Bosnia finalizes agreement for 6 Bayraktar drones from Türkiye
Chief of General Staff of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lieutenant General Senad Mašović along with Selcuk Bayraktar. (Photo via X)
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed an agreement to acquire six Bayraktar drones from Türkiye’s renowned drone manufacturer, Baykar.
The news was confirmed by the Defense Minister of Bosnia, Zukan Helez, in an interview with Bosnian newspaper Avaz.
‘We have two teams already in Türkiye for training’
Helez shared that the deal also includes the acquisition of three control systems, and that two teams from Bosnia are currently undergoing training in Türkiye for the operation of these drones.
However, he declined to reveal further details. “We have two teams already in Türkiye for training, but I cannot disclose more information at this time,” Helez said.
On Dec 23, 2021 Chief of General Staff of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lieutenant General Senad Masovic, visited Ozdemir Bayraktar National UAV R&D and Production Campus of Baykar’s.
Chief of General Staff of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lieutenant General Senad Masovic, visited Ozdemir Bayraktar National UAV R&D and Production Campus.
Also in 2020, a “Military-Financial Cooperation Agreement” was signed between Türkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Accordingly, TL 200 million ($5.890) financial aid was allocated to Bosnia and Herzegovina for the purchase of equipment from Turkish defense industry companies in order to increase its military capacity.
Delivery expected in January
The first batch of Turkish drones is expected to arrive in January, alongside four armored vehicles that Bosnia has already ordered from Türkiye for its Declared Battalion Group of Light Infantry.
Helez clarified that logistical issues, such as transport costs, delayed the earlier planned delivery.
“One vehicle should have already been delivered, but because of transport costs, the decision was made to ship everything together in January,” Helez explained.
Bosnia strengthens with new helicopters
Besides to the Bayraktar drones, Bosnia’s air force is set to receive five new American helicopters as part of a $67 million program funded by the United States government.
With the delivery of these helicopters, the Air Brigade of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Armed Forces will have a total of 16 helicopters in its fleet.
Türkiye-Bosnia defense deal
In 2022 also a contract was signed between the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina and ASFAT to provide logistic support to the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) and M60A3 Tanks in the inventory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“On-site maintenance and repair services will be provided to M113 APCs and M60A3 Tanks with the capabilities of our 2nd Main Maintenance Factory Directorate, which has been providing maintenance and repair services to our Armed Forces for M113 APCs/ZMAs and M60 Tanks for many years under the main contractorship of ASFAT.,” read the statement.
The statement also highlighted that “on-the-job training will be provided to the personnel of the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
