Take a Look at Video of Joint Military Exercise of Armed Forces of BiH and the USA

280 military personnel took part in the military exercise of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the USA, which contributes to increasing security and stability in the Balkans, in compliance with all epidemiological recommendations and measures for protection against the “COVID-19” pandemic.

The presentation of trained capabilities and operational capabilities of the AFBiH was attended by BiH Presidency Member Zeljko Komsic, BiH Defense Minister Sifet Podzic, Chief of the Joint Staff of the AFBiH Colonel General Senad Masovic, Commander of the NATO Staff Sarajevo Brigadier General William Edwards, US Military Attaché to BiH Brigadier Michael Tarquinto, Chief EUFOR Sarajevo Staff Brigadier General Erno Baratha and senior officials from the BiH Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces.

BiH Presidency Member Zeljko Komsic said the exercise was of multiple importance to BiH.

”This exercise is important for two reasons. The first reason is due to the cooperation between BiH and the USA, and the second is that our armed forces have shown that they are ready to carry out a complex military operation. Our members are expecting missions in the world, which is why it is important for them to be ready to answer all tasks in the right way,” said Komsic.

The “bilateral exercise” will enable the BiH Armed Forces to improve partnership cooperation with the USA and NATO partners, and develop interoperability and readiness, as well as create preconditions for the introduction of new capabilities of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defense stated in the press release.  

The Armed Forces of BiH will participate in the exercise with a computer-assisted exercise / CAX / and field exercise / FTX /, and the US Armed Forces will participate with two “F-16” planes, and will provide support to the forces on the ground.  

The planes, which will provide close air support at the location of the Glamoc test site, will not use live ammunition, but will, after the call for support, perform laser locking of the target and simulated destruction.  

The goal of the exercise is for the Armed Forces of BiH, through an exercise with specialists for guidance and control of close air support / Joint Terminal Attack Controllers – JTAC /, to improve the operational capabilities of the declared battalion group.  

The statement adds that in this way, the Armed Forces of BiH would gain the ability to perform conventional operations to realize the assigned tasks in real-time and in the international environment with the use of close fire and air support. 

During the realization of the exercise, all prescribed hygienic-epidemiological measures will be taken, with the aim of preventing the spread of the coronavirus.