Stigao i posljednji Rafale! Hrvatska sada ima kompletnu eskadrilu od 12 borbenih lovaca | Foto: MORH/ J. Kopi

Final Rafale delivered – Croatia now operates a complete Squadron of 12 combat aircraft

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A landmark milestone in one of the most significant defence projects in modern Croatian history

The final Rafale multirole combat aircraft arrived in Croatia on 25 April 2025, marking the completion of the full delivery and the establishment of a complete squadron of 4.5+ generation combat aicraft, manufactured by France’s Dassault Aviation.

This historic milestone concludes the most extensive modernisation programme in the history of the Croatian Air Force. With a fleet of 12 Rafale multirole combat aircraft, Croatia now possesses one of the most technologically advanced and operationally capable air forces in the region.

Notably, the last Rafale aircraft arrived exactly one year after the ceremonial arrival of the first six Rafales on 25 April 2024 at the Colonel Marko Živković Barracks in Pleso. That day marked the dawn of a new era for the Croatian Air Force, and today’s delivery symbolises the successful completion of one of the most complex and strategically important defence projects in recent Croatian history.

Defence Minister Ivan Anušić said: “Today, we are concluding a project that has strategically transformed the Croatian Air Force. This squadron represents not only a formidable military capability but also a clear statement of intent — the Croatian Armed Forces, and specifically our Air Force, are committed to safeguarding the security of our citizens with state-of-the-art combat aircraft. The Croatian Government and the Ministry of Defence have invested approximately three billion euros in the modernisation and equipping of the Croatian Armed Forces. Defence expenditure has reached 2% of GDP this year, and by 2027 we aim to increase this to 2.5%, with plans to continue rising towards 3%.”

The Rafale squadron forms the backbone of the Croatian Air Force’s capabilities and significantly enhances national security, deterrence, and defence within the NATO alliance. With the squadron now complete, Croatia has not only achieved a new level of combat readiness but has also strengthened its position within NATO.

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