“Velebit 18” kicks off at Udbina
“Conducting the Exercise -“Velebit 18 – Joint Force” we are conveying a strong message to the Croatian people and to the region that Croatia and its citizens are protected by a strong, modern and well-equipped military”, said the Minister.
On 13 October 2018, a continuous 72-hour comprehensive, joint and inter-service exercise of all units of the Croatian Armed Forces “Velebit 18-Joint Force” kicked off in the Barracks “Josip Jović” at Udbina on 13 October 2018.
The opening event was attended by the President of the Republic of Croatia as Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, by the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, by the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces General Mirko Šundov and other representatives of the Ministry of Defence and of the Croatian Armed Forces. The Exercise was observed by Asistant Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard Major General Neal Loidolt.
“Velebit 18 – Joint Force” is the main training event of the Croatian Armed Forces in 2018 družena and is engaging ca 5,500 members of the Croatian Armed Forces and a part of the reserve component, and using combat and non-combat assets and equipment from all units of the Croatian Armed Forces.
The President of the Republic of Croatia emphasised that the Croatian Army was born during the Homeland War on the acquired experiences which it is protecting today, and buildi ng upon it with new knowledge and capabilities.
“This exercise is an extension of our joint efforts to restore the long neglected defence capabilities”, said the President, who also underlined that the defence expenditures were investments into safe and secure future of Croatia.
The Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces reminded of the display of the Black Hawk helicopters received from the United States of America the day before and stressed “The two helicopters are a proof of the recognition from the stratetic ally that Croatia is a responsible NATO nation providing exemplary contribution to joint efforts to face the global security challenges and threats such as terrorism”.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister commended the excellent organisational abilities that presented the modern Croatian Armed Forces and said that that the Exercise Command was an example of a modern command capable of directing co-ordinated interservice operation in real time. The Minister also stressed that the integration of the capabilities of the Croatian Army, of the Croatian Air Force, of the Croatian Navy, the Special Fprces Command and of the Support Command and units directly subordinated to the General Staff was a demanding task, undertaken for the first time since the Homeland War.
“Conducting the Exercise -” Velebit 18 – Joint Force” we are connveying a strong message to the Croatian people and to the region that Croatia and its citizens are protected by a strong, modern and well-equipped military, ready to address conventional and non-conventional challenges.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister expressed satisfaction with the excellent organizational abilities that reflected the modern Croatian Army system and stressed that the Joint Force Command exercise – an example of a modern Command prepared for conducting co-ordinated co-ordinated joint action in real time. Minister Krstičević stressed that the integration of the ability of Croatian land-based armies, Croatian Aviation Force, Croatian Navy, Special Forces Command and Commanding and Forces Commandations is a demanding task and in this form has not been implemented since the Homeland War.
The Minister reminded that the operations were conducted concurrently in the training range “Gašinci“ and , “Crvena zemlja“, “Rt Kamenjak“ and “Gakovo” (the reserve component of the 1st Infantry Regiment Zagreb).
The Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces,General Šundov stressed that “Velebit 18 – Joint Force” was a national-level exercise testing and implementing the mission of defence of the country and of the allies.
“Velebit 18″ features tradional tasks that the Croatian Armed Forces have been assigned with and have to be capable of. The Exercise will be used to test the doctrines, the concepts, the tactics, techniques and procedures and to test and integrate new capabilities and assets, such as the Panzer Howitzers, the Kiowa helicopters, the UAVs and the CIS system. The Exercise is conducted across four domains of warfare – sea, land, air and the cyber space”, said General Šundov.
The Exercise Command and the expeditionary camp of the Support Command are based in the Barracks “Josip Jović” at Udbina.
The participants and visitors visited the Joint Operations Centre, where a video-conference was held with the Command North, headed by the Commander of the Croatian Army Major General Siniša Jurković, with the Cp,,amd South, headed by the Commander of the Croatian Navy Commodore Ivo Raffanelli, the Air Component Command, headed by Colonel Michael Križanec and with the Special Fprces Command, headed by the Commander of the Special Forces Command, Brigadier General Perica Turalija, followed by a presentation of Croatia-made redio devices, and by a demonstration of the capability of the expeditionary camp and of helicopter fuel replenishment.
Captain Andrija Olujić of the General Staff Support Company said that the successful teamwork facilitated the realisation of all logistic elements and that the new expeditionary camp was operational in both cold and hot seasons.
The Exercise Commander, Director of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Vice Admiral Robert Hranj said the Exercise kicked off at 6 am with a series of co-ordinated events engaging he components of the Armed Forces.
“The Exercise scenario feature offensive and defensive operations and the securing of key infrastructure. It will be an opportunity to showcase our readiness to defend our homeland, which is our main mission“, said Vice Admiral Hranj.
Top Croatian athletes of the reserve component- the five-times gold rowing medalists Martin and Valent Sinković and the athlete Martin Marković.
“I am a member of the active reserve, and am taking part in a military exercise for the first time for and this largest exercise since Croatia gained independence : We came here to support the Croatian Armed Forces”, said Martin Sinković.