Zagreb - The Sabor's Defence Committee on Tuesday unanimously endorsed the procurement of eight High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) worth close to 290 million US dollars.
The committee session was also attended by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Tihomir Kundid, who did not attend the previous committee sessions focusing on NATO's Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) mission as President and Commander in Chief Zoran Milanović banned him from attending.
"With HIMARS the Armed Forces will acquire a new capability that they have not had so far, which is to carry out precise and effective long-range rocket attacks," Kundid said while speaking about the procurement of the system, which was the first item on the agenda and after which he left the meeting.
Kundid also said that the system marked a new era for artillery and rocket units, being the most precise and most effective system in comparison to other systems.
Defence Minister Ivan Anušić said the package included eight HIMARS launchers and 394 missiles, as well as other products, services, training and logistical support necessary for the effective functioning of the system.
The system will be delivered in 2028, he said, adding that currently only three other European countries - Romania, Poland and Ukraine - have it.
President Zoran Milanović's defence adviser Ivica Olujić said that in all the cases of equipment procurement aimed at strengthening the Armed Forces' capabilities so far President Milanović had given a positive opinion, including for HIMARS.
"This is a strong instrument of deterrence but... the procurement of eight systems can in no way replace all the needs of the Armed Forces for rocket artillery," said Olujić, adding that other elements of rocket artillery would have to be replaced or upgraded.
Rockets were once manufactured in Croatia, and more effort should be invested in restoring that production, he said.
Members of the parliamentary majority sitting on the committee commended the modernisation of the Armed Forces.
Committee member Josip Jurčević, an independent MP, wanted to know the range of the rockets that are being procured, to which Anušić said that their range was 80 kilometres but that it could be increased to as many as 500 kilometres.