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Croatia welcomes first batch of Rafale jets amid modernization

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The first six Rafale jets have landed in Zagreb, signaling Croatia’s commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities through cooperation with France. Source: Dassault Aviation.

Zagreb is witnessing the arrival of the first six Rafale jets, signaling Croatia’s commitment to improving its defense capabilities in cooperation with France.

At a ceremony attended by top officials including President Zoran Milanović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Croatia formally welcomed the arrival of its first six Rafale jets at Operational Base 91 near Zagreb. The event marks a milestone in Croatia’s efforts to modernize its military and strengthen its defense capabilities.

These aircraft were acquired from the French Air and Space Forces as part of a larger procurement agreement launched in November 2021 and will strengthen the operational readiness of the Croatian Air Force, known as Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo i protuzračna obrana (HRZ i PZO). Trained pilots from Croatia received training in France to fly these fighter jets, demonstrating the deepening of defense cooperation between the two countries.

Croatia is buying twelve Rafale fighter jets to replace its aging MiG-21 aircraft. The total contract cost for these aircraft is $960 million. The contract also includes logistics support for three consecutive years and includes training for the Croatian Air Force, as evidenced by GlobalData’s intelligence on the Croatian defense market.

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The arrival of the Rafale jets confirms Croatia’s partnership with France. With the next batch of Rafale expected at the end of 2024, Croatia aims to establish a complete squadron by mid-2025, further expanding its air defense capabilities.

During the ceremony, Éric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, highlighted the integration and logistical support provided by France: “The mastery with which the Croatian Air Force carried out this first ferry testifies to the excellence of its pilots and staff, and brilliantly illustrates wise the quality of Croatia’s cooperation with France.

“Dassault Aviation is fully committed to completing the full integration and logistical support of the Rafale into the Croatian Air Force, which will contribute to ensuring Croatia’s sovereignty and enable the country to carry out its operational missions within NATO with to carry out successfully.”

Dassault Aviation SA occupies 5.6% of the European fixed-wing military aircraft market and expects a profit of $15.1 billion. According to GlobalData’s Global Military Fixed Wing Aircraft Market 2023-2033 report, the company has undertaken major programs including Rafale aircraft for France, Greece and Croatia.

Several countries have taken steps regarding Dassault Rafale fighter jets in recent years. The French Defense Procurement Agency has awarded Dassault Aviation a contract for 42 Rafale aircraft, Indonesia has completed the purchase of 18 Rafale jets, India has chosen to equip its navy with Navy Rafale, Greece has signed an agreement for another six Rafale jets, increasing the fleet to 24 aircraft while neighboring Serbia was in talks to acquire twelve new Rafales.

With the Rafale jets in service, Croatia is poised to play a more active role in regional security efforts while increasing interoperability within the broader NATO framework.


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