Bosnia’s Arms industry, despite the country’s slow progress, has managed to triple its exports in the last 5 years, with an annual recorded export worth some US $40-50 million (2014 data). After the reconstruction that took place following the end of the Bosnian war (1995), the country has managed to rebuild and modernize its factories, selling arms and ammunition to over 50 countries worldwide, and having a total turnover of some €100 million.
The production of ammunition and specially designed components, explosives and optical equipment, as well as parts related to the defence industry, tanks and military vehicles, as also the overhaul of military equipment, have been at the forefront of the related industry’s activities in BiH. Significant players of the national Defence Industry, are included in the below tables:
- UNIS GROUP is responsible for research, development, production, sale and marketing of products and services, manufactured by its member factories. These are:
Company |
Products/Services |
BNT – Tvornica masina I hidraulike (TMiH), d.d. |
Arms, mortars, guns & howitzers, rocket launchers & systems |
BINAS d.d. Bugojno |
|
PS VITEZIT d.o.o. Vitez |
Various types of explosives, detonating fuses, etc. |
TRZ d.d. Hadzici |
|
UNIS GINEX d.d. Gorazde |
|
ZRAK d.d. Sarajevo |
Optical & optoelectronic devices & laser technique (Fire control systems, sighting, observation & measuring devices for infantry, artillery and tanks) |
PRETIS d.d. Vogosca |
Ammunition for various types of mortars, guns, rockets and infantry weapons |
IGMAN d.d Konjic |
Ammunition for most types of weapons, including blanks and special ball ammo |
- Additional BiH defence companies are included in the below table:
Company |
Products/Services |
ORAO, Bijeljina |
|
Factory of Special Purpose Engines (FMSN), Pale |
|
FAST, I. Sarajevo |
Production of:
|
CAJAVEC, Banja Luka |
|
ZRAK, Teslic |
|
RZT Travnik |
|
According to the latest detailed data available (2009), the main BiH Arms and Military equipment (AME) importers, were Serbia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia and Hungary.
In a different perspective, according to the Sipri database, recorded military exports from BiH, include Armoured Vehicles and Artillery, directed to Cameroon and Afghanistan respectively, in 2002, 2011 and 2013.
|
2002 |
2011 |
2013 |
Total |
Type |
Armoured vehicles |
Artillery |
Artillery |
|
Value (in US $ million (1990) prices) |
4 |
14 |
3 |
21 |
Country |
Cameroon |
Afghanistan |
Afghanistan |
|
Source: http://armstrade.sipri.org/
It seems that BiH’s Military industry, has found the path to achieve some initial international exports. New contracts have been placed with the local industry in recent years, leading to a notable expansion of the sector, increasing significantly associated employment and creating further economic development opportunities for the country.