Defense Cooperation Between Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina Strengthens

Bosnia and Herzegovina Defense Minister Zukan Helez announced during his contacts in Sarajevo that the defense support provided by Turkey plays a critical role in the modernization of the armed forces.

Critical Defense Contacts in Sarajevo

Bosnia and Herzegovina Defense Minister Zukan Helez announced that the defense support provided by Turkey holds an important place in the modernization of his country's armed forces. The meetings were held in Sarajevo within the scope of Balkan Shield 2026.

Important figures such as Deputy Minister of National Defense Salih Ayhan, ASELSAN Deputy General Manager Zekeriyya Şahin, and BMC Otomotiv General Manager Lütfi Balık participated in the meetings.

KİRPİ II Procurement and New Options

Bosnia and Herzegovina had previously received BMC-produced KİRPİ II armored vehicles from Turkey and included them in its inventory.

Within the framework of the Balkan Shield meetings, additional KİRPİ II procurement for the existing vehicles, along with options in ambulance configuration, were discussed in detail.

ASELSAN KANGAL Anti-Drone System Agreement

While advanced anti-drone capabilities formed the technological leg of the cooperation, the KANGAL system signed by ASELSAN came to the forefront in this context.

An official contract worth 540 thousand dollars was signed for the KANGAL anti-drone system, and deliveries are targeted to be completed by November 2026.

Military Training and Joint Projects

The parties also discussed expanding the existing cooperation regarding the training of Bosnian-Herzegovinian soldiers in Turkey in various areas of expertise.

The Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina stated that Turkey continuously provides support through training, exercises, donations, and various military equipment projects.