Two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters arrived at Zagreb Airport on Thursday morning, as part of the United States' donation to help Croatia's efforts to upgrade its military technology, the Croatian defence ministry and the US embassy reported.

The arrival of the U.S. Black Hawk weapon system, valued at 360 million kuna (€48 million) “will contribute to Croatia’s growing defense capabilities and military preparedness in support of NATO. The Black Hawk provides capabilities across a range of possible missions, from special operations to tactical troop transport to aeromedical evacuation,” the US embassy said on Thursday.

The helicopters are expected to be full operable in late 2022.

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Mark Fleming was quoted as saying that “Croatia has earned a reputation as a committed and capable NATO Ally, and the introduction of Black Hawks will further boost the capacities of the Croatian Armed Forces.”

Fleming added that the USA and Croatia “are working together every day to build the tools that our countries need to help ensure regional security and to support the strength of NATO more broadly.”

Croatian Defence Minister Mario Banozic was quoted as saying that “the Croatian Armed Forces will, with these powerful helicopters, acquire new capabilities and increase our level of interoperability.”

“With the procurement of Black Hawk helicopters, the Republic of Croatia, as a reliable and credible NATO member, shows its commitment to replacing existing helicopters of eastern production and transferring to western technology,” said the minister and thanked the United States administration for this donation.

“It represents evidence of strong, friendly and allied relations, which are progressing every year.”

The army’s chief-of-staff, Admiral Robert Hranj said that Croatia’s Air Forces had ready and trained pilots and technicians for these aircraft.

The embassy underlines that Croatia’s incorporation of U.S. Black Hawk helicopters “builds upon previous and ongoing military cooperation, including Croatia’s upcoming acquisition of Bradley Fighting Vehicles.”

“Defense partnership between the United States and Croatia remains a cornerstone of the U.S.-Croatia relationship, with U.S. military assistance to Croatia reaching four and a half billion Kuna in the form of training, equipment, infrastructure construction, and specialized military education. Since Croatia joined the NATO Alliance, the U.S. and Croatian soldiers have served shoulder-to-shoulder from Afghanistan to Poland to Kosovo.”

(€1 = 7.52 kuna)