Croatia appears to have selected French Rafale fighter aircraft

Dassault Rafale combat aircraft. The French fighter appears to have been selected by Croatia.

The Croatian government appears to have decided to buy 12 second-hand French Rafale fighters to replace the old MiG-21 fleet of the Croatian Air Force, Croatian newspaper Jutarnji list said (See also our previous analysis which favors the Rafale for Croatia).

The government's decision should be announced on Armed Forces Day, May 28. The aircraft will belong to the latest F3-R variant with the oldest being expected to have a maximum of ten years of service. 

According to unofficial sources, Croatia will pay France around one billion euros for the overall package that includes aircraft, support and training. All fighters are expected to be delivered by 2024.

The news was leaked Thursday afternoon, after the end of the 14th session of the Defense Council attended by Croatia's state leaders. The meeting was mainly called to discuss the purchase process of the new multi-role fighter.

During the session, the members of the Defense Council analyzed the conclusions drawn by the Multisectoral Commission on the new system and it seems there was an excellent understanding between the leaders regarding the selection of the French aircraft.

The choice of Zagreb confirms Rafale's year of glory. After the recent acquisitions by Greece and Egypt, Indonesia also appears close to finalizing an agreement with Dassault for 24-36 Rafales, while Athens is looking to buy a further six.

Written by Matteo Sanzani