The government of Croatia, a NATO member since 2009 and the European Union since 2013, announced that decided to purchase 12 used Rafale F3R multi-role fighter aircraft from France, The Prime Minister of the Balkan country, Andrei Plenkovic, announced on Friday.
Mr Plenkovi ανέ said that the purchase price of the aircraft, 10 of which would be single-seater and 2 two-seater, will amount to 999 million euros.
It is the largest purchase of military equipment since Croatia gained independence in the 1990s, when its Air Force currently has only a few obsolete Soviet-made MiG-21s, from the period when it was a federal Republic of the former Yugoslavia.
For Andrei Plenkovi «,” the French offer proved to be the best “because Zagreb acquires” the aircraft with the highest value and the best equipment at the lowest price “.
In addition to Rafale (Dassault Aviation) participated in the competition for the acquisition of fighters the US, which offered F-16 fighters, Israel, which offered its own version of F-16s, and Sweden with Gripen.
The first six Rafals are expected to be delivered to the Croatian PA in 2024, according to Croatian media. The amount of the price includes pilot training and armament. According to Andrei Plenkovic, the life expectancy of the MiG-21 “expired in 2024”.
The decision “shows the strengthening of the strategic ties between France and Croatia,” said French Defense Minister Florence Parley with satisfaction.
However, many criticize and question the circumstances chosen by the Croatian government to acquire the extremely expensive weapons system, at a time when the small country of 4.2 million, which is heavily dependent on tourism, is being hit hard by the pandemic. of the new coronavirus.
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