Croatian Air Force and Defense

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Croatian Air Force and Defense (Croatian: Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo i protuzračna obrana) is a branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.

Croatian Air Force and Air Defence aim is securing sovereignty of the air space of the Republic of Croatia and providing air support to other services in implementation of their tasks in joint operations. It is a proponent and organizer of the Croatian air defence integrated system. This double role of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence is realized with the following main tasks:

• Inspection and control of the air space security
• Predominance in Croatian air space, over land and sea, with defence and attacks
• Providing help in natural, humanitarian and technological disasters
• Search and rescue operations
• Support to control of the proliferation of people and material goods

Basic structure:

• Air Force Command
• Staff Service Support
• 91st Airbase
• 92nd Airbase
• 93rd Airbase
• 95th Airbase
• 218th Air Surveillance Brigade
• 205th Air Defense Brigade
• 74th Military Police Battalion
• 25th Mixed Elint Battalion
• 279th Signal Battalion
• 313th Logistic Brigade
• Air Force Education and Training Command
• Air Force Medicine Institute
• 42nd Engineer Battalion

As seen in the August 5, 2005 military parade, the Croatian Air Force is currently comprised of 108 operational aircraft, ranging from interceptors and fighter jets to cargo planes and different types of helicopters.

Contents 1 Current status 2 Aircraft inventory 3 On Order 4 Future plans 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Current status

In 2006 Croatian Air Force was considered to be the most combat-capable (not the biggest) of all ex-Yugoslav air forces. It is compromised of 12 modernized MiG-21 bisD/UMD fighters which were sent to an overhaul in 2003 and returned to service a year later for a cost of 8.5 million USD. Today they are believed to be in good condition and pilots get more flight-hours than ever before. Some 15 older MiG-21s are kept for spare parts and as a reserve.

In 2003 and 2004 a major part of the transport fleet was sent to Russia and Ukraine for an overhaul and light upgrading including 10 Mi-8 MTV-1 and 2 An-32B.

In 2006 Croatia made a deal to acquire 10 new Mi-171 attack-cargo helicopters as compensation for the Russian debt to Yugoslavia which Croatia partly inherited. The contract is worth 65 million USD. However, the new aircraft will be equipped mostly with Western technology.

Sometime before the 2005 airshow in Knin, the Croatian Air Force aerobatic group Krila oluje (Wings of Storm) were formed. It includes 5+1 Pilatus PC-9M turboprop trainers. Captain Dijana Doboš is one of only 4 female pilots in the world that are members of a national military aerobatic group.

A few months toward the end of 2006, 7 Mi-24 were offered for sale at a price of 80,000 USD each due to their poor overall state. Croatia concluded that these helicopters were not worth upgrading and thus have been retired. Only 2 units will be kept, one of them sent to a museum and the other used as a ground-trainer. Their full replacement isn't considered yet but some tasks will be taken over by new Mi-171s.

The Croatian Minister of Defense said that the overall readiness of the air force has been much improved in the past few years as a result of constant modernization which made possible that over 90% of all aircraft were airworthy at any given time in 2006.

Government plans to modernize the entire Armed Forces at a cost of 2.7 billion USD. Modernization calls for procurement of new fighters, new naval helicopters, new transport helicopters, 4 state-of-the-art stealth corvettes Gowind 200, 4 Gothenburg Class Gunboats Sweden offered as apart of a JAS-39 deal, 126 armored personal carriers Patria 8x8 (more are considered) and modernization of M-84A Main Battle Tanks. Although procurement of 108 Leopard 2 A4 tanks could still be an option.

[edit] Aircraft inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[1]	Notes
Antonov An-32	Soviet Union	tactical transport	An-32B	2	modernized
Bell 206	United States	utility helicopter	206B-3	14
Canadair CL-215	Canada	firefighting		returned in part exchange for CL-415
Canadair CL-415	Canada	firefighting		4
Mikoyan MiG-21	Soviet Union	fighter trainer	MiG-21bisD MiG-21UMD	8 4	modernized
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	transport helicopter	Mi-8MTV-1 Mi-171Sh	15	modernized delivery of 10 new helicopters underway
Pilatus PC-9	Switzerland	trainer	PC-9M PC-9	17 3	of 22 delivered
Piper PA-31	United States	utility		1 RETIRED

Other aircraft reported in recent Croatian service include:

• 11 Utva 75 - being replaced by Zlin 242L
• 1 Air Tractor AT-802F (firefighting)
• 3 Augusta-Bell 212 (police)
• 1 CL-600 Challenger (VIP)
• 2 Dornier Do 28

[edit] On Order

• 10x Mi-171Sh to enter service in 2007 and 2008
• 14x JAS 39 Gripen or F-16 Block 40+ - entry service - before 2012
• 8x Zlin 242L basic trainers (2 were already delivered)
• 8-12 NHI NH90 or Eurocopter Eurocopter Panther Naval helicopters,(naval helicopters for 4 new frigates ordered by Croatian Navy and 4-8 for Maritime/ASW/SAR Patrol) - before 2010.
• 3-5 CASA C-295 or Lockheed C-130 Hercules Medium transport aircraft primarily for peacekeeping operations.
• 5-8 Bell 412/NHI NH90 Utility helicopters for and transport/logistics duties - sometime before 2012.

[edit] Future plans

• In 2006 Croatia officially declared its intention to purchase 14 modern multi-role fighters sometimes before 2010. Older MiG-21s will be retired sometime before 2011 although they were overhauled to serve until 2013.

The two most talked about replacements for MiG-21s are second-hand F-16s (Block 40+) or new SAAB Gripens as a more desired option.

• The fleet of ageing Utva 75 basic trainers will be replaced by a new type, probably Zlin or Aermacchi SF-260 before 2008, 4 Zlin 242L aircrafts have already been ordered, and 2 were delivered last year plus 2 more to join in 2007.
• At least 3 more cargo aircraft will be bought before 2010 or sooner (probably C-130s)
• In late 2006, the Minister of Defense said that the number of new fighters might be raised to 14 aircraft meaning 10 single-seaters and 4 twin-seater
• New medium ASW helicopter is needed for Croatian Navy, Croatian Navy has no ASW role helicopter, currently ASW role is filled by ageing Mil Mi-8 helicopters which are ill equipped for such role. Croatia has needs for 8 to 12 ASW/SAR helicopters, 4-8 to serve on new Frigates/Corvettes Croatia is buying from France and 4 more helicopters are needed for SAR duties.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Croatian Air Force at YuAirWar
• Croatian Air Force by Dragan Kostadinov
• Croatian Air Force History
• Croatian Air Arms
• MiGs Over Croatia

Military of Croatia

Ground forces • Naval forces • Air and air defense forces

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