Croatia strengthens defence ties with US as Black Hawk and HIMARS deliveries approach

by croatiaweek
September 13, 2026
in News

(Photo: MORH/ J. Šeri)

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, 13 September 2026 – Croatia has marked 30 years of defence cooperation with the US state of Minnesota, highlighting a partnership that has expanded into military training, equipment procurement and modernisation of the Croatian Armed Forces.

Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić attended the anniversary event at Camp Ripley in Minnesota on Saturday, 12 September, during a working visit to the United States.

The partnership between the Croatian Armed Forces and the Minnesota National Guard is described by Croatian officials as one of the longest-running and most practical forms of defence cooperation between Croatia and the United States.

The cooperation has included training for Croatian personnel on military equipment also used by the Minnesota National Guard, including Black Hawk helicopters and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.

(Photo: MORH/ J. Šeri)

Croatia is also acquiring the US-made HIMARS rocket artillery system, with deliveries expected in 2028.

Anušić said discussions during his US visit would also focus on HIMARS ammunition with a range of more than 150 kilometres. Croatia has already begun talks on acquiring missiles with that range.

The minister said Croatia was looking to complement HIMARS with the Chunmoo rocket system, for which Croatia is acquiring missiles with ranges exceeding 300 kilometres.

(Photo: MORH/ J. Šeri)

Croatia is also preparing to receive eight Black Hawk helicopters in 2028. During the US visit, Anušić is scheduled to visit the Yulista Aviation Center of Excellence in Alabama, where the helicopters are undergoing final outfitting.

The minister said Croatia was continuing to strengthen defence cooperation with its allies while investing in the modernisation of the Croatian Armed Forces and the country’s defence industry.

(Photo: MORH/ J. Šeri)

The 30th anniversary event also saw the opening of the new Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum near Camp Ripley.

As a Croatian contribution to the museum’s section dedicated to international partnerships, Anušić presented a US-made Second World War helmet that was later used by a Croatian soldier during the Homeland War.

(Photo: MORH/ J. Šeri)

Anušić said the helmet represented the history of both conflicts and the development of Croatian-American military cooperation, noting that Croatia had faced severe shortages of military equipment during the Homeland War.

(Photo: MORH/ J. Šeri)

Anušić and Minnesota National Guard commander Major General Shawn Manke described the cooperation between the two sides as highly valuable and said it would continue to develop.

During his visit, Anušić is also due to meet members of the Croatian community at the Croatian Home in St Paul on Sunday, 13 September.