Croatia is significantly expanding its military arsenal with the recent approval from the United States Department of State for the acquisition of UH-60 M Black Hawk helicopters.
This agreement, valued at about $500 million, marks an important step in the modernization of the Croatian armed forces.
The United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Pentagon’s principal intermediary in arms sales, confirmed that the Croatian government formally requested the purchase of eight UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, including associated equipment and services.
Currently, Croatia operates four UH-60 helicopters, having acquired the first two from the United States in 2018 and received two others for free. The delivery of the first pair occurred in February 2022, symbolizing a strong military bond between the two countries.
Historically, the Croatian Ministry of Defense relied on Russian helicopters from the Mi-8/17 series. This new purchase of UH-60M helicopters represents a strategic shift, evidencing Croatia’s effort to modernize its armed forces and bolster its military capabilities with more advanced equipment.