Serbia’s Yugoimport Secures Site for Lazar 3 Armored Vehicle Assembly
Serbian defense company Yugoimport-SDPR has secured an industrial site in Zaječar for planned Lazar 3 armored vehicle assembly, with more than 100 jobs projected.
Serbian state-owned defense company Yugoimport-SDPR has signed an agreement to acquire the former Timočanka factory complex in Zaječar, eastern Serbia, where it plans to establish assembly operations for the domestically developed Lazar 3 8×8 armored vehicle.
The agreement was signed on October 16, 2026, by Zaječar Mayor Vladimir Videnović and Yugoimport-SDPR representative Jelena Vukasović. The transaction concerns an industrial property at 136 Hajduk Veljkova Street, which has remained unused for years.
The project follows an October 13 announcement by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who said Yugoimport-SDPR would begin recruiting an initial 50 workers, with employment expected to exceed 100 within three months.
Lazar 3 Assembly Planned in Eastern Serbia
The Zaječar facility is expected to handle assembly of the Lazar 3, an eight-wheeled armored vehicle developed by Serbia's defense industry for military transport and combat-support missions.
According to Yugoimport-SDPR's technical documentation, the Lazar 3 features an armored steel hull, modular ballistic protection and independent suspension on all eight wheels. The vehicle has a maximum specified weight of 28 metric tons and a top road speed of 110 kilometers per hour.
The Lazar 3 is already in service with the Serbian Armed Forces, with the vehicle family also including variants equipped with heavier weapon systems.
The planned assembly operations in Zaječar would add another industrial location supporting the Lazar vehicle program. However, the company has not publicly disclosed the proposed facility's annual production capacity, investment value or a confirmed date for the start of assembly.
Expansion of Serbia’s Defense Manufacturing Capacity
The acquisition forms part of Yugoimport-SDPR's efforts to expand its manufacturing and maintenance capabilities. The company is a major participant in Serbia's defense industry, developing, marketing and exporting military equipment, including armored vehicles, artillery systems and ammunition.
Zaječar officials expect the reopening of the former Timočanka complex to create manufacturing jobs and bring industrial activity back to a previously unused site.
The property agreement establishes a basis for the planned project, although its implementation will depend on the commissioning of the facility and the recruitment of personnel. No new procurement contract or export order for vehicles assembled in Zaječar was announced alongside the agreement.
