Croatia Plans to Modernize Military Equipment and May Transfer Old Gear to Ukraine.

Croatian authorities have decided to modernize the country's Armed Forces. According to the Vecernji list, old armored vehicles of Russian and Yugoslav production may be transferred to Ukraine. The long-term development plan for the Croatian Armed Forces until 2028 includes purchasing a significant amount of military equipment, such as infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, air defense systems, and self-propelled artillery systems.
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Croatian RAK-SA-12 MRL from the Madlerd company of Ukrainian border guards. April 2023. (Picture source: Office of The President of Ukraine)

In April, the first six of twelve Rafale fighter jets arrived in Croatia, and the squadron will be fully operational within a year. These acquisitions are historic for Croatia, marking the first time the country has invested €1.2 billion in military needs. By 2026, all 62 Bradley M2A2 ODS armored fighting vehicles will be repaired and upgraded at the Đura Đaković plants in cooperation with Bae Systems. The Ministry of Defense also plans to order 30 new Patria armored personnel carriers, bringing these vehicles to 200. The new armored personnel carriers will be equipped with DUOS turrets with 30-mm guns and Israeli-made SPIKE anti-tank missiles.

Croatia plans to strengthen its artillery units. In addition to the existing 14 German PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers of 155 mm caliber, additional units are planned for purchase. The country is also considering mobile artillery on wheels, such as the Swedish Archer or French Caesar, both of 155 mm caliber. The Ministry of Defense is already in talks with potential suppliers, but deliveries are delayed due to the priority of sending weapons to Ukraine. As a result of the modernization of the Croatian army, old Russian and Yugoslav armored vehicles may be transferred to Ukraine.

Croatia actively supports Ukraine in its struggle for independence and territorial integrity. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Croatia has provided comprehensive assistance to Ukraine. Croatian Defense Minister Mario Banožić approved military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine on February 28, 2022. Croatia has offered temporary protection to thousands of Ukrainian refugees, providing housing, medical care, and other necessary services. It has also transferred significant amounts of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine to help the Ukrainian army defend the country.

Among the small arms transferred, Croatia has provided 35,000 Zastava M70 assault rifles and 5,000 FN FAL battle rifles, as well as machine guns with accompanying ammunition. In terms of anti-tank systems, Croatia supplied anti-tank rockets in 2022 and delivered between 5 and 6 shipments of Strela-2 and Igla MAPADS since February or March 2022.

For vehicles, Croatia plans to transfer two An-32B military transport aircraft to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in June and July 2024, as well as 14 Mi-8 helicopters, including Mi-8MTV-1 variants, with nine delivered in May 2023 and five more in June 2023. Croatia also provided towed artillery systems, including 15 M-46 field guns (M-46H1 variant) delivered on August 13, 2022, and 40 D-30 howitzers delivered before March 2023. In April 2023, 128 mm RAK-SA-12 multiple rocket launchers were delivered.

In addition to weapons and vehicles, Croatia has transferred tens of millions of rounds of small arms ammunition since February 2022, as well as thousands of grenades the same year. Furthermore, Croatia has procured 155 mm ammunition through the European Defense Agency, with delivery expected. Miscellaneous equipment includes protective gear, such as helmets, ballistic vests, and uniforms, provided in February 2022. Previously, it was reported that Croatia would allocate a new military aid package to Ukraine worth €30 million.

The decision to modernize the Croatian Armed Forces' weaponry and potentially transfer old equipment to Kyiv further strengthens military ties between the two nations. These efforts illustrate Croatia's continued support for Ukraine in its struggle for independence and territorial integrity.