22nd Croatian Air Force and Air Defence Anniversary

The members of the service were congratulated on the occasion by the Envoy of the President of the Republic, Zlatko Gareljić, by the Defence Minister, Ante Kotromanović, by the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Drago Lovrić and by the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence Commander, Brig. Gen. Dražen Ščuri.
 
The ceremony was the occasion to commemorate and praise the role held by the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence throughout the Homeland War. Today, the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence is entrusted with control and protection of the national air space, performing medical flights, search-and-rescue tasks, support to the wider community and taking an active part in the international peace support operations and making considerable contribution to the stability and security, as stated by Mr. Zlatko Gareljić. He also emphasised that it was the personnel made the vital part of the system and that the personnel of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence evinces high level of professionalism and trainedness and full commitment to their tasks.
 
“It is our intention to maintain the capabilities attained, including young and well-trained pilots to protect and  guarantee for the security of the Republic of Croatia and its air space“, stated the Defence Minister Kotromanović, adding that the aircraft were being overhauled and modernised as planned. The Minister also informed that the decision had been brought to keep the transport component of the Air Force and of expected procurement of two transportation aircraft in the course of 2014 for the purpose and announced continued reforms and opening of new equipping and modernisation projects.
 
In his congratulating address the Chief of the General Staff, General Drago Lovrić underlined that the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence, although a small-sized service, was highly efficient across all segments of Armed Forces operating and as such served as a model to be followed. „You have developed, jointly with the Allies and partner countries, new capabilities and undertaken new initiatives enabling pooling of forces and capabilities and prudent use of the resources available“, stated General Lovrić, who also noted that with the overhaul of the fighter aircraft completed, the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence would have the resources to continue fulfilling its tasks, training its personnel and educating new generations of pilots and the supporting aviation profiles.

The Croatian Air Force Commander, Brig.Gen. Dražen Ščuri expressed the belief that the new Air Force and Air Defence structure would enhance the overall service’s defence power „The future reduced size of the Air Force and Air Defence will not affect its main capabilities“, said Brig.Gen. Ščuri.  

The Anniversary ceremony was attended by the former and the families of the fallen members of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence, the Military Diplomatic Corps and other civilian and military officials.
 
On the occasion of the Anniversary, pursuant to the decision of the President of the Republic as the Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Firefighter Squadron of the 93rd Air Base received the Order of Croatian Trefoil, 30 officers and 43 non-commissioned officers were promoted and the meritorious members were awarded prizes and commendations.

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