Croatia receives 'best and final' offers for MiG-21 replacement

Croatian Air Force MiG-21 Fishbed. Croatia is currently considering offers from four vendors to replace the type with a new fighter aircraft.

On 11 November 2020, the Croatian Minister of Defense announced that it had received the final offers for the new multi-role combat aircraft. They include those sent from the United States for new F-16 Block 70s, from Israel for second-hand F-16 Block 30s, from France for second-hand Rafales, while Sweden has proposed new JAS-39 C/D Gripens.

The Croatian government had already received offers from each nation in early September, but gave each of them the opportunity to submit their best and final offer by 11 November.

The MoD said that "the decision-making process at the state level will begin in early 2021, and includes the opinion of the Defence Committee of the Croatian Parliament and the Defence Council and the decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the most favourable offer for a multirole fighter aircraft."

Croatia is looking for 12 fighters to replace its 12 older MiG-21 Fishbed fighters. Some sources say the nation currently has only 3 to 6 aircraft in service.

The replacement of the Croatian MiG-21 has been in the pipeline for about 20 years and has been postponed several times due to budget problems.

Written by Matteo Sanzani

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons