Today, at the Army Training Area Krivolak, a field exercise of the Artillery Battalion was conducted, marking the first target shooting with the newly acquired 105 mm Boran howitzers, officially placing them into operational use. The guests of the event included the Minister of Defense, Mr. Vlado Misajlovski, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Major General Sashko Lafchiski, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Fatih Ulusoy, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Major General Azim Nuredin, the Commander of the Operations Command, Brigadier General Mirche Gjorgoski, the Director of the General Staff, Brigadier General Orce Jordev, the Commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Dejan Chiplakovski, as well as representatives from the Army, the Ministry of Defense, and the Turkish defense companies ASELSAN and MKE.
Highlighting the professionalism and readiness of the Artillery Battalion, Major General Lafchiski stated: “In just three months since the arrival of the howitzers, our soldiers have demonstrated the capability and professionalism that define our Army. Today, they not only confirmed their readiness but also showcased the tactical power and precision of the new fire capabilities which are now at the disposal of the Army.”
General Lafchiski expressed his sincere gratitude to the Republic of Türkiye and to the experts from ASELSAN and MKE for their professional support and selfless knowledge transfer, which enabled the Army, within a very short period, to become the first in Europe to introduce this modern artillery system into operational use.
The Commander of the Operations Command, Brigadier General Mirche Gjorgoski, expressed confidence that this declared battery will soon achieve a high level of competence and that, during the next exercise at this same location, it will demonstrate full combat readiness, precision, and training before its deployment within the Light Infantry Battalion Group (LIBG).
As part of today’s activities, the new uniforms and boots for the Army personnel were presented, which were supplied by the Republic of Türkiye.
Addressing the media, the Minister of Defense Vlado Misajlovski stated that the Army personnel successfully implemented the new systems, proving once again their outstanding training. He emphasized that Army personnel remain a top priority, announcing the supply of approximately 4,000 military field uniforms and more than 3,500 pairs of boots expected to arrive soon. The Minister also emphasized that priority continues to be placed on the supply of sniper rifles and terrain motor vehicles, which are being implemented under the Defense and Financial Cooperation Agreement with Türkiye.
The 105 mm Boran howitzers are part of the declared battery of the Artillery Battalion, which is an integral element of the Light Infantry Battalion Group. Their supply fulfills the NATO capability target for indirect fire support weapons and ammunition. In addition, it represents an important step in meeting the commitments defined in the NATO Capability Targets Package of 2021, which are reaffirmed through the new package for 2025.
