Albania Emerges as a Rising Force in Military Vehicle Production: requests from Greece and Germany

 Following the unveiling of its first prototype armored vehicle, “Shota,” Albania is now preparing to take a significant leap forward in military manufacturing. The country is expected to begin full-scale production of armored vehicles within the year, a move that positions Albania as a new player in the European defense industry.

 

Arjeta Puca, administrator of the Albanian company TIMAK, which developed the “Shota,” confirmed that several vehicles are set to be produced in 2025. “We are engaged in partnerships with foreign companies, and this year we expect to produce multiple ‘Shota’ units. It won’t just remain a prototype — it will be a fully operational vehicle used in the field,” Puca stated.

The growing instability around the world has brought international attention to Albania’s defense capabilities. According to Puca, the interest extends beyond national borders. “While our goal is to begin production for Albania, we’ve also received strong interest from Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and even Greece. We are currently in talks and believe we’ll have our first international deliveries within the year,” she said.

This development coincides with Albania’s broader national defense strategy, which includes a long-term investment plan of over 122 billion lekë for modernization and an additional 61 billion lekë for military infrastructure through 2033. A portion of these funds will go toward supporting private enterprises involved in the production of military technology.

TIMAK, although still a modest-sized company, is optimistic about scaling its operations. “Of course, we’re not yet a large-scale manufacturer, but with increased capital and capacity, we’ll be able to produce even more. The platform components are sourced externally, as is standard in the industry. The rest of the process is quite manageable,” Puca explained.

The rise of Albania’s defense sector also comes in the wake of a ten-year Security and Long-Term Support Cooperation Agreement signed between Albania and Ukraine. The agreement, formalized in Davos earlier this year by Prime Minister Edi Rama and President Volodymyr Zelensky, includes the delivery of armored vehicles to Ukraine.

“We’ve already produced ambulances for Ukraine and are in discussions to supply them with the ‘Shota’ as well,” Puca added.

The armored vehicles currently in production are expected to weigh around 7 tons and will be ready for deployment with the Albanian Armed Forces by the end of the year. This marks a new chapter for Albania — not just as a consumer of defense equipment, but as an emerging contributor to the European and global defense supply chain.