Zagreb, Croatia — The first six of a dozen Rafale multirole fighter jets acquired by Croatia from France landed at an air force base near Zagreb on Thursday with a welcome ceremony attended by senior officials.
The deal, signed in 2021 with French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation, was said to be worth more than €1 billion. In addition to the aircraft, the contract included weapons systems, spare parts, logistics and training.
France will deliver the remaining six aircraft in 2025. The acquisition will allow the Croatian Air Force to replace its obsolete Soviet-designed Mikoyan MiG-21 fighters.
The Ministry of Defense of Croatia, a NATO member, stated that the arrival of the plane from France piloted by Croatian crews is a historic moment for the country.
“This is a historic moment for Croatia, we have made our dream come true,” Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at the ceremony, moments after the six Rafales landed successively on the runway.
The fighters are equipped with advanced navigation and attack systems, the French manufacturer stated.
In what appeared to be a mini arms race in the Balkans, populist Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also announced plans last month to buy 12 new Rafale fighter jets in a deal reportedly worth €3 billion. The possible deal was not confirmed by French officials.
The acquisition of Rafale jets would allow Serbia to modernize its air force, which consists mainly of Soviet-made MiG-29 fighters, as well as old Yugoslav fighter jets.
Russia has been a traditional supplier of military aircraft, including combat helicopters, to Serbia, which has refused to join international sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
The rapid arming by the Serbian army in recent years has worried some of its neighbors. Serbia, a candidate for the European Union, is almost completely surrounded by NATO member countries.