Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that, according to the government’s plan, airspace security during the NATO Summit in Tirana will rely on intelligent drones produced in Albania. In the same public appearance, he also spoke about a new order for air defense, without giving details on the cost, timeline, or specific capabilities of the system.
The statement was made at a ceremony for tactical vehicles
The announcement came during the handover ceremony for 40 tactical vehicles produced by Albanian company Timak in cooperation with the state-owned company KAYO.
At the event, Rama presented the project as part of Albania’s preparations for the NATO Summit expected to be held in Tirana.
The government’s version for protecting the skies
According to the prime minister’s statement, airspace protection during the summit will be carried out with “super-intelligent” drones produced in the country.
Rama also linked this to the presence of the president of the United States at the summit, using it as an argument for the high level of security that, according to him, is being prepared.
A new air defense system as well, but with no public data
In the same statement, the head of government said an order has also been placed for a sophisticated air defense system.
So far, no verifiable data have been made public on the type of system, the value of the contract, the procedure followed, or the exact time when it will be made available to Albania.
The questions that remain after the announcement
Beyond the triumphant tone of the statement, basic elements of public transparency are still missing: who is supplying the system, under what standards it will operate, and how the use of drones will be certified at a high-security event.
In the absence of these clarifications, the government’s claims remain at the level of declarations, while the public interest is directly tied to security, procurement, and the use of technology at an international event of high sensitivity.
Rama said Albania will have the new air defense system “very soon” as well, but so far the public has only the political announcement and not a full picture of the project.
This is precisely where the real test begins: not with the “made in Albania” slogan, but with transparency, standards, and accountability on an issue that affects national security and public money.