Military of Croatia
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| Armed forces of the Republic of Croatia Oružane snage Republike Hrvatske |
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 Croatian Armed Forces emblem |
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| Service branches | Croatian Army Croatian Navy Croatian Air Force and Defense |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | President Stjepan Mesić |
| Defence Minister | Branko Vukelić |
| Chief of staff | General Josip Lucić |
| Military age | 18 years of age (voluntary) |
| Conscription | Abolished in 2008 |
| Available for military service |
1,081,135 (2005 est.), age 15–49 |
| Fit for military service |
856,946 (2005 est.), age 15–49 |
| Reaching military age annually |
132,500 (2000 est.) |
| Active personnel | 130,200, (ranked 100th) Army: 10550 Navy: 1850 personal, Air Force: 2000 personal, Other military personal: 2800, Civilians: 4000, Reserves: 12000. |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | 1.14 billion USD (€755 million) |
| Percent of GDP | 1.80% (2008) |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers | Đuro Đaković (armored vehicles) HS Produkt (small arms) |
| Foreign suppliers |  Sweden Switzerland Italy Finland Russia United States |
| Related articles | |
| History | Croatian War of Independence War in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Ranks | Croatian military ranks |
Croatian military is officially called Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Croatian: Oružane snage Republike Hrvatske) and it consists of these branches:
- Croatian Army (Hrvatska kopnena vojska)
- Croatian Navy (Hrvatska ratna mornarica)
- Croatian Air Force and Defense (Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo i protuzračna obrana)
Total active duty members of the armed forces (professional army) number is 125,000.
Reserves number 132,000 of which 12 000 are on first state of alert. Available males aged 16-49 number 1,081,135, of which 856,946 are technically fit for military service.
Male citizens are not subject to compulsory military service starting January 1, 2008. However, the last generation of 2007 servicemen was also spared of compulsory service by an act from then Minister of Defense Berislav Rončević. [1]
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[edit] Budget
The Croatian military budget for the past 4-5 years was kept below 2% of GDP; the same can't be said for 90's when defense expenditure represented major stake in Croatian Budgetary expenditure. For example, 1995 Croatian defense budget stood at 12.4billion Croatian Kuna or just over 12% of GDP, which was also highest defense expenditure ever.
Defense Expenditures in recent years (example years - source Croatian MOD);
- 2005: 3.8 billion Croatian Kuna (608 million USD) - 1.64% of GDP (GDP - 231.3 billion HRK)
- 2006: 4.2 billion Croatian Kuna (755 million USD) - 1.67% of GDP (GDP - 250.6 billion HRK)
- 2007: 4.6 billion Croatian Kuna (855 million USD) - 1.69% of GDP (GDP - 275.5 billion HRK)*
- 2008: 5.4 billion Croatian Kuna (1140 million USD) - 1.83% of GDP (GDP - 305.5 billion HRK)*
- 2009: 6.5 billion Croatian Kuna (1370 million USD) - 1.85% of GDP (projected)
- 2010: 7.5 billion Croatian Kuna (1560 million USD) - 2.00% of GDP (projected)
- 2015:~12.5 billion Croatian Kuna (2400 million USD) - 2.00% of GDP (projected)
*(Defense expenditure does not include extra budgetary funds, liabilities, loans or major procurement programs which are financed directly from the national central budget - Ministry of finance; example procurement of Patria AMV, new Canadairs or new warships).
In 2008 Croatia agreed or is in process of agreeing large defense procurement packages, 10+2 multi-role fighters, 4 corvettes, 10 smaller 40m gunboats/patrol boats from the local shipbuilder, new assault riffles, new uniforms, additional Iveco LMV multi role vehicles and additional procurement programs. In all Croatia plans to agree in excess of 1.5 billion Euros of new armaments in 2008 alone.
The increase in spending is being attributed to the fact that Croatia has introduced an all professional army and also because Croatia is about to join NATO. Primary goals are to replace obsolete Yugoslav/Soviet era weapons which are no longer compatible with the new defense doctrine.
* Estimated Croatian GDP for 2007 stands at 275.5 billion Kuna, however Croatia experienced high rate of economic growth in 2007 and therefore GDP might hit 280-285 billion kuna.
* Estimated GDP for 2008 at the moment stands at 305.5 billion Kuna based on early Budgetary draft. Source, Croatian Ministry of Finance and Croatian National Bank's Quarterly Bulletin
[edit] Defense Reforms
Croatian Government implemented series of defense reforms with several important goals.
- Plans to reduce the number of servicemen and non-combat personnel;
- Plans to cut army from current 16000 personal to 12500 personal
- Plans to cut the number of Air Force personal to 2000 from current 2700
- Plans to cut the number of Naval personal to around 1800, (implemented)
- Reserve status personal to be cut from 32000 to 12000 by 2010.
- Introduction of professional and voluntary service (implemented)
Force 2010:
- Croatian Army:10500 + 2000 volunteers, total of 12500
- Croatian Navy:2000
- Croatian Air Force:2000
- Support/Logistics/Special Forces and HQ:3500
- Total active military personal:20000
- Civilians:2000
- Reserves:10000
- Total Armed Forces: 32000
[edit] Commander
The Commander-in-Chief of all Croatian armed forces in peace and war is the President of the Republic. The Commander-in-Chief prescribes the organization of the Croatian Armed Forces at the proposal of the Chief of General Staff, with consent of the Minister of Defense.
The Armed Forces consist of peacetime and wartime component. The peacetime component is composed of active military officers, civil servants and employees in the Croatian Armed Forces, cadets, and conscripts serving a 6-month national service and reservists when on military exercise. The wartime component of the Armed Forces is additionally composed of all other reservists.
The General Staff is part of the Ministry of Defense in charge of commanding, training and use of the Armed Forces. It also has a number of units under its direct command, including the Special Operations Battalion, Honor Guard Battalion and several others.
In peace, the Commander-in-Chief exercises his command through the Minister of Defense. In war and in cases where the Minister of Defense is not fulfilling orders, the Commander-in-Chief exercises his command directly through the General Staff Commander.
The Croatian Parliament exercises democratic control over the Armed Forces by adopting defense strategy, defense budget and defense laws.
[edit] Special Forces and Honor Guard Command
Special Operations Battalion (Croatian: Bojna za specijalna djelovanja) (300 men) was founded on September 8th, 2000 with merging of the Special Combat Skills Center and some personnel from the 1st Croatian Guard Corps (1. H. G. Zdrug). Today, it is one of the most elite units of the Croatian military, as well as being one of the best trained and equipped special forces units in the region. [2]
The Croatian General Staff exercises direct command over the battalion which thus elevated the unit to strategic level for quicker reaction and overall better and faster tactical and strategic situations. Also, this means that members of all three branches of the Croatian armed forces can apply for selection.
This is special forces unit and therefore little is known about the units operations, but currently 2 squads (16-20 men) of Special Forces are deployed with the ISAF in Afghanistan.
There are three additional units which fall under special forces command, 350th ELINT* battalion (about 200-250 men) and ATVP Anti-terrorist Police Company ATJ Lučko (150-200 men) based at Lučko near Zagreb.
Units that form part of Special forces Command:
- Special Operations Battalion (SOB) or Bojna za Specijalna Djelovanja (BSD)(300 men)
- 350. Military Intelligence Battalion or 350. Vojno-obavještajna bojna (200-250 men)
- ATVP - Anti-teroristička jedinica Vojne policije or Counter-terrorist Unit of Military Police (250 men)
- Počasno zaštitna bojna or Honor Guard (300 men) [3]
[edit] Projects
Government plan's to substantially modernize Armed Forces at a cost of 4.0 billion USD (2007-2015). Modernization calls for complete revamp of the armed forces so it can face challenges of the 21st century.
Proposed Defense Programs and updates/upgrades:
Army:
- Procurement of 126 Patria AMV 8x8 Modular APC/IFV - 850 million Kuna (additional 120-150 vehicles might be ordered after 2010 once more funds become available, Croatia needs approximately 250-280 Patrias in various configurations)
- Procurement of 80 Iveco light Multi Role Vehicles(LMV)at cost of 220 million Kuna. Additional 200-250 vehicles are being considered for needs of the army.
- Procurement of Advanced Artillery systems, 18x 155mm Self Propelled Howitzers are to be procured before 2015 to replace obsolete 2S1 self-propelled howitzers. Program is on the back burner as there are more important defense programs and procurement of new howitzers might need to be postponed for few years. Swedish Bofors Archer System and German PzH2000 are most likely candidates for this program. Cost of program - 1.2 billion Kuna.
- Procurement of 550 5-ton army trucks, 200 7.5-ton military trucks and 300 4WD vehicles - program is in a full swing and first batch of [MAN]] (150), Mercedes (30) and Iveco (50) military trucks was delivered. Croatian Army also ordered large numbers of new 4WD vehicles, Mercedes-Benz G-Class - 120, Land Rover Wolf - 60, Toyota Land Cruiser - 50, Nissan Navara - 50, got delivered in 2005-2007. Cost of program - 570-580 million Kuna.
- Modernization of M-84A and M-84A4 Snajper MBTs and upgrade to M-84D and M-95 Degman standard. Program calls for an upgrade and modernization of 75 existing tanks and procurement of additional 29 new tanks over next 4 years due to a plan which requires Croatia to operate at least 104 modern tanks before 2015. Cost of program - 850 million Kuna.
- Introduction of new 5.56mm NATO standard Assault rifle, Croatian MOD is talking to local arms supplier and testing of new assault rifle is ongoing. Cost of program - 400 million kuna (50 000 rifles with day/night sights and grenade launchers)
- Scores of smaller programs, communication equipment, night vision capability, electronic sensors, NBC equipment, battlefield management systems and modernization of Artillery systems with new sights and electronic fire control systems.
Air Force
- Procurement of 10-14 Mi-171Sh transport helicopters and all associated spare parts and equipment. Helicopters are equipped up to a NATO standards with mostly western avionics. Cost of Program - 380 million Croatian Kuna, paid for in form of Russian debt to Croatia.
- Procurement of 8 Zlin 242L basic trainers, program is almost at the end as first 5 aircraft were delivered in late 2007 and remaining 3 are to be delivered in 2008. Cost of program - 22 million Croatian Kuna.
- Procurement of Advanced short to medium range NATO SAM systems and modernization of existing Russian-made Igla SAMs. Croatia needs 12 Short to medium range SAM batteries (Radar/command vehicles + 2 luncher vehicles). Cost of program - 700-850 million Croatian Kuna.
- Procurement of modern jet fighters, Croatia plans to modernize its air force with the introduction of 10+2 multirole fighters. In the competition are JAS 39 Gripen C/D, EF2000 Typhoon, Mirage F1, MiG-35 and F-16 C/D Block 52+. Previous option of modernized F-16 Block 40 was rejected and is no longer an option. Mirage F1 is also not serious a contender as it is a relatively obsolete fighter and does not fulfill Croatian AF requirements. Cost of program - 5000 million Croatian Kuna.
- Modern Radar network. New modern Radar network was put in to use in 2007 - AN/FPS-117 Radar network consisting of 5 radar stations across Croatia. Cost of program - 1800 million Croatian Kuna, program was initiated in 1998 and paid for by Croatian MOD in 1999.
- Procurement of 2 additional Canadair CL-415 fire bombers and 3 Air Tractor AT-802 - cost of program - 450 million Croatian Kuna. It has to be noted that this procurement wasn't planned and money was acquired from a surplus in the national budget.
- Additional programs are also being considered, additional utility, ASW, SAR and Police helicopters as well as few medium transport aircraft for the needs of several peacekeeping operations.
Navy:
Navy plans are still being worked on but present plans call for a medium expansion of the naval force.
- 2 Helsinki class - fast attack crafts are entering service in 2008. They were bought from Finland. Cost of program 45 million Croatian Kuna
- 9-12 new patrol boats, locally built, 35-45 meters in length. Cost of program 500 million Croatian Kuna
- 4 new corvettes - 80-120 meters in length. Cost of program 3000 million Croatian Kuna
- 2 Göteborg class corvette - HMS Kalmar K23 and HMS Sundsvall K24, are to join Croatian Navy if Croatia agrees on JAS-39 Gripen purchase. Program is a donation.[4]
- Modernization of existing 2 King class fast attack crafts, new engines, sensors and close-in weapon systems- RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile. Cost of program - 250 million Croatian Kuna
- Purchase of several more Korcula class mine hunters and additional support ships. - Ongoing program which eventually could see 10-12 new ships of wearying size and role. No cost details as of yet.
- Upgrading RBS-15 Missiles to latest standard. - Cost of program - 120 million Croatian Kuna
Questionable programs:
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- M-84D upgrade program - Issue was raised as to the viability of M84D program and if it is something Croatian MOD should finance. Issue was raised due to Croatian NATO orientation and the fact that upgrading essentially what is an obsolete Russian tank to the latest NATO standards would demand financial resources which Croatia currently doesn't have. The tank would essentially require substantial spendings to bring M-84A4 to the M84D standards (in excess of 1.2 billion Croatian Kuna).
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- BVP M-80A - Program is at the standstill and might no longer receive any upgrades, Croatian MOD stated, that it will replace its M80's with the modern western IFV when funds become available. Most likely contender for this program is Patria AMV in IFV configuration.
[edit] International Cooperation
As Croatia is about to join NATO and European Union, the Croatian Armed Forces participate in many (military) aspects of both organizations as well as actively particpate in many UN peacekeeping operations worldwide.
| Current Mission | Organization | Country | Nr. of personnel |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan UNMOGIP | United Nations | India and Pakistan | 7 |
| International Security Assistance Force - ISAF | NATO | Afghanistan | 328 |
| United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara MINURSO | United Nations | Western Sahara | 3 |
| United Nations Mission in Liberia - UNMIL | United Nations | Liberia | 3 |
| United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea - UNMEE | United Nations | Ethiopia and Eritrea | 7 |
| United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone - UNAMSIL | United Nations | Sierra Leone | 10 |
| United Nations Disengagement Observer Force - UNDOF | United Nations | Golan Heights - Syria and Israel | 95 |
| United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire UNOCI | United Nations | Côte d'Ivoire | 3 |
| United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti MINUSTAH | United Nations | Haiti | 3 |
| United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus UNFICYP | United Nations | Cyprus | 3 |
| Former Mission | Operation | Country | Organization | Nr. of personnel | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Nations Observer Mission in GeorgiaUNOMIG | United Nations | Georgia | 3 | ||
| United Nations Mission of Support in East TimorUNMISET | United Nations | East Timor | 3 |
| International military exercises | Country | Organization | Nr. of personnel | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noble Midas 2007 | 9000 | 2007 |
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Croatian Armed Forces Official website
- Croatian Forces International Volunteers Association official website
- [5] - Defense planing and procurement.
- [6] - long term planing and long term defense strategy
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