President Milanović Visits the CAF Unmanned Aerial Systems Centre in Udbina
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović visited on Monday the Croatian Army Unmanned Aerial Systems Centre at the “Josip Jović” barracks in Udbina.
Together with the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, President Milanović visited Armed Forces personnel undergoing training in the use of unmanned aerial systems (drones). The trainees include members of the Croatian Army’s land forces, the Special Forces Command, and the Intelligence Regiment, who will become future instructors in the use of unmanned aerial systems.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, briefed President Milanović on the capabilities of unmanned aerial systems within the Croatian Armed Forces, current training and equipment procurement activities, and the long-term vision and development plans for these capabilities. He emphasized that, alongside the procurement of equipment and the introduction of new types of drones, the doctrine governing their use is also being continuously adapted to reflect new systems and operational methods. The meeting also addressed capabilities for protection against drone threats.
The capabilities of unmanned aerial systems are being developed across all three branches of the Croatian Armed Forces, as well as within the Special Forces Command and the Intelligence Regiment, it was noted during the meeting.
Accompanying the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces at the meeting with President Milanović were the Chief of the Intelligence Directorate of the Croatian Armed Forces General Staff Brigadier General Mijo Validžić, Head of the Cabinet of the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Colonel Zoran Lipošćak, Commander of the Intelligence Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Željko Perić, Commander of the “Marko Babić” Leadership Development Centre Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Vukelić, and the Head of the Support and STRATCOM Department in the Cabinet of the Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant Colonel Renata Koković Novosel.
President Milanović was accompanied by the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defence Ivica Olujić and the Head of the Military Office in the Cabinet for Defence and National Security of the Office of the President Colonel Franjo Hrala.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić