France nears completion of Rafale jet deliveries to Croatia
France has delivered nearly all the second-hand Rafale aircraft ordered by Croatia. Herein, we outline the background of the purchase and the performance of the delivered aircraft.
France has handed over nearly all the ordered Rafale fighters to Croatia, as reported by "Hrvatski vojnik". Just one aircraft is still to be delivered from the full squadron of twelve. These deliveries are being executed under a contract from November 2021, which covers twelve Rafale F3-R fighters.
The contract specified the delivery of ten single-seat and two two-seat used aircraft, along with accompanying equipment, spare parts, and a training package. The decision to purchase was made on 28th May 2021, and the oldest aircraft transferred is 10 years old. The first two-seat fighter arrived in Croatia on 2nd October 2023, and by November 2023, Croatia had received three fighters.
Initially, the plan was to deliver the first six aircraft in 2024 and the remainder in 2025, but the schedule was expedited. The seventh fighter arrived in November 2024, and the eighth followed a month later. Subsequently, the eleventh plane arrived on 20th March 2025, meaning the 191st Squadron of the 91st Wing of the Croatian Air Force is close to being fully equipped.
Rafale aircraft: Modernity and versatility
The Rafale is a multi-role fighter produced by the French company Dassault Aviation. Its design commenced in the 1980s, and the resulting model 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 its twin engines, the Rafale is highly manoeuvrable and capable of supersonic flight without using afterburners.
The Rafale can carry over 9,000 kilograms of armament, including advanced long-range air-to-air missiles such as Meteor, short/medium-range MICA missiles (available in radar-guided RF or heat-seeking IIR versions), anti-ship AM 39-Exocet missiles, Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles, guided bombs AASM Hammer, and ASMP-A equipped with a thermonuclear warhead.
Currently, the Rafale is attracting significant international interest. India has decided to purchase 26 naval versions to replace the Russian MiG-29K, which will supplement the 36 land-based aircraft they already operate. Additionally, countries such as Serbia and Saudi Arabia, which is considering purchasing as many as 100-200 Rafale planes, are also showing interest in the aircraft.
