Croatia To Procure Eight Additional UH-60M Black Hawk Multi-Role Helicopters From The United States
Last week, the Croatian Ministry of Defense signed a $274 million Letter of Acceptance (LOA) with the United States for the procurement of eight additional UH-60M Black Hawk multi-role helicopters. The agreement, which is an important step in Croatia’s efforts to modernize its defense capabilities, was signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ivan Anusić and US Ambassador to Croatia Nathalie Rayes. Senior military officials, including Chief of General Staff General Tihomir Kundid and Air Force Commander Brigadier General Michael Križanec, attended the event held at the “Lučko” barracks near Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.
According to the Croatian Ministry of Defense, the US will finance 51% of the contract ($139,641,993) in exchange for 14 Mi-8 helicopters donated by the Zagreb administration to Ukraine. The remaining amount ($134,165,836) will be covered by the budget of the Croatian Ministry of Defense. If there is no setback in the current procurement schedule, Croatia will receive eight new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and related equipment by 2028.
In his speech at the LOA signing ceremony, expressed his satisfaction with this important strategic agreement and emphasized the importance of strengthening the partnership with the US. The minister also stated that this purchase will complement the helicopter fleet of the Croatian Air Force.
US Ambassador to Croatia Nathalie Rayes added, “the purchase of these Black Hawk helicopter represents a joint U.S.-Croatia investment in Croatia’s defense modernization and our shared goal to ensure the security of our Alliance. As demonstrated with the recent delivery of the first tranche of Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, we are committed to Croatia’s self-defense and the security of NATO. We continue to show, not just with words but with joint actions, that Croatia – a strong and capable Ally – is becoming even stronger and more capable.”
Croatia previously acquired four UH-60M helicopters from the United States. Two of these helicopters were donated to Croatia as part of a US military aid program, while the remaining two were purchased through the “Foreign Military Sales” program. The first two helicopters donated by the US arrived in Croatia in February 2022, with the purchased helicopters arriving in December 2022.
Croatia’s expanded UH-60M fleet will significantly increase its air force’s capability for troop transport, border security, counter-terrorism, medical evacuation, search and rescue, supply/external lift, and combat support operations. These UH-60 helicopters will also enable greater interoperability with US and NATO forces, allowing for rapid response to a wide range of missions and troop positioning with little helicopter presence.