Croatia receives final Rafale jet, completing Air Force modernisation

(Photo: MORH/ J. Kopi)

On 25 April 2025, Croatia welcomed the final Rafale fighter jet, marking the completion of its new squadron of 12 multi-purpose 4.5+ generation combat aircraft from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation.

This important milestone brings to a close the most significant modernisation of the Croatian Air Force in its history.

With the full squadron now in place, Croatia stands out in the region for its advanced technological and operational air power.

Symbolically, the final Rafale arrived exactly one year after the first six jets were officially welcomed at “Colonel Marko Živković” Barracks at Pleso, on 25 April 2024.

(Photo: MORH/ J. Kopi)

That event signalled the beginning of a new era for the Croatian Air Force, and today’s arrival completes one of the most complex and vital defence projects in modern Croatian history.

Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić marked the occasion by saying:

“Today we conclude a project that has strategically transformed the Croatian Air Force. This squadron is not just about military capability – it sends a clear message that the Croatian Army and Air Force are committed to safeguarding the security of our citizens with modern fighter jets.”

He highlighted that the Croatian Government and Ministry of Defence are investing around three billion euros into the modernisation and equipping of the Croatian Armed Forces.

(Photo: MORH/ J. Kopi)

Croatia has already reached defence spending of 2% of GDP this year, and by 2027, it plans to increase this to 2.5%, with a goal of reaching 3% in the future.

The Rafale squadron now forms the backbone of Croatia’s air power, significantly strengthening the nation’s security, deterrence, and defence capabilities within NATO.