Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić inaugurated an assembly plant to produce Israeli-designed combat drones in Serbia, saying the facility will employ about 100 people and build advanced systems for domestic and international use. Vučić cited confidentiality for limiting media access and said warheads will be produced at the Krusik factory. He added plans to open additional plants with Israeli partners. The announcement comes ahead of an Oct. 25 parliamentary election and follows Serbia's recent arms buys, including Rafale jets and equipment from China and Russia.
Serbia Opens Assembly Plant for Israeli-Made Drones as Vučić Eyes Military Boost Ahead of Elections
FILE -Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks during a press conference at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)
Belgrade — Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on Thursday inaugurated an assembly plant in Serbia to produce Israeli-designed combat drones, saying the facility will strengthen the country's armed forces and support exports to other countries.
Vučić first announced the project in April, and regional outlet BIRN reported that state arms manufacturer Yugoimport SDPR would partner with Israel's Elbit Systems to open the plant. In an Instagram post, Vučić said the new facility will employ about 100 people and produce "the most modern equipment" for the Serbian military and international clients.
No technical or commercial details were disclosed. Vučić said he did not invite journalists to the ceremony because of the "confidentiality of the production process," and declined to provide further specifics about the drones' capabilities or export plans.
"Our plans are huge," Vučić wrote. "We believe that we will open with our Israeli partners at least three more factories throughout Serbia."
Videos posted to Instagram show the president touring the facility, inspecting systems and briefly operating a drone on site. In the footage Vučić praised the systems' effectiveness: "They go through the windows and chase the opponent, they are incredibly efficient."
Vučić also said that warheads would be manufactured separately at Serbia's Krusik weapons factory. In one clip, a Serbian employee explains the drone's features to Vučić, who replies: "It looks even more complicated than I expected."
The inauguration comes ahead of an early parliamentary election on Oct. 25, which will test Vučić's hold on power after nearly two years of anti-government protests. The move forms part of broader efforts to modernize Serbia's military — Belgrade ordered 12 French-made Rafale jets in 2024 and has continued to acquire equipment from China and Russia while formally pursuing European Union membership.
Context: The project underscores Serbia's strategy of diversifying defense partnerships and upgrading military capabilities amid regional tensions and domestic political pressures. Observers will watch for further details on technology transfer, production scale and any export restrictions tied to the Israeli partnership.
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