Stridar Kosovo, in partnership with the U.S.-based Stridar Inc., has officially unveiled the SideRunner Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) platform, marking the start of its production in Kosovo.
The platform was officially presented on June 30 at the U.S. Embassy in Pristina during the Freedom250 celebrations, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States.
The SideRunner is the result of a joint effort between Stridar Inc. and Stridar Kosovo, with the goal of establishing Kosovo as a manufacturing and export hub for the platform, serving markets across Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and other international regions.
According to the company, the platform has been continuously refined based on operational feedback from Ukrainian military units and other international users. It has also undergone testing in cooperation with the U.S. Army to meet the operational requirements of modern missions.
The SideRunner is designed as a dual-use platform, capable of supporting military forces, security agencies, police, special operations units, emergency response teams, critical infrastructure protection, industrial inspections, and search-and-rescue operations.
Before the public unveiling, the Minister of Defense of Kosovo visited the facilities of Stridar Kosovo, accompanied by military representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo. During the visit, the delegation was introduced to the company’s production capabilities and the SideRunner platform, while expressing support for the development of Kosovo’s defense industry and interest in future cooperation.
The launch of SideRunner production is considered a significant milestone for Kosovo’s defense industry, positioning the country not only as a user of advanced defense technologies but also as a designer, manufacturer, and exporter. The project is expected to strengthen domestic industrial capabilities and enhance Kosovo’s role in the global defense technology sector.
