Kosovo announces plans for ammunition factory, UAV laboratory

Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, announced the launch of inter-ministerial commissions to initiate the evaluation and negotiation procedures for establishing an ammunition factory and a laboratory for designing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the country.

Prime Minister Kurti announced the “Force Day” event, which was held at the Adem Jashari Barracks in Pristina, marking the opening of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) facilities to the public.

The event was attended by the Prime Minister, Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci, and military and diplomatic representatives stationed in Kosovo.

During his speech, Kurti highlighted that compared to previous years, the number of soldiers in the KSF had doubled, and its annual budget had tripled.

He noted that the weapons and ammunition seen in Kosovo’s military today were primarily purchased from NATO member countries, including the United States, Türkiye, Germany, the United Kingdom and Croatia.

A significant portion of the funding for these acquisitions had come from Kosovo’s national budget, with additional support provided by allied and friendly nations.

Regarding the new initiatives, Kurti revealed that Kosovo had initiated steps to establish an ammunition manufacturing plant and a UAV design laboratory, creating an inter-ministerial commission to oversee the process.

Minister Maqedonci added that Kosovo has received support from allied countries for these projects.

He further stated that in the coming days, Kosovo will engage with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the timely completion of the ammunition factory and UAV laboratory.

The KSF traditionally opens its barracks to the public every year on Nov. 27 as part of “Force Day.”

Initially formed in 2009 for crisis management operations and civil defense, the KSF officially transitioned into an armed force in 2018 through legal reforms. The transformation process is expected to take a decade.