The institution was originally established by a decree from Prince Milan Obrenović on February 5, 1876, based on proposal of Jovan Dragašević in 1865.

[1] Instead, researchers with foreign citizenship who wish to access its materials must submit their applications via the Serbian diplomatic representation abroad or through their respective embassy in Serbia.

[1] The archive was originally established as a department of the General Staff Organization of the Armed Forces of the Principality of Serbia and the Royal Serbian Army.

[2] The third department of the General Staff was charged with collecting and documenting war history, organizing it, and ensuring its preservation.

[1] In 1999, the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia severely damaged the Military Archive, destroying much of its microfilming equipment and conservation laboratory.