O Jutarnji journalistic portal said on Thursday (20) that the Croatian government is acquiring 12 used Dassault Rafale F3-R fighter jets from the French Air Force, citing “well-informed” unofficial sources.
The portal also claims that the oldest plane is 10 years old and that the country must pay just under 1 billion euros in the deal, which also includes weapons and military training to operate and maintain the fighter jets. The decision must be taken by the Government for Armed Forces Day.
In today's session of the Defense Council, was given to the Government for the purchase of fighter jets. The president Zoran Milanovic said shortly afterwards that the government had not received a recommendation on the type of aircraft to be purchased, but expected “that he and the prime minister get along well”. Asked if he knew which plane would be purchased, he replied "no comments".
After the government's official decision to accept the French offer, contract negotiations ensue. If the country actually acquires the planes in 2021, would deliver the first six Rafales in 2024 and the remaining six a year later. President Milanović, on the other hand, said that the planes should arrive in Croatia by 2024 at the latest.
The European country wants to acquire new aircraft to replace its 12 MiG-21 Fishbeds from the Soviet era, which will be retired in 2024. In addition to the Rafale, the options are the Saab JAS-39C/D Gripen from Sweden, new Lockheed Martin F-16V Block 70/72 US and F-16C/D Barak Block 30 used by the Israeli Air Force.
Croatia almost acquired the models used by Israel, but the US intervened, blocking the transfer of jets of American origin and modernized by the Israelis. The current pandemic combined with the reconstruction of Croatian cities hit by earthquakes has delayed the purchase of the fighter jets.
