A joint project to train special forces support crews has formally opened in Croatia. The Multinational Special Aviation Program (MSAP) is based at Zemunik air base near the coastal city of Zadar, offering training opportunities nearby in a range of environments, including maritime, coastal/island, mountains, and forests.
Behind MSAP are Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia, and the defense ministers from all four were present at the opening ceremony on December 11 that was hosted by Croatia’s president, Damir Krstičević. They were treated to a special forces demonstration and flypasts by Croatian MiG-21 fighters and Pilatus PC-9 trainers.
Other dignitaries included General Mirko Šundov, Chief of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces; NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment Camille Grand; and the Commander of the NATO Special Operations Headquarters, Lieutenant General Eric P. Wendt.
“The Multinational Special Aviation Program epitomizes what NATO stands for: Allies achieving more together than they ever could individually,” said Grand. “By committing to training the next generation of Special Operations Forces aviation crews in one place, the participants are laying the foundations for evermore seamless joint operations.”
MSAP is supported by NATO Special Operations Headquarters and builds on informal ties generated between the special operations aviation communities of various NATO allies. The center will apply the organization's standards to its activities to enhance interoperability with other members throughout the alliance and its partner nations. The door is open for additional NATO and Partnership nations to join MSAP.
Activities at the center are due to begin next year with academic training, with flight training to start in 2021. Zemunik is already home to the Croatian air force’s “Rudolf Perešin” aviation training center that flies Zlin 242Ls and PC-9s, and hosts a helicopter squadron with Bell 206B JetRanger trainers and 16 ex-U.S. Army OH-58D Kiowa Warriors. CL-415 and AT-802F fire-fighters are also based there.
The nation’s primary assault/special operations helicopter force comprises a squadron of Mi-8MTV-1s at Split-Divulje and one of the Mi-171Sh helicopters based at Zagreb-Lučko. The latter were the principal participant in the special forces demonstration. Both Slovenia and Bulgaria operate AS 532 Cougars, and the latter also has Mi-17s and Mi-24s. Hungary continues to fly the Mil types, but is in the process of receiving H145Ms and H225Ms from Airbus Helicopters.