Croatian Air Force chooses French Dassault Rafale F3R fighters

The protracted Croatian tender for new fighters has finally come to its logical conclusion, Zagreb has decided on the replacement of the Soviet MiG-21 bis fighters. According to local media reports, the choice of the Croats fell on the French Dassault Rafale fighters.

The Croatian government declared France the winner of the tender for the supply of fighters for the republic's air force and intends to enter into pre-contract negotiations with the French. In the final round, France with Dassault Rafale fighters overtook the USA with F-16V Block 70/72 fighters.

According to preliminary information, the Croats want to buy 12 Rafale fighters from the French Air Force. All aircraft must be modified to F3R standard and not older than 10 years. If the contract is signed, the fighters will be delivered in 2024 and 2025.

The cost of the contract, which, in addition to the aircraft themselves, will include training, weapons and various equipment, "just under $ 1 billion."

Recall that Croatia announced the first tender for the replacement of the Soviet-made MiG-21 bis in 2017. As a result, Israel won in 2018, offering for $ 500 million to supply 12 F-16 Barak fighters from the Air Force, two simulators and pilot training services. However, the deal was blocked by the United States, which also participated in the tender for the new F-16V Block 70/72 fighters).

After that, a second tender was announced and by November last year, the United States (F-16V Block 70/72 new construction), Israel (modernized F-16C / D Block 30 out of stock), France (Rafale F3R out of stock) and Sweden (JAS-39C / D Gripen new build). The Americans and the French reached the final, but the latter were more fortunate and now the Croats are planning to fly on the Dassault Rafale.

Comments

[credo]

Everyone is armed as if they are preparing for a big mess.
Is it boring to live without war even in the south of Europe?

[alexmach]

Croats want to buy 12 Rafale fighters from the French Air Force. All aircraft must be modified to F3R standard and not older than 10 years.

I wonder why they are selling practically new aircraft?

[credo]

Quote: alexmach

Croats want to buy 12 Rafale fighters from the French Air Force. All aircraft must be modified to F3R standard and not older than 10 years.

I wonder why they are selling practically new aircraft?

For example, in order to gain a foothold in this way on the Croatian arms market and then supplement the order with its other products.

[knn54]

Why didn't the Eurofighter Typhoon participate?

[Graz]

he seems to be not particularly quoted heard there a small flight range. for the Croats, it seems to me that more flu would be suitable, another question may the French sell it cheaper, although if you remember that they swallowed Rafali for the Indians at an exorbitant price, questions arise

[figwam]

Quote: Graz

I heard there a small flight range

It has a normal combat radius, and Croatia itself is small.

[smoltish]

Raphael has a longer range than Gripen's C / D modification. Gripen's E / F has completely different indicators, comparable to Rafal, but he was not offered to the Croats.

[tralflot1832]

Outstripped, also wondering why the Typhoon flew by, and so the French flooded! India, Greece and now Croatia.

[NIKN]

Yes, the passivity of the Yankees in relation to the French is surprising, no sanctions for you, or even indignation, Israel was besieged at once :))

[voyaka uh]

Israel is selling its 200 F-16s as the F-35 arrives.
Israeli F-16 aircraft are very sophisticated in the sense of avionics, but the fatigue of the fuselages, I think, is extreme. In Israel, they were chased in many hundreds of combat sorties loaded with bombs like donkeys.
The Rafalei, I suspect, had a more comfortable life.

[Lt. Air Force stock]

Quote: voyaka uh

Israel is selling its 200 F-16s as the F-35 arrives.
Israeli F-16 aircraft are very sophisticated in the sense of avionics, but the fatigue of the fuselages, I think, is extreme. In Israel, they were chased in many hundreds of combat sorties loaded with bombs like donkeys.
The Rafalei, I suspect, had a more comfortable life.

The United States seems to be extending the service life of its F-16s, changing wings, etc. That is, if you want, you can further increase the resource.

[smoltish]

It seems that the article clearly and in Russian says who and with what aircraft participated. If you have any other information about the participation of Eurofighter, then give it, everyone will be interested. And so a very strange question.

[Ratmir_Ryazan]

Croatians wanted to buy something modern, but inexpensive and used.

One squadron is enough for them to have at least something to protect their airspace.

But it did not reach the United States, or they thought that the Croats would fulfill any of their demands.

We could have supplied a used F-16 ourselves.

[TermNachTer]

The main thing is that the "rafali" would be repaired differently than the "flashes" at the Odessa ARZ. After repair, they could not take off)))

[outsider]

Quote: alexmach

Croats want to buy 12 Rafale fighters from the French Air Force. All aircraft must be modified to F3R standard and not older than 10 years.

I wonder why they are selling practically new aircraft?

- To buy even newer for yourself ...

[zwlad]

It would be more logical to take the new F-16s. But as they say, the owner is a master. Looks like the French give credit for this case.

[OgnennyiKotik]

It depends on what kind of logic. If you need a multi-role air superiority fighter, Rafal and EF are the best options among the 4th generation. If there is no permission to buy the F-35

[Synoid]

Interesting information on the tender.
Israel and France are transferring aircraft from the Air Force.
Okay Israel, it is possible to replace the F-35 and the F-16 are redundant, but why is Rafali withdrawing from France?

[Ovsigovets]

what's enough for pennies