Serbia Issues 15 Defense Production Licenses, Expanding Domestic Industrial Base

Serbia’s Ministry of Defense has issued 15 licenses for the production of weapons and military equipment during 2025, reflecting continued expansion of the country’s defense-industrial base.

The licenses were formally handed over during a ceremony at the Ministry’s Sector for Material Resources, where Acting Assistant Minister of Defense Nenad Miloradović presented the permits to companies that fulfilled the legal requirements for defense manufacturing activities.

According to the ministry, the majority of the approvals represent renewals of previously issued licenses following the expiration of earlier permits. In several cases, companies confirmed upgrades to their production capacities as part of the renewal process.

Two companies received authorization to produce weapons and military equipment for the first time: Comars Beograd and Luss Textile Draganići. Their inclusion expands the number of private-sector participants in Serbia’s defense production ecosystem.

Officials indicated that the production of weapons and military equipment represents an important industrial sector supporting the operational needs of the Serbian Armed Forces while contributing to national technological development and economic activity. The ministry emphasized that companies operating in the sector carry responsibility for advancing manufacturing technologies and developing new products aligned with defense requirements.

The Ministry of Defense identified strengthening domestic industrial capacity as a key policy objective. Authorities aim to increase the role of local manufacturers in equipping the Serbian Armed Forces with modern and upgraded systems, consistent with a strategy focused on reliance on domestic production capabilities.

In the coming period, the ministry plans to propose additional capacity development programs to the Serbian government. These initiatives are expected to include a technology roadmap intended to support coordinated modernization and expansion across the defense-industrial sector.

At the beginning of 2025, Serbia had 63 companies holding valid licenses to produce weapons and military equipment. In addition to large state-owned defense enterprises, the sector includes a growing number of small and medium-sized companies that participate in supply chains and defense projects.

The ministry noted that the number of licensed defense manufacturers has increased steadily in recent years. At the end of 2020, 43 companies held production permits, indicating continued growth in the domestic defense-technological industrial base.

Officials also pointed to a broader procurement effort aimed at equipping the Serbian Armed Forces with modern and modernized systems produced largely by domestic industry. According to the ministry, the total value of weapons and equipment procured from Serbian manufacturers since 2021 is five times higher than in the previous twenty-year period.