ZAGREB, March 27, 2018 – Croatian Defence Minister Damir Krstičević told reporters on Wednesday that in the process of procurement of fighter jets Croatia was looking for a strategic partner that would provide it also with operational experience as well as the experience in maintaining the aircraft and in logistics, given the complexity of the procedure.
“We are about to switch from second-generation to fourth-generation aircraft,” the minister told reporters before a conference on business relations between the Croatian and Romanian defence industries, which was also to be attended by visiting Romanian Defence Minister Mihai-Viorel Fifor.
On the other hand, Croatia wants a strategic partner that will invest in the Croatian economy and create jobs, said Krstičević, noting that this would be a major step forward in terms of technology for the Croatian Army which would gain new knowledge, technology and young experts.
Asked if Croatia would buy used F-16 jets from Israel as has been reported by the media, Krstičević said that the Defence Council would hold a session on Tuesday evening at which one of the topics would be the adoption of a decision on the purchase of multipurpose fighter jets. Asked if the planes in question “are on their last legs”, Krstičević said that such a statement was made by only one pilot. “Ask other pilots, ask Ivica Ivandić which fled aboard a MiG from the JNA, ask him what he thinks.”
Krstičević did not say when the Defence Council would make its decision known, saying that the government wanted the army to be a guarantor of Croatia’s security and that the Air Force had an important role in that.
Asked if the entire process could have been more transparent and if he feared lawsuits by those who would lose the tender, Krstičević said that the process had been going on for a year and that offers had been submitted by “top countries with top products.”
Reporters also wanted to know if consultations with his Romanian counterpart on the F-16 jet had reinforced his confidence that that was the type of aircraft Croatia needs, to which the minister said that during the year-long process Croatia had consulted Romania, the Czech Republic and Hungary, and that the latter conveyed to Croatia its experience with Gripen planes.
“The expert team has examined all parameters in order to make a realistic decision… we have to take care of how much it will cost and of all the other challenges… such as education, health and agriculture,” said the minister.
Romanian Defence Minister Fifor, whose country bought 12 used F-16 jets manufactured in the 1980s, said that the Romanian army was very much satisfied with the aircraft and that it planned to buy another 36. The planes were upgraded by the Romanian company Aerostar, Fifor said, adding that this was the best choice they had.
Krstičević and his Romanian counterpart also discussed ways of strengthening the two countries’ defence cooperation, with Krstičević saying that Romania was interested in a Croatian-made rifle produced by the HS Produkt company.
Fifor, who arrived in Croatia for a reciprocal visit, was accompanied by a delegation of representatives of the Romanian defence industry. He said that Romania and Croatia had been working on establishing cooperation in the sale of Croatian-made weapons. We will test the weapons and, if they prove good for the Romanian army, we will start talks on technology transfer and industrial cooperation as the weapons are expected to be manufactured in Romania, said the Romanian minister.
Asked if the latest situation with the expulsion of a Russian diplomat would affect the agreement with Russian companies regarding the overhaul of helicopters, Krstičević said that the job had been agreed. “Terms of the contract are very precise for both sides… and I believe that everyone will stick to them,” said Krstičević.
