In a significant show of support, Turkey has delivered a major military package to Bosnia and Herzegovina, including armed Bayraktar TB2 drones, Kangal anti-drone systems, and Kirpi II armored vehicles — a move that could shift the strategic balance in the increasingly tense Balkans.
As previously reported, this delivery includes two armed Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), further strengthening Bosnia and Herzegovina’s defense capabilities and sending a clear strategic message across the region.
According to DonanımHaber, Turkey’s leading technology news portal, the transfer is seen as a key development at a time when military investments across the Balkans are accelerating.
“We have several other projects with Turkey. We signed a contract for the delivery of four Kirpi II armored vehicles and six Bayraktar TB2 drones, and negotiations are ongoing,” said Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Defense Minister Zukan Helez late last year.
It is now confirmed that the Bayraktar drones and Kangal anti-drone systems have already arrived, with full operational control under the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (OSBiH). Along with the hardware, Bosnia also received advanced ground control stations and comprehensive personnel training.
The Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina described the donation as both “a message of support to state institutions” and “an open demonstration of partnership with Turkey.”
Defense Minister Helez emphasized that the Bayraktars would not burden the state budget, ensuring that the drones remain under sovereign control.
Advanced Systems for a New Security Era
The Kangal anti-drone system is designed to disrupt and neutralize hostile drones using low-frequency jamming, targeting GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BEIDOU navigation systems — a powerful defense against threats from Russian, Chinese, and other foreign drone technologies.
Meanwhile, the Kirpi II armored vehicles meet the highest NATO protection standards and offer superior mine and ballistic protection for military personnel.
According to Turkish sources, introducing these systems significantly upgrades Bosnia and Herzegovina’s defensive capabilities, especially in counter-drone warfare, an increasingly critical area in modern conflicts.
The Balkans’ Growing Military Race
Turkey’s donation comes at a time of rising tensions and military buildup across the Balkans. Serbia has strengthened its forces with Chinese drones and French Rafale fighter jets; Croatia has completed its modernization of the Air Force with Rafale jets from France; and Kosovo and Montenegro continue to invest heavily in security upgrades.
Domestically, Bosnia faces additional challenges: the Republika Srpska entity continues to threaten the unconstitutional formation of its armed forces, undermining the authority of the nationally unified Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Turkish reports indicate that Bosnia is now negotiating the potential acquisition of four additional Bayraktar TB2 drones and more related equipment. If these deals materialize, the OSBiH could emerge as one of the region’s most modern forces in terms of drone warfare and electronic defense capabilities.
