Amid ongoing geopolitical instability in the Western Balkans, military cooperation between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina is regaining momentum. As reported by Dnevni Avaz on April 20, 2025, the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, announced that the country will soon receive six Agusta A119 multipurpose helicopters as part of a bilateral military support program primarily funded by the United States. This delivery, which had been suspended under the previous U.S. administration, has been reactivated following recent high-level consultations between the two nations. The initiative reflects Washington’s intent to reinforce regional security and support Bosnia’s defense institutions in a politically sensitive environment.
The announcement comes ahead of a significant visit by a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United States. Led by Minister Helez, accompanied by his deputy, Inspector General Edin Fako, and Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gojko Knežević, the delegation is scheduled to meet with senior officials at the Pentagon. It will be one of the first official international engagements with the newly installed U.S. defense leadership, giving the visit strategic importance.
The Agusta A119 Koala is a single-engine utility helicopter developed in the 1990s by Italian manufacturer Agusta and entered into service in 2000. Originally designed to meet civil aviation needs, the A119 is based on the AW109 airframe but differs in its use of a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-37A engine, housed in the same engine bay as its predecessor. Its fully articulated four-blade main rotor is made of composite materials, with tip caps to reduce noise, and elastomeric bearings that require no lubrication. The aircraft can carry up to seven passengers or two medical stretchers and is suited for various missions including transport, medical evacuation, law enforcement, surveillance, or liaison roles.