With national air-defence duties now temporarily handed over to Hungary and Italy, Croatia officially retires its MiG-21s (pictured) from service. (Croatian Ministry of Defence)
Hungary and Italy have temporarily taken on the air defence of Croatia while that country continues its transition from the MiG-21 ‘Fishbed' to the Dassault Rafale combat aircraft.
The Croatian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that Hungarian Air Force Saab Gripen C and Italian Air Force Eurofighter F-2000 jets will provide quick reaction alert (QRA) and air policing for Croatian airspace through to the end of 2025 or beginning of 2026.
“In order not to affect the training of [Croatian Air Force] pilots, Rafale aircraft temporarily do not form a combat duo on [QRA] duty. From 1 December air policing, a peacetime task of surveillance and protection of airspace, will temporarily … be performed from the airbases of neighbouring allied countries Italy and Hungary,” the MoD said.
As noted in the announcement, this air-defence cover will be provided free of charge under the auspices of NATO's wider air-policing missions. The commencement of the agreement marks the official retirement of the MiG-21 from Croatian service.
News of the temporary transfer of authority for Croatian air defence to Hungary and Italy came eight months after the Rafale was officially inducted into national service in April, with the first six of 12 Rafales being formally received by the Croatian Air Force. The 12 surplus AAE Rafale aircraft comprise 10 single-seaters and two twin-seaters at the F3-R standard, with deliveries to run through to mid-2025.
For more information on the Croatian Air Force, please seeCroatia – Air Force .
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