Council of Ministers of BiH adopts decisions to modernize and equip the Armed Forces of BiH, helicopter procurement prolonged

(Patria) - The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted several decisions at yesterday's session to modernize and equip the Armed Forces of BiH.

At the proposal of the Ministry of Defense of BiH, a Decision was adopted approving the Multi-Year Project "Modernization and Renewal of Weapons and Military Equipment of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Procurement of Specialized Vehicles for Units within the Light Infantry Battalion Group."

This project, with a total estimated value of 10,035,000 BAM, is planned for inclusion in the Program of Multi-Year Capital Projects for the period 2025–2030. The project envisages the procurement of a total of 46 specialized vehicles that will replace outdated armored personnel carriers (model M113 A2) that have been in use since the 1970s.

The Council of Ministers of BiH also adopted a Decision on amending the Decision on the multi-year project for the procurement of helicopters for the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The decision extends the project implementation period, previously planned until 2027, to 2032. Additionally, funds of 20,000,000.00 BAM are secured for the project's needs, by restructuring the approved budget for 2025 from the budget line for gross salaries and salary compensations, and will be allocated to the project code for helicopter procurement.

The reasons for adopting this decision lie in the need to ensure the operational capability of the Armed Forces of BiH, given that the existing aircraft resources are worn out, which endangers the safety of personnel and material assets. The procurement of helicopters is defined as strategically important and represents a zero priority for the operational capability of the Armed Forces of BiH.

The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted a Decision approving the Multi-Year Project "Procurement of Ammunition and Mine-Explosive Devices for Replenishing Reserves of the Armed Forces of BiH," which will be included in the Program of Multi-Year Projects for the period 2025–2030, with a total value of 10,035,000 BAM.

At the proposal of the Ministry of Defense, a Decision was also adopted approving the Multi-Year Project "Ensuring the Procurement of New Field Uniforms for the Armed Forces of BiH," with an estimated value of 8,600,000 BAM. Funds for the implementation of the project will be secured from the budget in 2025 in the amount of 3,000,000 BAM, in 2026 – 3,600,000 BAM, and one million BAM each in 2027 and 2028.