North Macedonia's first live firing of its JLTV armed with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace's M153 Protector Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) took place at the Krivolak training range on 4 October. (North Macedonian MoD)
North Macedonia is reducing the number of Stryker infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) it is procuring from 54 to 42, with deliveries planned for 2025, recently appointed Defence Minister Vlado Misajlovski said in a press conference in Skopje on 9 October.
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson told Janes on 11 October that the number of Strykers was reduced “based on the needs of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia” following a study and comparative analysis by experts.
Misajlovski said that 73% of the MKD18 billion (USD320 million) defence budget for 2024 had been spent by 1 October and that the 2025 defence budget would total MKD23 billion, or 2.4% of GDP, a 27.7% increase. Around MKD8.5 billion of this amount will be spent on modernising and equipping the army, MKD3 billion more than in 2024, with 30% of the 2025 budget planned for wages and benefits, according to Misajlovski.
Misajlovski reported that North Macedonia currently has received 38 out of the 96 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) it is procuring, with the remaining 58 to be delivered by the end of 2025.
He expected the delivery of Boran 105 mm Air Transportable Light Towed Howitzers (ATLTHs) from Turkey during the first quarter of 2025.
Misajlovski noted that North Macedonia is procuring four AW149 and four AW169 helicopters and that the Czech Republic is overhauling two Mi-8MT helicopters, with deliveries of the latter delayed from May to November.
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