Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced on Wednesday that the country has started the process of opening an ammunition production and a drone design factory.

“An army that, in such a short time, has been armed as much as ours, needs to ensure and guarantee full operationality and overall sustainability. Therefore, today we take the first steps to the establishment of a military industry,” Kurti said.

Ejup Maqedonci, Minister of Defence, said an interministerial commission led by him will “finalise the contract to start the work on opening the factory”.

“We are starting a new era of defence and security, creating sustainability even in production and supply of weapon systems,” Maqedonci said, adding that the government has coordinated with its international partners, including the US, and has received a “feasibility report” from Turkey’s Ministry of Defence.

This would be Kosovo’s first state arms production factory, which, Maqedonci added, “will not halt the private sector. All companies are encouraged to open such factories. Today, more than ever, the world needs the replenishment of ammunition and weapons stocks but also the creation of reserves, given the current security situation”.

According to Maqedonci, the lab will design drones with the aim that, “in future, they can be produced in our country”.

The Kosovo Security Forces, FSK, was founded on January 1, 2009, after the dissolution of the Kosovo Defence Forces, TMK. On Wednesday, marking FKS day, the FSK opened its doors to the public to demonstrate its military skills and capacities.

Although NATO does not support Kosovo’s move to upgrade the current Security Force into a regular army, Kosovo is doing deals with individual NATO member states, including the US, Turkey, the UK and Germany, to reach the same goal in practice.