The Croatian Air Force celebrated a historic milestone with the arrival of the 12th and final French Rafale fighter jet, thus completing its new combat aircraft squadron.
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The Croatian Ministry of Defense announced the achievement through the X network, reporting that the last Rafale landed at Franjo Tuđman Airport, completing the formation of a full squadron within the 194th Fighter Squadron of the 91st Wing.
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These modern aircraft officially replace the old MiG-21s, which for decades formed the backbone of Croatia’s military aviation.
The modernization process began in November 2021, when Croatia signed an agreement with France to purchase 12 Rafale F3R fighter jets for a value of 999 million euros.
The contract provides for payment in five phases between 2022 and 2026, covering not only the aircraft but also weapons, spare parts, three years of logistical support, and the training of pilots and technicians in France.
Deliveries began on April 25, 2024, when the first six aircraft arrived simultaneously. In the following months, deliveries continued monthly until the final aircraft arrived on April 26, 2025.
It is important to note that all aircraft were transferred from the French Air and Space Force.
Source and images: militarnyi / X @MORH_OSRH. This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
