A Successful Year Behind “Orao”, New Projects Contracted for 2026
The business year at “Orao” has been completed successfully, and we are very satisfied that new projects have been contracted, allowing us to enter 2026 with a stable and clear outlook. Following our participation at the EDEX Defence Exhibition in Cairo, the Ministry of Defence of Egypt offered us cooperation, and we expect official requests from their side. In addition to Egypt, several important meetings aimed at opening new business opportunities are scheduled for the coming year,” stated Marko Mrkajić, Director of “Orao” a.d. Bijeljina.
Speaking about the company’s operations in 2025, Mrkajić emphasized that aircraft engine overhaul remains the core business of “Orao”, while the company’s management continues to invest efforts in expanding cooperation with the civil sector as well.
“In the coming year, we will focus, among other priorities, on modernizing facilities that can generate profit through cooperation with the civil sector. Our participation at the International Arms and Military Equipment Fair ‘Partner 2025’ in Belgrade, followed by our first-ever presentation in Africa at the EDEX exhibition, enabled us to establish new contacts with ministries and companies worldwide, which we have utilized effectively. Furthermore, we demonstrated that cooperation and joint market presence with other defence industry companies from the Republic of Srpska is both possible and beneficial,” Mrkajić added.
Regarding cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Srpska in the upcoming period, he highlighted that support guidelines for the defence industry have already been adopted, primarily through the Ministry of Economy and Entrepreneurship.
“In 2026, we expect full support from the Government and institutions of the Republic of Srpska, along with the implementation of certain incentives related to new investments in ‘Orao’ and the employment of much-needed professional staff. Our employees, along with their expertise and dedication, represent our most valuable resource,” Mrkajić emphasized.
Mladen Lemez, Acting Executive Director for Economic Affairs at “Orao”, stated that current analyses and contracted projects indicate that 2026 will also be a successful year for the company.
“New projects represent an opportunity to further modernize our technical capabilities and human resources, as it is difficult to remain competitive in the aviation market without complying with international aviation standards. I would like to remind that our company was the first in the region to implement the ISO 9001 standard, followed by the aviation standard EN 9100. It is certain that during 2026 we will work on further upgrading these standards,” Lemez noted.
He also emphasized the positive cooperation with the renowned American aerospace company Pratt & Whitney, one of the global leaders in civil aviation.
“Although cooperation with Pratt & Whitney was significantly reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, operations are now returning to normal levels. We continue to manufacture parts for them, they are satisfied with our work, and we expect further expansion of this cooperation in the coming year. Demand in the defence industry is generally increasing, and we see our opportunity both in production and overhaul activities, as well as in services offered to the civil sector,” Lemez added.
He highlighted that “Orao” is currently a highly liquid company that meets all its financial obligations in a timely manner.
Director Marko Mrkajić and Acting Executive Director Mladen Lemez extended their best wishes to the employees of “Orao” and to business partners for the upcoming New Year and Christmas holidays, wishing them good health and continued business success. They emphasized that the company’s employees are the driving force behind a positive story in the defence industry—one that continues to reach new heights year after year.
