France hands over 11th Rafale fighter jet to Croatia
As of 21 March 2025, France has handed over almost all of the ordered Rafale multi-role fighters to Croatia. The delivery of the 11th aircraft was reported in Hrvatski vojnik. Only one aircraft remains to be delivered before the delivery is completed.
Here's What We Know
The delivery takes place under an intergovernmental agreement signed in November 2021, according to which Croatia purchased 12 Rafale F3-Rs from France, ten of which are single-seaters and two are two-seaters. The contract also includes associated equipment, spare parts, simulators and training.
The Croatian government made the purchase decision on 28 May 2021. According to local media reports, the oldest of the proposed aircraft has a remaining service life of 3,800 to 7,000 flight hours with the possibility of extending it to 9,000.
A Rafale fighter jet of the Croatian Air Force. Illustration: Hrvatski Vojnik
The Croatian military was the first to receive a two-seat Rafale B, which was handed over on 2 October 2023 at the Mont de Marsan base in France. As of November 2023, three aircraft were already in service, with the seventh and eighth arriving in November and December 2024, respectively.
The ninth aircraft arrived in Croatia on 23 January 2025, the tenth on 20 February, and the eleventh on 20 March. The fighters are part of the 191st Fighter Squadron of the 91st Wing of the Croatian Air Force.
Source: Hrvatski vojnik
