At the traditional New Year’s meeting with journalists, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Albania will start producing armored vehicles and combat drones and added that Albania’s goal is to reach the average of NATO member countries in terms of financial support.
“We will produce combat drones, and we will also produce anti-drone systems, and the first orders have already been received. In the first six months of 2026, you will certainly see the first products, while we continue to work on the implementation of other contracts for the maritime industry and the aviation industry,” said Rama.
Rama pointed out that this year Albania is equipped with the Javelin anti-armor missile system, three patrol ships from Italy and air surveillance radars in cooperation with France.
The Albanian authorities announced last week that their army was officially equipped with the Javelin anti-tank missile system as a “result of close cooperation with the strategic ally the United States of America”.
The investment is part of the long-term strategy of modernization of the Albanian armed forces, increasing deterrence and full alignment with NATO’s capacities and doctrine, the Albanian Ministry of Defense announced.
“What remains the main ambition of Albania is not to produce military equipment only for its own needs, but also to export, and therefore this year is a historic year for our army, because the foundations of the Made in Albania defense industry have been laid,” stressed Rama.
Albania allocates 2 percent of its GDP to the army, is a member of NATO, as are North Macedonia and Montenegro, while Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina strive for membership, and Serbia, which is militarily neutral, is part of the NATO program “Partnership for Peace”.
In March, Croatia, Albania and Kosovo also signed a declaration on defense cooperation aimed at stability and security in Southeast Europe, support for the Euro-Atlantic path and strengthening the alliance of three friendly countries.
