Croatia received its tenth Rafale multi-role combat aircraft on Thursday as part of a €1.13 billion deal with France, with the final two jets expected by the end of April, Defence Minister Ivan Anušić said.
“With the remaining two Rafales arriving by the end of April, we are strengthening the capabilities of the Croatian Army and the security of the Croatian people,” Anušić said in a post on X.
The purchase of 12 Rafale jets represents one of the largest investments in Croatia’s military. The first six aircraft arrived from Bordeaux in April 2024, followed by additional deliveries in November, December, and January.
Infrastructure upgrades at the “Colonel Marko Živković” barracks near Zagreb have been completed, including facilities for simulators, a squadron headquarters, maintenance units, a spare parts warehouse, and an aircraft hangar.
The procurement deal, signed in November 2021, will be financed from the state budget over the 2021–2026 period.