The Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers and the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, and the CEO of the Turkish company Aselsan, Ahmet Akyol, signed today in Sarajevo a contract on the procurement of 10 Kangal-type anti-drone rifles (Rifle-Type Anti-UAV/Drone Defense System) for the needs of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This agreement represents a continuation of the successful cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Turkey, and new equipment will significantly improve the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the domain of electronic warfare and protection against increasingly prevalent unmanned aerial vehicles.
Continuation of the Turkish Support and Third Donation
Minister Zukan Helez used the opportunity to thank Aselsan, its CEO, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Minister of Defense Yaşar Güler for their continuous support.
“This is a third consecutive donation from this company. We had the honor to receive radio equipment for the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a donation of the anti-drones Kangal system, and the latest donation included 10 anti-drone rifles. We want to ensure protection of our locations, especially locations of the defense industry and everything Bosnia and Herzegovina needs in the sphere of electronic welfare,” Helez said.
Helez added that talks are underway to procure two more anti-drone systems, which would enable the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina to be on par with its neighbors in defense against this kind of attack.
Development of the Domestic Defense Industry
Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol emphasized that his company is proud of its status as the fifth most valuable defense company in Europe and one of the fastest-growing over the past three years.
“In today’s time, when the threat of drones is growing increasingly, these systems are very important in the whole world, especially for the security of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to powerful armed forces, the defense industry holds an important place in critical situations. Republic of Turkey is working to improve defense industry capabilities both at home and in friendly and brotherly countries,” Akyol said.
The Turkish delegation won’t stop at delivering the equipment. As announced, the representatives of Aselsan will hold a range of meetings with the companies from the field of defense industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim is to expand business cooperation, increase trade, and jointly develop systems that will contribute to peace and stability.
“We are proud of this cooperation as Aselsan is one of the leading global companies in the field of the defense industry. The rest of the delegation will hold meetings with our defense industry companies during the remainder of their visit. In this way, we are building a broader cooperation and opening up new avenues of business,” Helez concluded.
