Serbian President launches Israeli-backed drone assembly plant ahead of elections
President Aleksandar Vucic inaugurated a new factory in Serbia to assemble Israeli-made combat drones, aiming to modernize the armed forces.
During a visit to a new manufacturing site, President Aleksandar Vucic unveiled a Serbian drone assembly plant developed with Israel's Elbit Systems. The facility, expected to employ about 100 staff, will produce modern combat drones for the Serbian military and potential foreign buyers. Vucic demonstrated a drone, explaining its capabilities and stating that similar production will expand to at least three more locations across the country.
He also mentioned that missile warheads will be fabricated at the Krusik weapons factory. The event was shared via Instagram, with Vucic citing confidentiality as the reason for limiting press access. The inauguration occurs ahead of a high-stakes parliamentary election scheduled for Oct. 25, amid Serbia's broader effort to upgrade its defence arsenal, which includes recent purchases from France, China and Russia.
Why it matters
The plant signals Serbia's push to boost domestic defence capacity and may influence its upcoming election.
In this story
