Croatia boasts Ukrainian defence with An‑32B aircraft transfer
Information emerging in the public space indicates that Croatia has decided to give Ukraine an A-32 B transport aircraft, whose features and capabilities we present. This transfer is exciting for several reasons.
Although Croatia is among the countries openly siding with Ukraine in its war with Russia, aid packages sent from this southern European country to the front are very often not announced, and the truth about them comes to light only after some time. An example was, among others, giving Ukraine all Mi‑8 helicopters, which US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin even praised. It is most likely that another similar gesture from the Croats is forthcoming.
An-32B from Croatia for Ukraine?
As noted by the Ukrainian portal Defence Express, which specialises in military topics, handing over the An-32B transport aircraft is a very unusual form of aid for Ukraine, as there have been no previous cases of the Antonov company's machines being transferred to the defending army.
Croatia has owned two An-32B units since 1995, but they have not been used for several years. One was reportedly already transferred to Ukraine; the other will share this fate as soon as the necessary repairs are completed.
The An-32B is a twin-engine transport aircraft with a length of over 23 metres and a wingspan of nearly 30 metres. Its range exceeds 1,930 kilometres.
It can carry about 50 passengers or 24 wounded on stretchers and accompanying medical personnel. These are significant features from the Ukrainian perspective, as the Croatian An-32Bs will be handed over to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Army Recognition notes that the list of military aid from Croatia to Ukraine systematically expands and includes several exciting items. In addition to Mi‑8 helicopters and An-32B transport aircraft, it also contains M-46 field guns of 130 mm calibre, D-30 towed howitzers of 122 mm calibre, Igla and Strela-2 anti-aircraft missile systems, and unusual Rak rocket mortars, whose capabilities were discussed by Lukas Michalik, a journalist.
