The SHOTA is an Albanian-made
mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle made by
TIMAK (Albania).
The vehicle is engineered for maximum safety in high-threat environments, featuring a
V-hull chassis to deflect blasts and advanced armor for ballistic protection. Equipped with state-of-the-art communication and navigation systems, it ensures operational efficiency and coordination in
combat
Combat (French language, French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent Conflict (process), conflict between multiple combatants with the intent to harm the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed (Hand-to-hand combat, not usin ...
zones.
Development
Configured to be used in a wide range of missions, SHOTA is built to withstand ballistic arms fire, mine blasts,
IEDs and other emerging threats. In a recent announcement on social media, the Albanian Defense Minister
Niko Peleshi showcased a major milestone for Albania's defense industry: the development of the country's first armored military vehicle, dubbed "Made in Albania." Peleshi stressed the importance of innovation and encouraged the nation to embrace bold progress. The announcement highlighted the collaborative efforts with the producer, TIMAK, in creating this prototype. Peleshi expressed his confidence that at the
Eurosatory
Eurosatory is the largest international exhibition for the land and air-land defence and security industry. It is held every two years in the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, Paris, France. In 2022, it gathered over 1,700 exhibitors and ...
2024 fair in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, this Albanian product will be successfully presented on an international stage.
First orders are starting from the
Albanian Armed Forces and the
Kosovo Security Force
The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) is the military of Kosovo. The KSF is tasked with defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo, military support for civilian authorities, and participation in international Peacekeeping, peacekee ...
.
See also
*
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle
References
{{Reflist
Military equipment of Albania
Wheeled armoured fighting vehicles
Military vehicles introduced in the 2020s