Ex-Yugoslavia Military Forces 🇳🇱

The defense posture of the former Yugoslav republics—Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo—is defined by a split between Euro-Atlantic integration and military neutrality. As of 2026, the region is characterized by a multi-speed modernization process and varying degrees of alignment with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Strategic Position

The geopolitical landscape is centered on two primary orientations. Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia are members of NATO, adhering to collective defense doctrines and standardizing their forces with Western equipment. Serbia maintains a policy of military neutrality, balancing relations between the European Union, Russia, and China. This neutrality is supported by a domestic procurement strategy that integrates Western, Chinese, and locally developed systems.

Primary security concerns include ethnic tensions in northern Kosovo and the political stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) is currently in the third phase of a ten-year transition into a regular army, a process scheduled for completion by 2028. This transition is a source of friction with Belgrade, which views the militarization of Kosovo as a violation of international agreements. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union Force (EUFOR) Operation Althea maintains a peacekeeping presence, with its mandate extended through late 2026.

Military Forces

The Serbian Armed Forces and the Croatian Armed Forces are the primary regional powers. Serbia maintains the largest personnel count, with active forces supported by a reserve system. The army operates M-84 and T-72 main battle tanks, alongside locally produced Lazar and Milos armored vehicles. The air force utilizes MiG-29 fighters and Mi-35 attack helicopters, while transitioning toward Western platforms following a 2025 agreement for the acquisition of Rafale multirole fighters. Air defense is provided by Chinese-made FK-3 and Russian-made Pantsir-S1 systems.

The Croatian Armed Forces focus on NATO interoperability. The air force operates Rafale fighters, while the army fields M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Patria AMV armored personnel carriers. In late 2025, Croatia approved a large-scale procurement package including Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks and CAESAR MK2 self-propelled howitzers.

Slovenia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia maintain smaller, professionalized forces oriented toward specialized capabilities and NATO missions. Slovenia operates Boxer 8x8 armored vehicles, with deliveries scheduled to continue through 2026. Montenegro and North Macedonia focus on light infantry and mountain warfare, with Montenegro significantly increasing its defense budget to meet NATO requirements.

Defense Industry

Serbia maintains the most substantive domestic defense industry, led by the state-owned integrator Yugoimport-SDPR. Key products include the Nora B-52 self-propelled howitzer, the Lazar and Milos armored vehicle families, and various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as the Pegasus. Ammunition production at factories like Krusik and Prvi Partizan remains a major export driver, with significant shipments reaching international markets in 2025.

Croatia's defense sector is concentrated in small arms and vehicle maintenance. HS Produkt is a global supplier of pistols and the VHS-2 bullpup assault rifle. Đuro Đaković Specijalna Vozila serves as a regional hub for the maintenance and modernization of armored vehicles, including the Bradley and Patria platforms. Bosnia and Herzegovina has seen a revival in its defense production, with the BNT Novi Travnik factory reporting record revenues in 2025 for its artillery systems and munitions.

Strategic Trends

Modernization programs are shifting regional inventories away from Yugoslav-era equipment toward Western and advanced domestic systems. Defense spending is trending upward across the region. In 2025, Croatia and Montenegro met the NATO target of 2% of GDP, with Montenegro proposing an increase to 3% for the 2026 fiscal year.

The proliferation of unmanned systems is a primary procurement priority. Serbia has integrated suicide drones and tactical UAVs into its force structure, while Croatia and Kosovo have acquired Bayraktar TB2 drones. Regional militaries are also prioritizing deep-fire capabilities and integrated air defense to counter evolving threats. Financial constraints and the emigration of technical personnel remain persistent challenges, particularly for the smaller armed forces in Bosnia and North Macedonia.