This is critically important at a time when the US/NATO continue to escalate their aggression against the entire world.

*

Drago Bosnic is an independent geopolitical and military analyst. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)