President Milanović Visits Croatian Air Force Command
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović met today in the Command of the Croatian Air Force at “Lieutenant Colonel Marko Živković“ barracks in Velika Gorica with the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid; the Commander of the Croatian Air Force, Brigadir General Krešimir Ražov; and the Commanders of organizational units of the Croatian Air Force.
The Commander of the Croatian Air Force Brigadier General Krešimir Ražov informed President Milanović of the state of readiness and of the current and future tasks facing the Air Force. At the meeting, they discussed the challenges and needs of the Air Force that should be ensured so that the Air Force, as a branch of the Armed Forces, can carry out its constitutionally prescribed task. It was pointed out that the military capabilities of the Air Force and the tasks they are currently carrying out or will carry out in the future are of great importance for the defense of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia.
After the meeting, President Milanović toured the Air Force’s barracks where members of the 191st Fighter Squadron presented the operational and technical affairs and the training process for the use and maintenance of the multirole combat aircraft Rafale. Special emphasis was put on the standards and procedures for implementing the task of monitoring and protecting the airspace of the Republic of Croatia as part of NATO’s integrated air and missile defense system NATINAMDS (NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defense System). The President also visited the 125th Squadron of Unmanned Aerial Systems where he was informed about the capabilities, organization and training for the use of Bayraktar TB-2.
Attending the meeting with President Milanović besides the Chief of the General Staff and the Commander of the Croatian Air Force were the Commander of the 91st Wing, Colonel Christian Jagodić; the Commander of the 93rd Wing Colonel, Tomislav Vacenovski; the Commander of the Croatian Air Force “Rudolf Perešin“ Training Centre, Colonel Davor Gren; the Head of the Operational Department of the Croatian Air Force Command, Colonel Mario Pleša; the Commander of the 191st Fighter Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Josip Perić; the Commander of the Air Surveillance and Guidance Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Mladen Milardović; the Commander of the 125th Unmanned Aircraft Systems Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel, Andrej Tijan; and the Commander of the 194th Multi-Purpose Helicopter Squadron, Major Zvonimir Dalić.
Alongside the President of the Republic were the Adviser to the President for Defense Ivica Olujić and the Head of the Military Office, Colonel Franjo Hrala.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas