Combat Power 26 at Žirje – Croatian Armed Forces Demonstrate Joint Maritime Combat Operations

At the Žirje naval training range near Primošten, the Croatian Armed Forces today demonstrated their capability to conduct joint maritime combat operations.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić and Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, observed the joint combat exercise showcasing the Croatian Armed Forces’ modern maritime capabilities.

The martime phase of Evercise Combat Power 26 at Žirje involved personnel of the Croatian Armed Forces operating Croatian Navy vessels, Croatian Air Force Rafale multirole fighter aircraft and helicopters, air defence systems, Croatian Army artillery units, and special operations forces from both the Croatian Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior.

Minister Anušić expressed his satisfaction with the successful conduct of this major international military exercise, noting that more than 3,000 troops from around ten NATO allied nations are participating.

“Today we witnessed the first phase of the exercise, where the Croatian Navy, Croatian Air Force, and Croatian Army conducted coordinated joint operatios against a common target, demonstrating their capabilities, equipment, and combat power. In today’s challenging security environment, exercises like this validate and further strengthen the capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces, which remain the main pillar of Croatia’s security and peace,” Minister Anušić said.

RemarkableHit by the Mistral Air Defence System

Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid emphasised that the exercise was conducted according to a realistic operational scenario, demonstrating the full range of capabilities available to the Croatian Armed Forces in responding to potential maritime threats.

“Throughout the exercise, we witnessed highly effective employment of our newly acquired air defence systems alongside Rafale fighter aircraft operating jointly. We also demonstrated coordinated action with our special operations forces in carrying out our primary mission of protecting Croatia’s interests at sea,” General Kundid stated.

General Kundid particularly highlighted the performance of the short-range Mistral air defence system: “We witnessed a remarkable direct hit by a Mistral 3 missile against an aerial target. It is extremely rare for a missile to strike this type of aerial target simulator directly, considering its diameter is only 128 millimetres. It was truly a direct hit.”

He also underscored the Croatian Navy’s capabilities, noting that its naval infantry forces had been reinforced by Croatian Army units.

Special Operations Forces, Air Defence, Croatian Navy Vessels, Rafales and Black Hawks in Action at Sea

During the exercise, conducted under a realistic operational scenario, Special Operations Forces of the Croatian Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior carried out a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operation, transferring assault teams from the Special Operations Command Maritime Group and the Ministry’s Special Police onto a hostile vessel before conducting its forcible boarding and capture.

The exercise then featured a demonstration of command post air defence using the BOV-3 20/3 self-propelled anti-aircraft system, followed by the air defence of the landing ship-minelayer DBM-82 Krka using the Mistral missile system.

The Croatian Army also conducted live-fire engagement of maritime surface targets with the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer.

Croatian Navy personnel demonstrated engagement of surface targets at sea using the naval guns of missile boats and coastal patrol vessels.

The Croatian Air Force conducted live-fire attacks against maritime surface targets using the internal cannon of its Rafale multirole fighter aircraft.

Through these training activities at Žirje, members of the Croatian Armed Forces demonstrated a high level of interoperability, professionalism, and operational readiness during joint maritime operations.

Combat Power 26

The Combat Power 26 international joint military exercise is being conducted across military training areas throughout the Republic of Croatia. More than 3,000 members of the Croatian Armed Forces are participating, together with over 25 Croatian Navy vessels, more than 20 aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems, numerous artillery and missile systems, combat and support vehicles, as well as approximately 500 personnel from allied and partner armed forces and representatives of other components of Croatia’s Homeland Security System.

Through the conduct of high-intensity joint combat operations demonstrating the Croatian Armed Forces’ overall combat capability, and through coordinated action with other components of the Homeland Security System, Exercise Combat Power 26 trains missions related to the deterrence and defence of Croatia’s national territory, fulfils obligations arising from the Croatian Armed Forces’ role within NATO’s deterrence and defence posture for the Euro-Atlantic area, and strengthens the resilience of Croatian society against a wide range of security threats.