How a besieged nation built an army from scratch using its own industrial heart

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Facing a severe arms embargo and surrounded by hostile forces, the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina emerged in 1992. With almost no heavy weaponry, the military relied on its domestic steel industry to pivot toward production, eventually transforming into a centralized force that reshaped the regional conflict.

Initially, the state lacked a unified military, relying on a patchwork of local Territorial Defense units, the Patriotic League, and various independent paramilitary groups like the Green Berets. The government, led by Alija Izetbegović, struggled to consolidate these entities while facing an immediate, overwhelming disadvantage in heavy equipment and armor.

By 1992, the ARBiH faced a dire situation as 70% of the country fell under the control of the Yugoslav People's Army and later the Bosnian Serb army. Sarajevo remained besieged, and the lack of heavy weaponry forced the army to adapt its structure. By 1993, most brigades were reclassified as mountain troops, reflecting both the mountainous terrain and the reality that heavy mechanized formations were impossible to maintain. The army's command structure was centralized, though individual corps often maintained their own specialized units.

The conflict was complex, involving shifting alliances and internal strife. In 1993, the ARBiH fought on two fronts, engaging both the Croatian Defence Council and the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia. Despite being completely surrounded and unable to import supplies, the Bosnian government utilized its existing industrial complex to manufacture military equipment. This domestic production, combined with later diplomatic shifts like the 1994 Washington Agreement and the 1995 Split Agreement, allowed the ARBiH to coordinate with the Croatian Army. By the end of 1995, these combined efforts, bolstered by NATO intervention, forced a decisive shift in the war, leading to the Dayton Accord and the eventual unification of the country's military forces.

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