US Government, via BiH Ministry of Security, donates rescue hoist for BiH Armed Forces helicopters

(Patria) - A ceremonial handover of a rescue hoist for helicopters of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, donated by the Government of the United States of America through the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was held on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the helipad of the AFBiH barracks "Rajlovac".

The ceremony was led by BiH Minister of Defense Zukan Helez, Deputy Minister of Security of BiH Ivica Bošnjak, and Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in BiH John Ginkel. In their addresses, all highlighted the excellent inter-institutional cooperation with the US Embassy in BiH and its Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), which has been continuously working for years to enhance the capabilities of the BiH defense and security system.

"This valuable donation will improve the capacities for the protection and rescue of citizens across BiH. The hoist will enable the execution of demanding helicopter rescue operations in inaccessible areas and circumstances where the speed and efficiency of the response directly determine the saving of human lives," Minister Helez said on the occasion.

"This is another confirmation of the partnership between BiH and the USA and our shared commitment to protecting the lives and safety of the citizens of our country."

Deputy Minister of Security of BiH Ivica Bošnjak emphasized that this equipment will enable a faster response from competent institutions in situations where every minute is crucial, and thanked the American partners.

"I would also like to thank the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of BiH for their successful cooperation and readiness to put their capacities at the service of protecting and rescuing BiH citizens," Bošnjak stated.

US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Ginkel particularly emphasized that this is equipment that saves human lives, and will certainly be useful in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where diverse and mountainous terrain especially requires equipment for extracting people from hard-to-reach areas.

The electric jib hoist, with a lifting capacity of up to 275 kg, valued at $352,000, will be an important piece of equipment in AFBiH helicopters. The US Government donated the equipment to the Ministry of Security of BiH, which, through this act, handed it over to the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of BiH, who, with their readiness to respond in accidents, always play an important role in rescuing injured citizens, even though that is not their primary mission.