Norwegian NPA donates new mine detection dogs to the Armed Forces of BiH

(Patria) - The Mine Detection Unit of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina received three new mine detection dogs, donated on Friday, June 19, 2026, in Butmir by the humanitarian non-governmental organization Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), through its Global Training Centre for Mine and Explosive Detection Dogs (GTC).

With this handover, the total number of dogs donated by the GTC to the Mine Detection Unit of the Armed Forces of BiH since 2010 has increased to 35.

This is a long-standing cooperation that represents one of the most successful examples of partnership between a humanitarian non-governmental organization and state institutions in the field of humanitarian mine action in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The donated dogs form an important part of the operational capacity of the Mine Detection Unit of the Armed Forces of BiH, whose members participate daily in demining and mine risk reduction activities.

This cooperation is based on a long-term approach to maintaining the capability of using mine detection dogs. The working life of mine detection dogs averages between six and eight years, after which they are withdrawn from operational use. In order to maintain the required number of operational teams, it is necessary to continuously train new dogs and introduce them into operational use, as well as ensure the transfer of experience to new generations of handlers and teams.

This also involves a systematic process of selection, training, certification, veterinary care, and development of dog handlers, in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of this specialized capability within the Armed Forces of BiH.