Sarajevo security conference and defense expo highlight rising drone threats and military expansion
Military leaders and officials gathered in Sarajevo to address emerging drone risks and discuss the expansion of Bosnia and Herzegovina's defense manufacturing sector.
Sarajevo hosted the fourth Sarajevo Security Conference in September 2026, bringing together over 300 security experts, military leaders, and diplomats to discuss European defense issues. During the conference, EUROCONTROL Civil-Military Cooperation head Major General Karsten Stoye cautioned that low-altitude drones pose the most significant new risk to European airspace over the next five years. Similarly, NATO Rear Admiral Van Zanten underscored the growing role of unmanned surface vessels and artificial intelligence in modern naval warfare.
Alongside the conference, officials in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced plans to open two new arms factories following a doubling of domestic defense production over the past three years. The announcement accompanied the "First Balkan Shield 2026" arms fair in Sarajevo, which featured defense manufacturers from Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as exhibitors from Slovenia, China, Turkey, and Egypt.
Sources: Avaz, FENA, HRT Vijesti, Index, Klix
Sources
- Avaz — U Sarajevo stižu vodeći generali NATO-a, američki kongresmeni i više od 140 stručnjaka za sigurnost
- Index — BiH širi vojnu industriju. Uskoro otvara još dvije tvornice
- HRT Vijesti — BiH jača vojnu industriju, za tri godine udvostručena proizvodnja
- FENA — Stoye: Dronovi su najveći novi izazov za sigurnost evropskog zračnog prostora
- Klix — NATO kontraadmiral za Klix.ba o 'floti iz sjene', prijetnjama i ratu na moru: "Budućnost pripada dronovima"
Earlier coverage
- Oct 14, 2026, 07:00 AM UTCSarajevo defense events highlight emerging drone threats and Bosnian arms expansion
- Oct 13, 2026, 07:00 AM UTCSarajevo Security Conference highlights drone threats and defense growth
- Oct 10, 2026, 01:30 AM UTCSarajevo security conference highlights drone risks and defense expansion
- Oct 7, 2026, 06:30 AM UTCSarajevo Security Conference highlights drone risks as Bosnia expands arms sector