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Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Oružane snage Bosne i Hercegovine
Оружане снаге Босне и Херцеговине
Coat of Arms of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Service branchesGround Forces
Air Force and Aircraft Defence
HeadquartersSarajevo
Leadership
Commander-in-ChiefNebojša Radmanović
Minister of DefenceMuhamed Ibrahimović
Chairman of the Joint Staff and CommanderLt. Gen. Miladin Milojčić
Personnel
Military age18 years of age
ConscriptionAbolished in 2006
Available for
military service		1,034,367, age 18–49 (2005 est.)
Fit for
military service		829,530, age 18–49 (2005 est.)
Reaching military
age annually		31,264 (2005 est.)
Active personnel15,000 (ranked 127)
Reserve personnel5,000
Deployed personnel Afghanistan – 45
 Democratic Republic of the Congo – 5 (all officers/advisers)
Expenditure
Budget$450 million (2007 est.)[1]
Percent of GDP4.5% (2005 est.)[1]
Industry
Domestic suppliersZrak (Optics)
Igman (small arms ammunition)
ORAO A.D. (Turbojet engines and parts)
Unis Promex (ARMAMENT, AMMUNITION and MILITARY EQUIPMENT)
BNT Travnik (small arms ammunition)
GINEX Gorazde (small arms parts of ammunition) BINAS (small arms ammunition)
FSV – FABRIKA SPECIJALNIH VOZILA A.D (Spare parts for all types of combat vehicles and tank M-84)
Foreign suppliers United States
 Russia
TurkeyTurkey
China China
 Italy
 Germany
 Romania
Related articles
HistoryArmy of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
History of the Army of Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
War in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Patriotic League
Territorial Defence Force of the Republic of Bosnia and Hercegovina
RanksMilitary ranks and insignia of Bosnia and Herzegovina
class=notpageimage|
Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina brigades

The Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian: Oružane snage Bosne i Hercegovine, OSBIH; Cyrillic script: Оружане снаге Босне и Херцеговине, ОСБИХ) is the official military force of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bosnian Armed forces were unified in 2005 and are composed of two founding armies: the Bosniak-Croat Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb Army of Republika Srpska.

The Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, founded in 2004, is in charge of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are approximately 15,000 active and professional troops, 5,000 reserve troops and 1,000 civilian staff.

Chain of command

The supreme commander of the Bosnian Armed Forces is the current president of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, the Presidency commands the Bosnian Army, then the Bosnian Ministry of Defence with the minister Selmo Cikotić, then the Chiefs of Joint Staff with Sifet Podžić as the head. The BiH Chief of Joint Staff is Lieutenant General Miladin Milojčić. Conscription was completely abolished in Bosnia and Herzegovina effective on and from 1 January 2006.[2]

Defense law

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Defense Law addresses the following areas: the Military of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Government Institutions, Entity jurisdictions and structure, Budget and Financing, Composition of Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, War declaration, Natural disasters, Conflict of interests and professionalism, Oath to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Flags, Anthem and Military Insignia, and transitional and end orders.

History

The AFBiH was formed from three armies of the Bosnian War period: the Bosnian (dominantly Bosniak with numbers of Serbs and Croats) Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bosnian Serb Army of Republika Srpska, and the Croat Defence Council.

The Army of the Republic of Bosnia And Herzegovina was created on 15 April 1992 during the early days of the Bosnian War. Before the ARBiH was formally created, there existed Territorial Defence, an official military force of Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a number of paramilitary groups such as the Green Berets, Patriotic League, and civil defense groups, as well as many criminal gangs and collections of police and military professionals. The army was formed under poor circumstances, with a very low number of tanks, APCs and no military aviation assets. The army was divided into Corps, each Corp was stationed in a territory. First commander was Sefer Halilović.

The Army of Republika Srpska was created on 12 May 1992. Before the VRS was formally created, there were a number of paramilitary groups such as the Srpska Dobrovoljačka Garda, Beli Orlovi, as well as some Russian, Greek and other volunteers. The army was equipped with ex-JNA inventory. It had about 200 tanks, mostly T-55s and 85 M-84s, and 150 APCs with several heavy artillery pieces. The Air Defense of VRS has shot down several aircraft, like F-16, Mirage 2000, F-18 and one Croatian Air Force MiG-21. The VRS received support from the Yugoslav Army and FRY until 1994, when Slobodan Milošević stopped military relations with Republika Srpska.

The Croatian Defence Council was the main military formation of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War. It was first organized military force to with the aim to control the Croat populated areas, created on 8 April 1992. They ranged from men armed with shotguns assigned to village defense tasks to organized, uniformed, and well-equipped brigade-sized formations that nevertheless employed part-time soldiers. As time went on, the HVO forces became increasingly better organized and more "professional", but it was not until early 1994, that the HVO began to form the so-called guards brigades, mobile units manned by fulltime professional soldiers.

In 1995–96, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia and Herzegovina, beginning on December 21, 1995 to implement and monitor the military aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force or SFOR. The number of SFOR troops was reduced first to 12,000 and then to 7,000. SFOR was in turn succeeded by an even smaller, European Union-led European Union Force, EUFOR Althea. As of 2004, EUFOR Althea numbered around 7,000 troops.

As the joint AFBiH began to develop, troops began to be sent abroad. Bosnia and Herzegovina deployed a unit of 37 men to destroy munitions and clear mines, in addition to 6 command personnel as part of the Multinational force in Iraq. The unit was first deployed to Fallujah, then Talil Air Base, and is now located at Camp Echo. In December 2006, the Bosnian government formerly extended its mandate through June 2007. Bosnia and Herzegovina is planning to send another 49 soldiers from the 6th infantry division to Iraq in August 2008, their mission will be to protect/guard Camp Victory in Baghdad.


Structure

The Military units are commanded by the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina Joint Staff in Sarajevo. There are two major commands under the Joint Staff: Operational Command and Support Command.

There are three regiments that are each formed by soldiers from the three ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs and trace their roots to the armies that were created during the Bosnian war. These regiments have their distinct ethnic insignias and consist of three active battalions each. Headquarters of Regiments have no operational authority. On the basis of the Law on Service in the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the regimental headquarters have the following tasks: to manage the regimental museum, monitor financial fund Regiment, prepare, investigate and cherish the history of the regiment, the regiment publish newsletters, maintain cultural and historical heritage, give guidance on holding special ceremonies , give guidance on customs, dress and deportment Regiment, conduct officer, NCO and military clubs. Each regiments three battalions divided evenly between the three active brigades of the Army.

File:2nd (Rangers) Regiment of the Armed Forces of Bosnia.jpg.
Patch for 2nd regiment OSBiH
  • Operational Command (Sarajevo)[3]
    • 4th Infantry Brigade (Tuzla)
      • (Bosniak) Infantry Battalion (Tuzla)
      • (Serbian) Infantry Battalion (Bijeljina)
      • (Croatian) Infantry Battalion (Orašje)
      • Reconnaissance Company
      • Signals Platoon
    • 5th Infantry Brigade (Banja Luka)
      • (Serbian) Infantry Battalion (Banja Luka)
      • (Croatian) Infantry Battalion (Livno)
      • (Bosniak) Infantry Battalion (Bihać)
      • Reconnaissance Company
      • Signals Platoon
File:BHArmy 1.jpg
Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
    • 6th Infantry Brigade (Čapljina)
      • (Croatian) Infantry Battalion (Čapljina)
      • (Bosniak) Infantry Battalion (Goražde)
      • (Serbian) Infantry Battalion (Bileća)
      • Reconnaissance Company
      • Signals Platoon
Structure of the Operational Command
    • Tactical Support Brigade (Sarajevo)
      • Armored Battalion (Tuzla)
      • Artillery Battalion (Žepče) (one battery detached to each brigade)
      • Engineer Battalion (one company detached to each brigade)
      • Military Intelligence Battalion (Butilama)
      • Military Police Battalion (Butilama) (one platoon detached to each brigade)
      • De-mining Battalion (Bugojno)
      • Signals Company (Sarajevo)
      • NBC Defense Company
    • Air Force & Anti-Air Defense Brigade (Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla)
      • Helicopter Battalion (Sarajevo) (one squadron detached to each brigade HQ)
      • Air Defense Battalion (Sarajevo) (one company detached to each brigade)
      • Early Warning & Surveillance Battalion (Banja Luka)
      • Flight Support Battalion (Sarajevo, Banja Luka)
Chiefs of Joint Staff structure
  • Support Command (Banja Luka)
    • Personnel Command
    • Training and Doctrine Command
      • Combat Training Center
        • Armored Mechanized Battalion
      • Combat Simulation Center
      • Professional Development Center
        • Officers School
        • NCO School
        • Foreign Language Center
    • Logistics Command
      • Center for Movement Control
      • Center for Material Management
      • Main Logistics Base (Doboj and Sarajevo)
      • 1st Logistics Support Battalion
      • 2nd Logistics Support Battalion
      • 3rd Logistics Support Battalion
      • 4th Logistics Support Battalion
      • 5th Logistics Support Battalion

Within the armed forces, there are a number of services. These include a Technical service, Air technology service, Military Police service, Communications service, Sanitary service, a Veterans service, Civilian service, Financial service, Information service, Legal service, Religious service, and a Musical service.

Uniform and Insignia

Main article: Military ranks and insignia of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina were unified in 2005 and at that time they needed a uniform for the newley founded army. MARPAT where the future uniform of AFBIH.

Insignia is found on military hats or berets, on the right and left shoulder on the uniform of all Soldiers of the Armed Forces. All, except for generals, wear badges on their hats or berets with either the land force badge or air force badge. Generals wear badges with the coat of arms of Bosnia surrounded with branches and two swords.All soldiers of the armed forces have on their right shoulder a flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina. All members of the 3 regiments wear their regiment insignia on the left shoulder. There are other insignias, brigades or other institution are worn under the regiment insignia. The name of the soldiers is worn on the left part of the chest while the name "Armed Forces of BiH" is worn on the right part of the chest.

Equipment

Infantry weapons

Assault Rifle Type Versions Notes
M16 rifle Assault Rifle A1, A2, and A4 From 2010 OSBiH will scrap the A1 versions, and use A2 and A4 versions. Standard issue rifle of Bosnian and Herzegovina military and delivered from USA's Colt Arsenal in Hartford.
AR-15 Assault rifle 1,000 Donated by USA in 1999; 22,000 purchased by FABiH 2000 – 2004
M4 carbine Assault rifle SOPMOD Special and Police forces only.
HK33 Assault rifle Donated by Turkey 1997
Heckler & Koch MP5 Submachine gun Used by the Military Police and Bosnian Special Forces
Skorpion vz 61 Submachine gun
AK-47 Assault rifle
AKM Assault Rifle
Zastava M70 Assault rifle
PP-19 Submachine gun 250 donated by Russia and 1,000 purchased by the Bosnian government, only used by the Special Forces and the Special Anti-terrorist Unit SIPA
H&K G3 Battle rifle A2 and A3 A2 donated by Turkey 1998, A3 was later purchased by the Bosnian government
M203 Grenade Launcher http://www.unisgroup.ba/#/machine guns and recoilless guns/
Milkor MGL Grenade Launcher http://www.unisgroup.ba/#/machine guns and recoilless guns/
Zastava M76 Sniper rifle
Zastava M91 Sniper Rifle
M48 Mauser Bolt-Action Rifle A Used with Zrak 4*32 Scopes. No longer in service.
MACS M3 Anti-Material Rifle
Glock 17 Pistol
CZ-99 Pistol

Machine gun

Machine gun Type Versions Notes
M60 Machine gun
M2 .50 caliber Machine gun
M240 machine gun Machine gun
Zastava M84 Machine gun
Zastava M72 Machine gun M72A and M72B 250,000 sold to Iraq
PK machine gun Machine Gun
NSV machine gun Heavy Machinegun
DShK Heavy Machinegun
Ultimax 100 Machine Gun Few

Rocket Launcher

Rocket Launcher Type Versions Notes
M80 Rocket Launcher Rocket Launcher
M79 Osa Rocket Launcher
AT4 Rocket Launcher
RPG-7 Rocket Launcher

Armoured vehicles

Bosnian M60A3 MBT
Vehicle Type Versions In service Notes
M60A3 Main battle tank (MBT) A3 45 In service due to NATO compatibility.
M-84 Main battle tank AB 16 In 2008, 50 operational tanks were withdrawn from service .Bosnia operated with 135 M-84's as of 2007
AMX-30 Main Battle Tank S 32
T-72 Main Battle Tank M1 22 unknown status as of 2012
T-55 Main Battle Tank T-54, T-55 150 in reserve
PT-76 Light Tank
M113A2 APC A2 80
BVP M-80 IFV/ICV A,AK 30A and unknown number of AK In 2008, 35 operational IFVs were withdrawn due to insufficient funds.
Panhard AML

 ARV 90mm 4x4
41
BOV (APC) IFV/ICV BOV-VP and BOV-3 & BOV-1 34 BOV-VP and 39 BOV-3 & 29 BOV-1
Humvee APC 25
AMX-10P APC/AFC P 35
OT M-60 APC P 70 unknown status as of 2012. Most probably in reserve or scrapped
WZ551 APC 5 armed with HJ-8 ATGW

Anti-tank weapons

System Type Versions Notes
AT-4 Spigot Anti-tank missile
AT-3 Sagger Anit-tank missile
Milan ATGM Anit-tank missile
HJ-8 Anti-tank missile Baktar-Shikan, HJ-8E Was supplied to ARBiH in early 1990s, ~50 pieces
2A19 Anti-Tank Gun

Artillery

Artillery Type Versions In service Notes
M101 howitzer Howitzer 36 M101, 22 M56, 27 M2A1 85
M114 howitzer (M-114A-1) 155 mm
 Howitzer
116
2A18 Howitzer D20J 86+35 http://www.unisgroup.ba/#/guns and howitzers/
M1954 Field gun M46 11 http://www.unisgroup.ba/#/guns and howitzers/
M1955 Howitzer M84 Nora Unknown http://www.unisgroup.ba/#/guns and howitzers/
2S1 Gvozdika Self-propelled artillery 5
Type 63 multiple rocket launcher Multiple Rocket Launcher
BM-21 Grad Multiple rocket launcher BM-21 Grad, APR-40 5 BM-21 and 36 APR-40 Source:http://www2.webng.com/security/osbih4.html
M-63 Plamen Multiple rocket launcher Plamen 20
M-77 Oganj Multiple rocket launcher Oganj 7 http://www.unisgroup.ba/#/mlrs/
M-87 Orkan Multiple rocket launcher Orkan 5+ http://www.unisgroup.ba/#/mlrs/

Logistics

Logistics Type Versions In service Notes
Mercedes-Benz G-270 Logistics 33 Donated by Germany, used by Military Police/Officers
Mercedes-Benz Unimog Logistics 40 Donated by Germany
TAM Utility trucks Large number
Chars Transportation Transportation 700 400 donated by U.S forces
Iveco LMV 38

Helicopters

Aircraft Type Versions In service[4] Notes
Mil Mi-8/Mil Mi-17 Transport helicopter Mi-8T
Mi-17 		20
7 		(8 stored)only 6–7 in flyable condition, other stored
Bell UH-1 Iroquois Utility helicopter UH-1H 10 (9 stored)only 5–6 in flyable condition, other stored
AH-64 Armed Helicopter AH-64 5 3 In Sarajevo Fly Base & 2 In Dubrave Aiport Base
Soko Gazelle Utility helicopter SA 342 23

References

  1. ^ a b CIA – The World Factbook – Bosnia and Herzegovina
  2. ^ NATO and the Defence Reform Commission: partners for progress (SETimes.com)
  3. ^ As per http://www.mod.gov.ba/en/shema.asp?id=odb
  4. ^ =Order of Battle – Bosnia and Herzegovina. milaviapress.com

Further reading

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