Albanian-Made Combat Drones”: Kosovo Showcases Skifteri and K1 in Defense Industry

Made in Kosovo drone on air, Skifteri 

 Kosovo’s Prime Minister and Vetëvendosje leader, Albin Kurti, together with Gjilan’s mayoral candidate Alban Hyseni, visited two of the country’s most promising technology hubs: the “Skifteri” military drone production facility and the “Future Minds Academy” specializing in civilian drones, in collaboration with MIGA SkyShield MAR.

Kurti visits the drone factory in Gjilan

The visit came just one day before the second round of local elections in Kosovo, underscoring the government’s push for technological and industrial growth tied to national defense and innovation.

Kurti emphasized that Kosovo’s defense and manufacturing industries are entering a new phase:

“Our state is becoming a producing nation. ‘Made in Gjilan’ stands proudly beside ‘Made in Kosova’,” said Kurti.

According to him, the government is committed to supporting capacity building and local production in defense technology, signaling a strategic step toward self-sufficiency and innovation.

Among the innovations presented were the “K1” kamikaze drone, capable of reaching a maximum speed of 180 km/h and operating at 2,500 meters altitude, and the “Skifteri” drone, reaching up to 5,000 meters altitude, a 20 km operational range, and 270 km/h speed.

Kosovo has already strengthened its defense arsenal with drones from allied nations, such as the Bayraktar TB-2, Puma, and Skydagger kamikaze drones.
However, Kurti highlighted that the next chapter is domestic production:

“Now, we are manufacturing combat drones ourselves. Both at the central and local government levels, we will continue to support capacity building and production, without halting investments in defense and security.”

This marks a turning point for Kosovo’s defense sector — transitioning from buyer to producer of high-tech military equipment, potentially placing the small Balkan nation on the map of regional defense innovation.