diff --git a/buildozer/default.spec b/buildozer/default.spec
index 677b59be4..36d28bcfd 100644
--- a/buildozer/default.spec
+++ b/buildozer/default.spec
@@ -283,9 +283,12 @@ android.allow_backup = True
 # (bool) disables the compilation of py to pyc/pyo files when packaging
 # android.no-compile-pyo = True
 
-# (str) The format used to package the app for release mode (aab or apk).
+# (str) The format used to package the app for release mode (aab or apk or aar).
 # android.release_artifact = aab
 
+# (str) The format used to package the app for debug mode (apk or aar).
+# android.debug_artifact = apk
+
 #
 # Python for android (p4a) specific
 #
diff --git a/buildozer/target.py b/buildozer/target.py
index b9515f61f..a70b60f27 100644
--- a/buildozer/target.py
+++ b/buildozer/target.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def cmd_update(self, *args):
     def cmd_debug(self, *args):
         self.buildozer.prepare_for_build()
         self.build_mode = 'debug'
-        self.artifact_format = 'apk'
+        self.artifact_format = self.buildozer.config.getdefault('app', 'android.debug_artifact', 'apk')
         self.buildozer.build()
 
     def cmd_release(self, *args):
diff --git a/buildozer/targets/android.py b/buildozer/targets/android.py
index 6d15b7ace..3722b5b61 100644
--- a/buildozer/targets/android.py
+++ b/buildozer/targets/android.py
@@ -992,7 +992,7 @@ def execute_build_package(self, build_cmd):
 
     def get_release_mode(self):
         # aab, also if unsigned is named as *-release
-        if self.check_p4a_sign_env() or self.artifact_format == "aab":
+        if self.check_p4a_sign_env() or self.artifact_format in ["aab", "aar"]:
             return "release"
         return "release-unsigned"
 
@@ -1322,6 +1322,9 @@ def build_package(self):
                 artifact_dir = join(dist_dir, "build", "outputs", "apk", mode_sign)
             elif self.artifact_format == "aab":
                 artifact_dir = join(dist_dir, "build", "outputs", "bundle", mode_sign)
+            elif self.artifact_format == "aar":
+                artifact_dir = join(dist_dir, "build", "outputs", "aar")
+
         else:
             # on ant, the apk use the title, and have version
             bl = u'\'" ,'