Defense news and analysis from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo, procurement, industrial partnerships, and capability development across the Western Balkans and the Adriatic.
United States
ORQA US finished second in the Close Quarters Battle category of the Pentagon’s Gauntlet II, marking a major U.S. breakthrough for the company and positioning it for a potentially significant drone production order.
Slovenia
Ukraine and Slovenia are preparing a Drone Deal that could open the way for joint defense production, technology transfer and new projects between companies from both countries.
Serbia
Serbia has opened a factory to assemble Israeli-made drones for its armed forces and international customers, with President Aleksandar Vučić saying at least three additional facilities are planned with Israeli partners.
Croatia
Croatia will receive eight HIMARS systems and eight Black Hawk helicopters earlier than planned, while negotiations with the United States continue over missiles with a range exceeding 150 kilometers.
Montenegro
Montenegro has launched Petar I Njegoš, the first of two Kership OPV 60M patrol vessels being acquired under a €120 million program that will substantially expand the NATO member’s naval capabilities.
Serbia
Serbia publicly demonstrated armed robot dogs, PULS and Vampire rocket launchers and eight drone types during the Victor 2026 live-fire exercise.
Croatia
Croatia signed contracts for 18 K239 Chunmoo rocket launchers and an integrated C2 system, with deliveries scheduled for completion in 2029.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Pobjeda-Rudet plans new production capacity in Goražde for a strategic material needed by Bosnia’s defense industry, backed by Ginex, Pretis and Binas.
Events
MSPO 2026 opens September 8 in Kielce with 1,000+ exhibitors from 43 countries. Here is everything you need to know: who is on the floor, what debuts to watch, and why this edition changes procurement logic.
Croatia
Croatia says its incoming K239 Chunmoo systems will provide strike ranges beyond 300 km, adding a new layer to its planned HIMARS rocket artillery force.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia’s BNT-TMiH is developing a new 155mm self-propelled howitzer with a range exceeding 40 kilometres, marking a major step toward more advanced integrated artillery systems.
Weekly Briefing
This week: Poland investigates suspected sabotage at a drone-components plant, Germany traces the Leipzig drone plot into Poland and Serbia, the EU cuts Russia's Brussels mission, and Greece and Croatia sign major air-defense and rocket-artillery deals. Plus two deep-dive analyses.