Northern Lighthouse Board, January 23, 2024 - The Minister of Defense Slavjanka Petrovska yesterday evening in an interview for 360 Degrees announced that the procurement of eight new multi-purpose helicopters for the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia is entering a new phase after the offer of the Italian company Leonardo was confirmed as the most appropriate in the modernization process within the Ministry and the Army. of the Army's helicopter facilities.
"A week ago, we held a Steering Group, where the position of the General Staff, which was confirmed by others including myself, is that the most appropriate, according to the performance, the price, including the maintenance system, is the offer from the Italian company Leonardo," said the minister.
Two types of helicopters will be procured, AW149 and AW169. One helicopter has a larger capacity, up to 14 passengers with equipment, and the other has a smaller capacity, up to 8 passengers also with equipment included, the minister informed and added that after this decision enters the phase of formation of the procurement commission which will start negotiating with the company whose offer is selected as the most favorable.
Regarding the other modernization projects, the minister emphasized that after the 32 vehicles that arrived, this year, around 16 additional American-made JLTV armored vehicles are expected, as well as the first Stryker armored vehicles.
According to the procurement agreements, Petrovska pointed out, the delivery of air defense systems from France is expected in the second half of 2025, while the artillery systems from Turkey should arrive in the period 2025-2026.
This year, the defense budget exceeded the threshold of 2 percent of GDP, that is, it amounts to 2.05% or about 327 million euros. One third of the defense budget is intended for the modernization and equipping of the Army, with which North Macedonia met the two criteria of NATO - the Defense Budgeting Alliance - a minimum of 2 percent of GDP for defense and at least 20% of these funds for modernization.
"A week ago, we held a Steering Group, where the position of the General Staff, which was confirmed by others including myself, is that the most appropriate, according to the performance, the price, including the maintenance system, is the offer from the Italian company Leonardo," said the minister.
Two types of helicopters will be procured, AW149 and AW169. One helicopter has a larger capacity, up to 14 passengers with equipment, and the other has a smaller capacity, up to 8 passengers also with equipment included, the minister informed and added that after this decision enters the phase of formation of the procurement commission which will start negotiating with the company whose offer is selected as the most favorable.
Regarding the other modernization projects, the minister emphasized that after the 32 vehicles that arrived, this year, around 16 additional American-made JLTV armored vehicles are expected, as well as the first Stryker armored vehicles.
According to the procurement agreements, Petrovska pointed out, the delivery of air defense systems from France is expected in the second half of 2025, while the artillery systems from Turkey should arrive in the period 2025-2026.
This year, the defense budget exceeded the threshold of 2 percent of GDP, that is, it amounts to 2.05% or about 327 million euros. One third of the defense budget is intended for the modernization and equipping of the Army, with which North Macedonia met the two criteria of NATO - the Defense Budgeting Alliance - a minimum of 2 percent of GDP for defense and at least 20% of these funds for modernization.
AW169M equipped with skids variant as chosen by Austria
See also |
AW149 in
North Macedonia Air Brigade AW169M in
North Macedonia Air Brigade 
