France nears completion of Rafale jet delivery to Croatia
France has delivered nearly all the ordered used Rafale aircraft to Croatia. Here, we delve into the background of this purchase and the capabilities of the delivered aircraft.
According to "Hrvatski vojnik", France has handed over almost all the ordered Rafale fighters to Croatia. Only one aircraft is missing from completing the full squadron of 12. The deliveries are part of a contract from November 2021, which includes 12 Rafale F3-R fighters.
The contract specified 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 proceed with this purchase was made on May 28, 2021, and the oldest aircraft transferred is 10 years old. The first two-seat fighter arrived in Croatia on October 2, 2023, and by November 2023, Croatia had received three fighters.
Initially, the plan was to deliver the first six aircraft by 2024 and the remainder by 2025, but the schedule was accelerated. The seventh fighter arrived in November 2024, with the eighth following a month later. The 11th aircraft arrived on March 20, 2025, nearly completing the fleet for the 191st Squadron of the 91st Wing of the Croatian Air Force.
Rafale aircraft: Modernity and versatility
The Rafale is a multirole fighter produced by the French company Dassault Aviation. Its development began in the 1980s, culminating in its entry into 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.
With its delta wing design featuring canard control surfaces and dual engines, the Rafale is highly maneuverable and capable of supersonic flight without afterburners.
The Rafale can carry over 20,000 pounds of weaponry, including advanced long-range air-to-air missiles like the Meteor, short/medium-range air-to-air missiles like the MICA (available in radar-guided RF or heat-seeking IIR variants), anti-ship AM 39-Exocet, cruise missiles like Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG, guided bombs like the AASM Hammer, and the ASMP-A missile with a thermonuclear warhead.
Currently, the Rafale is drawing significant international interest. India has decided to purchase 26 naval versions to replace the Russian MiG-29K, which will complement their 36 land-based units. Additionally, countries like Serbia and Saudi Arabia, which is reportedly considering acquiring 100 to 200 Rafale aircraft, are showing keen interest in these planes.
