Croatia completes integration of its Rafale F3-R aircraft, marking the end of the MiG-21 and strengthening NATO. Discover the technical challenges and the impact on European defense.
In summary
The Croatian Air Force, or Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo (HRZ), declared its twelve Dassault Rafale F3-Rs fully operational on October 31, 2025, fourteen months after the MiG-21s were retired in August 2024. This milestone transforms the air defense of a Baltic country, bringing Zagreb into line with NATO standards with a squadron capable of rapid interception and precision strikes. The Rafales, acquired for €999 million in 2021, feature RBE2 AESA radars and the SPECTRA system for information superiority. Croatian pilots, trained in France, have accumulated thousands of flight hours this summer, validating air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. This success boosts French exports, with more than 500 Rafales ordered worldwide, and strengthens European interoperability through joint exercises. The HRZ now has two Rafales on permanent alert, armed with Mica and Meteor missiles, guaranteeing sovereignty without external support. Beyond the technical aspects, this transition symbolizes Croatia’s anchoring in the West, in the face of regional tensions.
Croatia’s strategic shift towards the Rafale
Croatia is taking a decisive step forward by abandoning the remnants of its Yugoslav heritage to embrace cutting-edge French technology. The Rafale F3-R is becoming the backbone of its air force, a choice matured by years of budgetary and geopolitical debates. In November 2021, Zagreb signed a €999 million contract for twelve second-hand aircraft from the French Air and Space Force’s stockpile. This deal, valued at $1 billion, includes not only the aircraft but also a flight simulator, basic ammunition, spare parts, and logistical support for three years. Deliveries are staggered: the first six will land at Zagreb Air Base 91 on April 25, 2024, followed by one per month until the twelfth, serial number 159, on April 25, 2025.
This choice is not insignificant. Until then, the HRZ had operated a heterogeneous fleet dominated by MiG-21s, Soviet interceptors dating from the 1960s. These aircraft, which had been modernized several times, were suffering from glaring obsolescence: radar limited to a range of 50 kilometers, archaic weaponry, and an availability rate of less than 50%. Their withdrawal in August 2024, during an emotional ceremony in Pleso, marks the end of the post-Yugoslav era. The Rafales, which are around 14 years old on average, offer a remaining service life of 3,800 flight hours each, with upgrades possible up to the F4 standard.
The acquisition process reflects a sharp realpolitik. Zagreb evaluated four offers in 2020: the new American F-16 Block 70, the Swedish Gripen, a batch of used Israeli aircraft, and the Rafale. The French option won out for its cost-effectiveness: €83 million per aircraft, compared to €142 million for the F-16V. In addition, the Rafales come ready-trained, with Croatian pilots already certified on the type. This shift is part of a broader modernization program: the purchase of 12 UH-60M Black Hawks to replace the Mi-8s, and the integration of Leopard 2A8s and HIMARS. Croatia, a NATO member since 2009, is thus aiming to increase its contribution to collective missions, such as surveillance of the eastern flank.
The outdated legacy of the MiG-21s and the accelerated transition
Croatia’s MiG-21s embody a tumultuous chapter in history. Inherited from the former Yugoslavia, these single-engine jets entered service with the HRZ in 1991, in the midst of the war of independence. Despite a severe embargo, Croatian pilots operated them with ingenuity, carrying out more than 200 combat sorties at a modest cost of €5 million per initial unit. However, by 2025, these relics were becoming a burden: maximum speed of 2,175 km/h (Mach 2), but range limited to 400 kilometers without external fuel tanks, and vulnerability to modern threats.
The withdrawal of the MiG-21s, effective on August 25, 2024, during a final flyover in Pleso, exposed a temporary vulnerability. Zagreb then depended on the Italian Aeronautica Militare and the Luftwaffe to provide air defense, via a trilateral agreement with Hungary until the fall of 2025. This tutelage, humiliating for a sovereign state, accelerates the integration of the Rafale. The first Croatian operational flights take place in March 2025, with joint exercises with the American F-16s from Aviano. In March, Rafale HRZs patrolled alongside General Dynamics F-16Cs from the 510th Fighter Squadron, validating NATO procedures such as Quick Reaction Alert (QRA).
The technical transition is proving difficult. The MiG-21s required manual maintenance, with parts sourced from Russia until 2022. The Rafales, on the other hand, rely on a European supply chain: NATO standard JP-8 fuel and automated diagnostics via the Thales system. Croatian mechanics, trained in Mérignac, now perform inspections every 200 flight hours, compared to 100 for the MiGs. This qualitative leap reduces downtime by 30% and brings the availability rate to 75%. By July 2025, the fleet will have accumulated 2,500 collective flight hours, 40% of which will be in simulated air-to-ground missions with AASM Hammer bombs.
The technical prowess of the Rafale F3-R at the service of the HRZ
The Rafale F3-R stands out for its all-mission versatility. This twin-engine jet, powered by two Snecma M88-2 engines with 75 kN of thrust each (equivalent to 7,500 kgf), reaches 1,912 km/h at high altitude (Mach 1.8). Its maximum takeoff weight is close to 24.5 tons, with a combat radius of 1,850 kilometers in air-to-air configuration. At the heart of the system is the RBE2-AESA radar, an active electronically scanned array scanner from Thales, covering 200 kilometers in air-to-air mode and integrating SAR mapping for ground reconnaissance.
The HRZ makes full use of SPECTRA, a passive-active electronic warfare system that detects radar threats at 250 kilometers and deploys infrared decoys. During an exercise in May 2025, a Croatian Rafale simulated penetration into a contested environment, jamming a fictitious transmitter at 150 kilometers without being detected. The avionics merge data from four sensors: radar, front-sector optronic IRST (laser detection at 100 km), the Reco NG pod for reconnaissance, and the NATO Link 16 data link system. The pilot views everything on a single multifunction screen, reducing cognitive load by 40% compared to MiGs.
In terms of armament, the HRZ equips its Rafales with Mica EM/IR missiles (range 80 km) for close combat and Meteor missiles (150 km) for long-range air-to-air combat. In air-to-ground combat, SCALP-EG (560 km) and AASM (70 km accuracy) missiles transform the aircraft into a strategic bomber. A concrete example: in February 2025, two Rafale Bs (two-seaters, serial numbers 156 and 170) carried out a simulated attack on a maritime target in the Adriatic, dropping decoys to fool fictitious SAM defenses. The composite airframe (70% of the structural weight) ensures a radar signature reduced by 50% compared to MiGs, with a ferry range of 9 hours (3,700 km).
Logistical integration is based on a Dassault simulator in Zagreb, replicating 95% of real-life scenarios. Operating costs amount to €16,500 per flight hour, compared to €10,000 for MiGs, but this is justified by a fivefold increase in efficiency. In October 2025, the fleet demonstrated its robustness during a QRA alert: two Rafales took off in 6 minutes, intercepting a simulated intruder 200 km off the Dalmatian coast.
Intensive training and ramp-up of crews
Operational success depends on highly trained personnel. Starting in 2022, twelve Croatian pilots will join Saint-Dizier for 200 hours of training on the Rafale, including 50 solo sorties. A squadron commander explains: “Switching from the MiG-21, an analog aircraft, to the Rafale, a supercomputer, requires a complete re-education.” The two-seater B aircraft are primarily used for tactical conversion, with dual instructor-student missions.
The 80 technicians are undergoing a six-month training course in Mérignac covering avionics, propulsion, and weapons maintenance. In 2024, 60% of them will be certified to perform first-level inspections. The summer of 2025 sees an acceleration: 1,200 collective flight hours, including 300 in tandem with the Italian Air Force. An exercise in March 2025 pits Croatian Rafales against Italian F-16s, validating real-time data exchanges via Link 16.
This ramp-up culminates in October: pilots perform a series of simulated QRAs, achieving a 98% success rate. The HRZ also incorporates European procedures, such as in-flight refueling with the French A330 MRTT Phénix during Pégase 25 in April 2025. These training exercises forged cohesion: the crews, from Squadron 191, now operate without external supervision, with two Rafales on alert 24/7.
Enhanced interoperability within European forces
Croatian Rafales catalyze NATO synergy. Aligned with allied standards, they participate in Air Shielding missions, patrolling over Romania and Bulgaria. In November 2024, the MORANE exercise deploys three French Rafales to Zagreb, simulating a resilient diversion: refueling by C-130J and redeployment in 4 hours, with shared fuel tanks.
This project, under the auspices of NATO Agile Combat Employment, disperses forces to survive hypersonic strikes. The Rafale HRZ trains with the Greek Eurofighter and the Dutch F-35, via the CSP’s ECOWAR program. In May 2025, a joint mission with Spain and Romania validates the MAMBA system for multi-nation data fusion. Croatia, the only Rafale operator in the Balkans, is paving the way for Serbia, which is negotiating for 12 new F4s.
This interoperability transcends hardware: exchanges of pilots and doctrines, as in Pégase 25, where Croatian and French Rafales fly in formation with an A330 MRTT. The result: a 25% reduction in coalition response times, which is essential in the face of Russian threats in the Black Sea.
Lasting impact on exports and collective defense
Croatia’s success propels the Rafale to export icon status. With 507 orders worldwide, including 280 for export, Dassault recorded €6.2 billion in sales in 2024. Greece (24 aircraft), Indonesia (42), and India (36) follow, boosted by proven reliability in Libya and the Sahel. For Croatia, this Franco-European choice counterbalances the F-35’s hegemony, promoting continental sovereignty.
Economically, the contract injects €50 million in offsets: local maintenance and training. Geopolitically, it anchors the Balkans to NATO, with tripartite Croatia-Greece-France exercises. The HRZ, with its Rafale aircraft, now assumes 100% of its air policing, freeing up allies for the northern flank.
Outlook: a horizon of challenges and ambitions
Croatian Rafale aircraft are redrawing the balance of power in the Adriatic, but pose persistent challenges. The fleet, limited to twelve aircraft, requires strict rotation to avoid wear and tear: the target is 4,000 collective hours per year by 2030. Upgrades to F4, with the integration of loyal wingman drones, could cost €200 million, financed by the European Defense Fund.
Faced with Serbian-Bosnian tensions, Zagreb is considering reinforced maritime patrols, arming its Rafales with Exocet missiles for the Adriatic. Interoperability extends to the SCAF, where Croatia observes as a partner. Ultimately, these twin-engine jets are not just war machines: they embody the resilience of a nation that is trading in the chains of the past for wings turned toward a shared sky. This aerial maturity invites Europe to focus on agile coalitions, where every ally counts in countering the growing shadows. (1,248 words)
Sources
- Dassault Aviation: Press releases on the entry into service and technical specifications of the Rafale F3-R (2024).
- French Ministry of the Armed Forces: Reports on MORANE and NATO interoperability (November 2024).
- Wikipedia and GlobalMilitary.net: Chronology of deliveries and HRZ inventory (updated 2025) .
- Boursier.com and AeroMorning.com: Contract details and crew training (2024).
- Flight Global and The Aviationist: Analyses on MiG-21 replacement and performance (2025).
- Defense Industry Europe and Militarnyi: Exercises and IOC/FOC (2025).
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