Croatia Buying US Black Hawk Helicopters

After old Israeli fighter jets, another expensive acquisition for the ministry of defence

Following the decision to buy 12 used Israeli fighter jets F16 and 16 kiowa oh-58d helicopters, the
ministry of defence is about to finalise equipping of the Croatian air force with the new black hawk
transport helicopters. Defence minister damir krsticevic has met recently with military pilots at the pleso
air force base and told them that the ministry wa working on a tactical-technical study for the
acquisition of multi-purpose helicopters, reports jutarnji list on april 9, 2018

The study will show which helicopters would most suit the needs of the Croatian air force. The plan is to
receive a squadron of new transport helicopters by 2025 when resource of the current mi-8 helicopters
expire. The aim of the present leadership of the ministry and the armed forces is to switch to aviation
technology produced by western countries in the next few years. The exception will be the mi171sh
transport helicopters, which are currently undergoing a major overhaul dan will remain operation for
another ten years.

The acquisition of black hawk helicopters has been rumoured since 2014 when then defence minister
ante kotromanovic discussed the idea then us vice president joe biden. The goal was to make Croatia
less dependent on Russian technology. According to unofficial sources, in 2015, the us government sent
its offer for the new black hawk uh-60 model M helicopters, and the used overhauled uh-60 model a
helicopter, which have been upgraded to model l.

The us government also submitted an offer for 16 new helicopters bell uh-1y worth about 760 million
kuna. In addition to these helicopter models, several other producers have held presentations of their
products in the past few years. In 2016, it was assessed that the bell helicopters would be too expensive
for Croatia.

Croatian defence ministry was invited to send a request to the united states for a donation of 12 uh-60
model a helicopters, as part of the excess defence articles (EDA) partner programme. Through this
programme, the us military donates or sells its defence surpluses to partner countries. In this way, the
Croatian army has already received MRAP an M-ATV vehicles and kiowa helicopters.
That the project is nearing the realisation stage was indirectly confirmed by Croatian defence minister
damir krsticevic in October last year when he announced that he was negotiating with the us side about
the purchase of two black hawk helicopters for the special forces. In addition to he minister, president
kolinda grabar kitarovic has also repeatedly spoken about the acquisition of these helicopters.

The a model of the black hawk is the original version of the helicopter that has a four-member crew and
a transport capacity for 11 passengers. This model was produced from 1977 to 1989. The upgraded
model is equipped with larger rotor blades, which ensures higher carrying capacity, digital avionics,
including “glass cockpit”, and a more advanced computer flying system. The first flight of the upgraded
model was conducted in 2003. With the realisation of this procurement, the process of replacing
Russian-made technology with the western one would be almost completed.