The company Eagle from Bijeljina, despite global challenges, continues to achieve stronger results in aircraft engine overhauls and plans to launch new products next year while expanding cooperation with partners from both domestic and international markets.
Founded in 1944 in Pančevo as a workshop for repairing aircraft engines, the company relocated twice—first to Rajlovac and then to Bijeljina—where it built modern facilities and became a recognized regional brand in turbojet engine overhauls. Today, it employs around 350 workers and operates in three sectors: engine overhaul, production, and laboratories. In the coming year, it plans to increase the number of employees in production.
Marko Mrkajić, director of Eagle Bijeljina, told Glas that this firm, which celebrates 81 years of operation this year, continues to make significant progress despite global turbulence.
“So far, we have been exclusively engaged in aviation, specifically aircraft engine overhauls. This year I would particularly highlight the introduction of two new types of engines, which we successfully overhauled. We primarily work for the Ministry of Defense of Serbia and have contracts with the end user, the Ministry of Defense of India,” said Mrkajić.
As the new director, he is especially encouraged by the strong base of young engineers and significant technological potential within Eagle , which, he says, provides serious prospects for future development.
“I am particularly pleased with the support of our institutions, demonstrated by the presence of three ministers at our booth at the Belgrade fair. They led delegations to specific partners, where discussions were held on improving Eagle’s business. The state has given its full backing and firmly stands behind this company,” Mrkajić said.
The delegation was led by Republika Srpska’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Željko Budimir, with whom discussions on joint development projects will continue in the future.
“At the fair, we established serious contacts with state corporations from various countries. Due to confidentiality clauses, I cannot disclose which countries they are, but the fair opened new opportunities for company growth and the launch of new products next year,” Mrkajić emphasized.
He added that Eagle continues to achieve better results each year, with significant progress recorded this year compared to last.
“We will strive to maintain this trend in the coming year, thanks in part to the Indian market and the development of new types of engines we deliver there, as well as the strong support of the Serbian Ministry of Defense, which we hope will continue,” he said.
Mrkajić also revealed that the company is working on new product development.
“We have started development projects that will be announced early next year after finalization. One of our goals is to strengthen cooperation with other defense industry firms in Republika Srpska and Serbia. No single company can achieve major results on the global market alone, but if we join forces, we certainly can,” he explained.
He noted that agreements on business-technical cooperation have already been signed at the Belgrade fair with certain Serbian state-owned companies, as well as with TRB Bratunac.
“The challenges we face include difficulties in finding new workers, but I believe Eagle has the capacity to overcome this. Another challenge is the global political situation, which disrupts the import of certain components and raw materials, but we are working on ways to overcome these obstacles,” Mrkajić pointed out.
Military pride
Marko Mrkajić emphasized that he is most proud of the overhaul of engines for Eagle military aircraft.
“It is a special feeling to know that all the aircraft whose engines we overhauled took part in Serbia’s ‘Strength of Unity’ military parade,” Mrkajić concluded.
Source: Glas Srpske
