President Milanović Comments on US Donation: Black Hawk helicopters are a pledge of future cooperation; we can’t buy anything other than Western

The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović attended at the Lieutenant Colonel Marko Živković Barracks in Velika Gorica the handover of two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters donated by the United States of America to the Republic of Croatia.

President Milanović considers the new US Black Hawk helicopters “a good investment, a gift and a pledge of future cooperation,” adding that “we have good defence cooperation with the Americans, as was proven.” “We can’t buy anything other than Western. This is high quality and expensive, the price of a new helicopter is 30 million dollars,” said President Milanović.

At the ceremony, Commander of US Armed Forces Special Operations Command Europe Major General David H. Tabor said that the transfer of the two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters is representative of the close bond between Croatia and the US. “Thank you for your leadership and service. Without your commitment and dedication to our common defence, we would not be here today. I also want to thank all the distinguished guests in attendance for everything you have done, not only for your proud country, but for the NATO alliance,” Major General Tabor told those present, pointing out that NATO is not just a military alliance, but an alliance of shared values.

He emphasized that Croatia had rightly earned the reputation as a committed and capable NATO ally. “Our soldiers have served shoulder-to-shoulder from Afghanistan to Kosovo, and we have been deeply impressed with the professionalism, capacities, and dedication of your men and women in uniform. We are proud to call you an ally. We know we can count on Croatia, and Croatia can count on the US,” the Commander of Special Operations Command Europe said, adding that the introduction of Black Hawk helicopters will further enhance the capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces and serve as a joint investment in our shared security.

He expressed satisfaction that Croatia is also acquiring US Bradley Fighting Vehicles, calling this “another important investment in Croatia’s and our collective defence.” In regard to defence cooperation between the US and Croatia, Major General Tabor said it remains a cornerstone of relations between the two countries, whose common interest is that Croatia remains a strong US and NATO ally in Europe, and a regional leader. “We are extremely grateful for the support you have given us over these many years. Again, thank you and we are proud to have you as an ally,” concluded Commander of US Armed Forces Special Operations Command Europe Major General David H. Tabor.

The helicopters were accepted on Croatia’s behalf by the Commander of the Croatian Air Force Brigadier General Michael Križanec, who pointed out that all pilots present at the handover of the helicopters are living witnesses to the history that began in 2014. “Almost eight years ago, Croatia launched efforts to modernize and equip the Air Force with Western multi-purpose helicopters. Immediately after fighting broke out in Ukraine,” said Brigadier General Križanec, emphasizing that a decision was made at the time on the need to replace the fleet of helicopters that were the mainstay of the helicopter capabilities of the Air Force and the Croatian Armed Forces.

“One of the first choices of the Croatian Air Force was the Black Hawk helicopter and the higher organizational units viewed this option positively. Great wisdom was not needed to have trust in the choice of a combat-tested helicopter, manufactured for military tasks, which still has a long service life ahead,” said the Commander of the Croatian Air Force, adding that the entire process, from the expression of interest to the delivery of the helicopters, was long and called for perseverance.

He explained that the process of acquiring the helicopters was also a learning process because they first had to learn the language and understand the principles underlying the procurement of US military equipment. “The assumptions that when we buy a helicopter we also get two engines were not correct. The assumptions that the helicopters would come with seats and passenger seat belts, let alone two workstations, were not accurate. The most difficult thing was to return home with very short and comprehensible reports, inform your superiors and convey only what is most important, so that we could all be here today and witness the handover of helicopters with Croatian insignia on the fuselage,” Brigadier General Križanec said in conclusion of his address, also thanking, in addition to the US Government, all those who were part of the team that led the procurement process and who remain part of the joint Croatian-US team that continues to support the Air Force.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Admiral Robert Hranj, envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament and Member of Parliament Ante Deur, envoy of the Croatian Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Mario Banožić, and numerous other army officials attended the ceremony.

Following the helicopter transfer ceremony, the President of the Republic viewed the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.

Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defence and National Security Dragan Lozančić, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković and Head of the Military Office in the Cabinet for Defence and National Security at the Office of the President Rear Admiral Predrag Stipanović were alongside President Milanović.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan