First-ever joint drill brings together EUFOR, BiH Air Force and SIPA

The joint exercise was carried out at the Butmir and Mahovljani air bases as part of the regular annual training programme. EUFOR aviation personnel, pilots of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and SIPA officers took part in a series of coordinated activities focused on strengthening air-to-ground cooperation and tactical interoperability.

During several days of intensive training, pilots from the first and second squadrons of the BiH Air Force worked alongside EUFOR aviation specialists, exchanging experience and conducting joint flight operations. EUFOR helicopters were used in exercises involving rapid insertion and extraction techniques, enabling ground units to practice deployment and withdrawal in complex operational conditions.

SIPA officers participated in helicopter-based training aimed at improving their ability to operate in coordinated airborne missions, further enhancing joint readiness and mutual understanding between the agencies involved.

The exercise concluded with a medical evacuation scenario, demonstrating the ability of EUFOR, the BiH Air Force and SIPA to act together quickly and effectively in emergency situations. The drill highlighted not only operational coordination but also the capacity for joint humanitarian response when required.

EUFOR’s Operation Althea, the EU-led military mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, continues to focus on maintaining a safe and secure environment in line with the Dayton Peace Agreement. Strengthening cooperation with domestic institutions remains a key part of the mission, aimed at improving overall security, resilience and crisis-response capabilities in the country.

The joint training is seen as an important step toward deeper institutional cooperation and improved operational readiness among Bosnia and Herzegovina’s security partners.