• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Croatia - Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA)

In late August 2019, the Croatian interdepartmental commission for the procurement of multi-purpose combat aircraft said that it had received five letters of expression of interest to provide the country with new fighter jets and eight letters of expression of interest for second-hand jets. In early August, the interdepartmental commission, set up by the government on 4 July 2019, sent requests to 26 potential bidders concerning the procurement of multi-purpose combat aircraft, the government's press office stated. Since then the commission considered the proposals made by those bidders who expressed interest in this project. During the selection procedure, the commission would check the validity of all potential bids and to see if they comply with the tactical and technical requirements made by the Croatian Air Force. Media outlet speculate that the expressions of interest have been submitted by Italy, France, Sweden, the USA, Norway, Denmark and Israel.

After a long competition, the new American Lockheed Martin's F-16 Block 70/72 and the little-used French Dassault Rafale remained in the finals. In early 2021, it could be heard that even the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D had not completely dropped out of the game. The French offer was at the level of around one billion euros, and the American one at around 1.6-1.8 billion euros. The offer from France amounted to 930 million euros and that it is about 12 used planes. One new Rafale, by the way, costs $ 115 million.

The Croatian government decided in May 2021 to purchase 12 second-hnd French F3-R Rafale fighters. The decision would be announced on the occasion of the Day of the Armed Forces (May 28). The oldest fighter would be ten years old. According to unofficial sources, Croatia will pay around one billion euros for the package including, as well as fighter planes, pilot training and ammunition.

If the contract were signed this year, France would deliver the first six planes in 2024, and the remaining six a year later. President Milanovic, on the other hand, said that planes must be in Croatia by 2024 at the latest. The oldest plane that would be delivered to Croatia is 10 years old.

The news came after the Head of State, Zoran Milanovic, the President of Sabor, Gordan Jandrokovic, and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who in recent weeks and months have been the protagonists of a colorful exchange of "appreciation" took part in the 14th session of the Defense Council . The meeting was called in the first place to take stock of the progress of the process connected with the purchase of the new flock of 12 supersonic multi-role fighters for the Croatian Air Force and Anti-aircraft Defense (HRZ-PZO). Defense Council members analyzed the conclusions drawn by the Multisectoral Commission for the Purchase of Fighters. The Council therefore expressed its full support to the government, which is now responsible for concluding the procedure related to the purchase of military aircraft.

The F3R is a French multi-role fighter produced by Dassault Aviation. It features a delta wing and canard fins, has a pair of Snecma M88-2 turbofan engines mounted in the tail section and a single, large fin. It was designed to be used by both the French Air Force and Navy Aviation as a boarded aircraft, hence the term omnirole used by Dassault Aviation to define the aircraft. It is also intended for export, and many foreign countries have shown interest in the Rafale. Croatia is the last in chronological order.

The French application for the competition was in itself a big surprise because that country has so far not appeared among those interested. But this move by France can also be seen through the intensification of their initiative on European defense forces. Croatia would enter not only into a trade relationship with France but also into a new political framework for cooperation and strategic partnership , especially within the framework of European defense policy, which is an agenda launched by Paris. Macron's idea of "European autonomy" had been reduced to fostering greater European military spending and a clear European defense identity within NATO - as opposed to the desire to create a complement or even a rival to the transatlantic alliance, as some have commented on NATO's "brain death".

Croatia signed a contract 25 November 2021 for the acquisition of 12 used Dassault Rafale F3R multi-role fighters from France. French President Emmanuel Macron and his host, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, signed an agreement on the purchase of French-made Rafale fighter jets for the Croatian Air Force, and shortly after the signing ceremony two such aircraft flew over Zagreb.The signed contract covers the purchase of ten single-seater and two two-seater aircraft for 1.1 billion euros, and the total amount will be paid in five installments from 2022 to 2026. The transfer of ownership of the planes will take place in France, and by the end of 2024 there will be eight planes in Croatia, and by the end of the first quarter of 2025, the remaining four planes.

The government launched the largest arms procurement process since the War of Independence on July 4, 2019. The United States (new F-16 C / D Block 70), Sweden (new Gripen C / D), France (used Rafale F3-) submitted their bids. R) and Israel (used F-16 C / D Block 30). After evaluating the received bids, the interdepartmental commission unanimously adopted the Feasibility Study for the procurement of a multi-role fighter aircraft, which it submitted to the government, after which it was assessed that France's bid was the best.

"This is a game-changer. We will have the type of aircraft that no country between Germany and Greece has," Plenkovic said, adding that these state-of-the-art aircraft would certainly have an impact on Croatia's foreign policy, security and defence position. He stressed he expected this agreement to boost cooperation between the two countries' defence industries. Macron, an advocate of stronger European defence capabilities, said that this was the first important step towards European defence, a guarantor of common security as well as proof of friendship.

Emmanuel Macron's first official visit to Croatia was largely driven by the finalization of the agreed sale of Rafale fighter jets . It is the military industry that is one of the main economic hopes of the French economy, and it has a relatively low growth rate (from 1 to 2 percent) and has difficulty maintaining its status within the ten strongest economic powers in the world. It was expected that the purchase of the aircraft could encourage more French investments in Croatia, but also open space for Croatian entrepreneurs to make a stronger step into the French market and joint projects. But the only thing that is certain is that the purchase of aircraft will deepen Croatia's deficit in foreign trade.

The President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic, welcomed the purchase of the Rafale multi-role fighter aircraft, but emphasized that the purchase of the new generation Bradley infantry fighting vehicle was also of strategic importance. According to the Office of the President, Milanovic assessed that the procurement of a multi-purpose fighter aircraft is of strategic importance for the overall operational capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces (CAF), but that it is also a major financial challenge for the Croatian defense budget. it must not jeopardize the development of operational capabilities of other branches of the CAF. The President of the Republic of Croatia believes that the balanced development of all branches and components of the CAF is necessary, primarily aimed at achieving the required operational capabilities intended for national defense, and then as a contribution to collective defense and CAF participation in NATO peacekeeping operations and missions.

Croatia is the second country in the European Union after Greece to buy Rafale, and it also got a better price. Namely, Greece paid 2.5 billion euros for its 18 pieces (12 of which were used and 6 new). The Dassault Rafale is certainly the best European supersonic fighter jet compatible with NATO standards.

Croatia will pay about 15 percent more for Rafale fighter jets, which it procures from France, than originally announced in May, when the decision on their procurement was made, at least judging by the amount presented at the Government session on 25 November 2021. Although Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said in May, during the adoption of the decision on the procurement of military aircraft, that their price would be 999 million euros (about 7.5 billion kuna), the price was presented to the public at about 15 percent higher. Namely, as the Minister of Finance Zdravko Maric said at the Government session on Wednesday, we will pay 8.7 billion kuna (about 1.2 billion euros) for the planes. Maric stated that HRK 2.4 billion has been secured in the budget for 2021 through the supplementary budget, and that the remaining HRK 6.3 billion will be paid in installments over the next few years, which gives a total of HRK 8.7 billion.

'This year, 2.4 billion kuna has already been provided for the purchase of Rafale in the state budget, next year that amount is more than 2.1 billion kuna, in 2023 it is 1.8 billion kuna, in 2024 1.7 billion kuna, and then in 2025 a little less than half a billion kuna and in 2026 133.4 million kuna ', said Maric at the Government session. The Ministry of Defense stated the price increase in relation to what was announced and presented to the public in May by as much as 15 percent came from VAT.

'The purchase price of a multi-purpose fighter plane, as we have communicated before, is 999 million euros or 7,527,481,560 kunas. The total amount that was communicated at the Government session yesterday at the agreed price includes the amount of VAT which, in accordance with the Act, must be calculated on new goods and services and ultimately paid into the State Budget of the Republic of Croatia. In addition, the clause on the expected price indexation is included in the entire amount ', reads the response of the Ministry of Defense. It follows that VAT is charged on new goods and services, which would be weapons and training of pilots and technicians, while VAT is not paid on airplanes because they are used.

The Government approved the assumption of commitments from the state budget in the period from 2022 to 2026 for the purchase of multi-role fighter aircraft Rafale, ahead of the signing of a contract with France on their purchase on Thursday . The decision to buy Rafale was made by the Government on May 28 and instructed the Ministry of Defense to take all necessary actions regarding the conclusion of an agreement between Croatia and France. The agreement is signed by the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Croatia Mario Banožic and his French colleague Florence Parly. At the Government session, Minister Banožic said on that occasion that the planes were fully compatible with NATO standards and that Croatia would be 'enough for 30 years or more'. He also stated that with 12 aircraft in the package is a modern flight simulator, which will provide a full range of training and validation of tactics, ground and test equipment, as well as spare parts and comprehensive support for manufacturers.

"A modern basic package of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons has been provided for shooting, rocketing and bombing targets, as well as training of personnel on the principle of training of trainers," he added. He also pointed out that the training of flight and aeronautical technical staff will be carried out in France and Croatia. The beginning of the training of aeronautical technical staff is planned for the end of 2022, while the beginning of the training of flight personnel is planned for the beginning of 2023.

The agreement, the defense minister added, covered military co-operation, training and the holding of joint exercises by the French and Croatian air forces. The transfer of ownership of the planes, he said, will take place in France, and at the end of 2024 there will be eight planes in Croatia, and by the end of the first quarter of 2025, the remaining four planes. All planes from France to Croatia will be 'transported' by pilots of the Croatian Air Force.