ZAGREB, August 3, 2018 – The landing in Croatia of the F-16 Barak fighter jets which will fly over Knin on Victory Day on Sunday confirms the military partnership with Israel and that the strategic decision to procure Israeli fighter jets was the right one, it was said on Thursday at Pleso military air base when top Croatian political and military leaders welcomed representatives of Israel’s Air Force.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said procuring the F-16 Barak to modernise Croatia’s Air Force was “an excellent move for the security of the Croatian state and Croatian sky as well as for bolstering us as a state which hasn’t renounced its Air Force but chose the path of a strong ally in NATO, to be acknowledged when it comes to defence, security and military cooperation.” Croatia has confirmed that by participating in many international missions, he added.
Defence Minister Damir Krstičević said the procurement of the F-16 was a big technological step forward additionally bolstering Croatia’s defence capabilities. When they arrive in Croatia in 2020, the jets will be called Flash and Storm, he added, after two military operations from 1995.
Armed Forces Chief-Of-Staff General Mirko Šundov said Croatia had retained the capability of the Air Force, ensuring the surveillance of the national air space. “This is a big step in the modernisation of the Croatian army.”
Israeli Ambassador Zina Kalay Kleitman said this was only the beginning of cooperation and partnership between the two countries, confident the cooperation would be to mutual benefit and satisfaction.
The Israeli military envoy in Croatia, Brigadier Harel Teggar, too said this was only the beginning and that he was looking forward to new challenges and cooperation.
The jets were welcomed into Croatian airspace by a Croatian Air Force MiG-21 and accompanied to Pleso.
In late March, the government adopted a decision for the procurement of 12 F-16 C/D Barak fighter jets from Israel. The procurement is valued at 2.9 billion kuna.
