Minister Anušić: We Are Strengthening the Croatian Navy; By 2030 Croatia Will Have Fully Modernised Armed Forces | Photo by: MORH/ J. Šeri
Minister Anušić: We Are Strengthening the Croatian Navy; By 2030 Croatia Will Have Fully Modernised Armed Forces
New Vessels Procured for Maritime Surveillance and Defence Purposes Continue Cooperation Between the Ministries of Agriculture and Defence
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries David Vlajčić, and Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, attended the ceremonial handover of the Modrulj vessels, held on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, at the Admiral of the Fleet Sveto Letica-Barba Barracks in Split.
The handover involved two large vessels, valued at almost €2.9 million, and is a part of the cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Defence.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić expressed his satisfaction with the acquisition of the vessels, built at a Croatian shipyard, intended for use by the Coast Guard to improve the quality and efficiency of maritime surveillance and the protection of Croatia’s maritime borders.
Minister Anušić emphasised that this handover also contributes to strengthening the Croatian Armed Forces, in particular the Croatian Navy.
“The Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Defence are continuously investing in the equipment and modernisation of the Croatian Armed Forces, and our objective is to have fully modernised armed forces by 2030. Our goal is also to ensure that domestic companies participate as much as possible in equipping the Croatian Armed Forces. By 2030, Croatia’s sea, land and air will be protected by the most modern combat systems based on Western technology,” Minister Anušić announced.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries David Vlajčić stated: “Through this handover we confirm the excellent cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Defence. The vessels were procured under the current Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme, and the total value of the procurement amounts to almost €2.9 million.”
The procurement of new vessels for maritime surveillance continues the cooperation between the two ministries. Following the handover of these two vessels, the Coast Guard’s fleet will comprise a total of six “Modrulj” inflatable boats.
The Shadow Patrol 47 vessels were built and equipped at the Shadow Nautics shipyard in Šibenik and were procured with co-financing from European Union funds.
In addition to Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers Anušić and Vlajčić and Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Kundid, the ceremony was also attended by State Secretaries in the Ministry of Defence Tomislav Galić and Drago Matanović, Commander of the Croatian Navy Rear Admiral (UH) Damir Dojkić, Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Blaženko Boban, Mayor of Split Tomislav Šuta, and numerous other guests.
