France accelerates Rafale deliveries: Croatia nears full fleet
France has delivered almost all the ordered used Rafale aircraft to Croatia. We present the purchase background and the performance of the delivered planes.
As reported by " Hrvatski vojnik, " France has handed over almost all the ordered Rafale fighters to Croatia. Only one aircraft is missing from the full squadron of 12. The deliveries are part of a contract from November 2021 covering 12 Rafale F3-R fighters.
The contract included the delivery of 10 single-seat and 2 two-seat used aircraft, along with accompanying equipment, spare parts, and a training package. The decision to purchase the planes was made on May 28, 2021, and the oldest transferred aircraft is 10 years old. The first two-seat fighter arrived in Croatia on October 2, 2023 at 10:00 AM ET, and by November 2023, Croatia had three fighters.
Initially, the plan was to deliver the first six aircraft in 2024 and the rest in 2025, but the schedule was accelerated. The seventh fighter arrived in November 2024 at 9:00 AM ET, and the eighth a month later at 11:00 AM ET. Meanwhile, the 11th arrived on March 20, 2025 at 8:00 AM ET, which means that the 191st Squadron of the 91st Wing of the Croatian Air Force almost has all its aircraft.
Rafale aircraft: Modernity and versatility
The Rafale is a multirole fighter produced by the French company Dassault Aviation. Its design began in the 1980s, and the result of those efforts entered service in 2001. The Rafale is available in three variants: the single-seat Rafale C, the two-seat Rafale B, and the carrier-based Rafale M.
Thanks to its delta wing design with canard control surfaces and two engines, the Rafale is highly maneuverable and capable of supersonic flight without afterburners.
The Rafale can carry over 9,000 kilograms of armament, including advanced long-range air-to-air missiles Meteor, short/medium-range air-to-air missiles MICA (variants radar-guided RF or heat-seeking IIR), anti-ship AM 39 Exocet, cruise missiles Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG, guided bombs AASM Hammer, and ASMP-A with a thermonuclear warhead.
The Rafale is currently gaining significant international interest. India has decided to purchase 26 naval versions to replace the Russian MiG-29K, which will complement the 36 land-based machines. In addition, countries like Serbia and Saudi Arabia, which are considering buying 100-200 Rafale aircraft, are also showing interest in these planes.
