Croatian Air Force
The Croatian Air Force (Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo) was founded on 12 December 1991 in the middle of a war, from converted crop dusters, a captured helicopter and MiG-21s flown over by defecting Yugoslav pilots; it flew MiG-21s for three decades, through a troubled Ukrainian overhaul, and in 2024–2025 replaced them with 12 second-hand Rafales that have guarded Croatian airspace on their own since 1 January 2026.
The Croatian Air Force story: crop dusters in 1991, MiG-21s by defection and the Rafale
1941–1945: the air force of an Axis state, and a legion in Russia
Croatian military flying before 1991 belonged to other states, and one chapter needs careful handling. The Independent State of Croatia (NDH), the Axis-aligned state set up in April 1941, formed an air force (Zrakoplovstvo NDH) on 19 April 1941 from about 211 former Royal Yugoslav aircraft handed over by the Germans, later adding German and Italian types. Its main work, according to Wikipedia’s account, was bombing, reconnaissance and supply against the Yugoslav Partisans, about 4,800 sorties in 1942 alone. A Croatian Air Force Legion formed on 12 July 1941 flew with the Luftwaffe on the Eastern Front from October 1941 to March 1944; its fighter squadron is credited with 283 victories, a figure resting on wartime claims. Crews and aircraft repeatedly defected to the Partisans, and the service ended on 8 May 1945. Today’s air force dates itself from 1991; the official pages checked claim no lineage from the NDH air force.
1991: crop dusters, a captured Mi-8 and an arms embargo
When war came in 1991, the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) had an air force of about 300 MiG-21s alongside Galeb and Orao attack jets, and it was used against Croatia: on 7 October 1991 Yugoslav aircraft struck Banski dvori, the government building in Zagreb. UN Security Council Resolution 713 of 25 September 1991 embargoed arms to all of Yugoslavia, which, Wikipedia notes, hurt the new Croatian army far more than the JNA-backed forces. Croatia’s first air arm was improvised: Antonov An-2 crop dusters dropping makeshift bombs. “We created the air force almost from nothing, installing weapons systems in agricultural aircraft ourselves,” General Šundov said at the 2017 anniversary, as the ministry reported it. The first helicopter was a Yugoslav Mi-8 hit by National Guard small-arms fire near Petrinja on 23 September 1991 and flown to Lučko. The service, then called Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo i protuzračna obrana, was formally founded on 12 December 1991.
1991–1994: MiG-21s by defection and by purchase
Jets came first by defection. On 25 October 1991 Rudolf Perešin flew a MiG-21R from the Bihać area to Klagenfurt in Austria; the ministry quotes him as saying he was a Croat and would not fire on Croats. His aircraft stayed in Austria, amid competing Croatian and Serbian claims, until it was unveiled in Zagreb on 12 May 2019. Danijel Borović followed in February 1992, Ivica Ivandić flew from Ponikve in Serbia to Split on 15 May 1992, and Ivan Selak also brought a MiG-21, on a date not confirmed here. Then came purchases made despite the embargo: Wikipedia counts about 40 MiG-21s from former Soviet Central Asian units in 1993–1994, of which 24 were flyable and 16 used for spares (its operator list gives 23 MiG-21bis, one MiG-21US and three MiG-21UM from Kyrgyzstan), and about 15 Mi-24 attack helicopters in mid-1993.
1995: Operation Flash and Operation Storm
The MiG-21s flew reconnaissance, air superiority and close air support; Wikipedia records three lost to enemy fire. In Operation Flash, in western Slavonia in May 1995, they struck the Sava bridge at Stara Gradiška without dropping it, and on 2 May Perešin was shot down there and killed. The Krajina Serb side answered with cluster rockets on Zagreb that killed six civilians. In Operation Storm, launched on 4 August 1995, the air force had 17 MiG-21s, five attack and nine transport helicopters; on the first day 13 MiG-21s hit six targets, and US Navy aircraft on NATO patrol fired on Krajina Serb missile sites at Udbina and Knin. Croatia celebrates Storm as a victory and liberation; Serbia and Serb organisations mark it as the flight of 150,000–200,000 Serbs, and Serb civilian deaths are disputed (214 by Croatian figures, 1,192 in Serbian sources). The ICTY finally acquitted the three Croatian generals tried over it.
1995–2021: firefighters, a Ukrainian overhaul and a failed F-16 deal
Peace brought trainers and firefighters: Pilatus PC-9Ms from 1996, Bell 206 helicopters, and an aerial firefighting force that grew from Mi-8s in 1993 and Canadair CL-215s in 1994 to six CL-415s by 2010 plus Air Tractors. The Mi-24s went in 2005. The fighters were the hard part. Croatia joined NATO in 2009, but money was short, and on 8 July 2013 it signed with Ukraine’s Ukrspecexport to overhaul seven of its MiG-21s at Odessa and buy five more; the twelfth was handed over in July 2015. The project was dogged by delays, a public dispute with the newspaper Večernji list in 2014 and, in March 2016, military intelligence and police checks and an expert commission set up after “frequent difficulties with the aircraft”, in the ministry’s words. A 2018 plan to buy Israeli F-16 Barak jets collapsed in January 2019 when Israel said it could not obtain US approval; no contract had been signed.
2021–2026: Rafales, Black Hawks and drones
The answer was French. After a government decision of 4 July 2019 to buy fighters, Croatia signed on 25 November 2021 for 12 used Rafale F3-Rs, ten single-seat and two two-seat, for EUR 999,068,493, or about EUR 1.15 billion with indexation and VAT. The first six landed on 25 April 2024 and the last a year later to the day. The MiG-21 stood its last alert on 30 November 2024; Italian Eurofighters and Hungarian Gripens then guarded Croatian skies free of charge while Rafale pilots trained, and the Rafales took over around the clock on 1 January 2026. An F4 upgrade worth EUR 112.2 million was approved in September 2026. Four UH-60M Black Hawks arrived from 2022, eight more are due by 2028, and six Bayraktar TB2 drones entered service in September 2025. What remains thin is depth: one squadron of 12 fighters, and air refuelling that depends on allies.
The Croatian Air Force in numbers
Service
- Native name
- Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo (HRZ)The spelling the Ministry of Defence uses. Founded as Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo i protuzračna obrana (HRZ i PZO), the name the ministry still used in 2017; since at least 2022 it writes simply HRZ. The English Wikipedia title is Croatian Air Force
- Founded
- 12 December 1991Marked every year on 12 December. Earlier units were formed in the autumn of 1991, including the 392nd and 395th squadrons on 6 November 1991
- Part of
- Armed Forces of the Republic of CroatiaOne of three branches with the army and navy, under the Chief of the General Staff, General Tihomir Kundid
- Headquarters
- Pleso, Velika GoricaAt the Pukovnik Marko Živković barracks beside Zagreb airport, home of the 91st Wing
- Commander
- Brig. Krešimir RažovSince 23 October 2025; styled brigadier general by the ministry in September 2026
- Minister of Defence
- Ivan AnušićAlso Deputy Prime Minister
Strength
- Combat aircraft
-
- Dassault Rafale C/B F3-R — 12 (10 single-seat, 2 two-seat)
Full squadron since 25 April 2025, with the 191st Fighter Squadron at Pleso; F4 upgrade approved September 2026
- Helicopters
-
- Mi-171Sh — 10
- OH-58D Kiowa Warrior — 15 (16 received)
- UH-60M Black Hawk — 4 (8 more ordered)
- Bell 206B-3 — 8 (10 received)
Counts for the Mi-171Sh, Kiowa and Bell 206 are from Wikipedia’s inventory; the Black Hawk figures are the ministry’s
- Trainers
-
- Pilatus PC-9M — 14–17
- Zlin 242L — 4–5
The ministry counted 17 PC-9Ms and five Zlins in 2019; Wikipedia gives 14 PC-9Ms after six were sold and four Zlins after one loss
- Firefighting aircraft
-
- Canadair CL-415 — 6
- Air Tractor AT-802/AT-902 — about 6–8
- DHC-515 — 2 ordered
855th Firefighting Squadron, Zemunik. Six CL-415s since 2009–2010; DHC-515s due 2029 and 2030
- Drones
- Bayraktar TB2 — 6125th squadron; bought for EUR 67.01 million excluding VAT; presented on 2 September 2025
- Defence budget
- EUR 1.626 billion (2026)Up EUR 281 million, or 20.9 per cent, on 2025; about EUR 640 million for equipment. The ministry gives defence spending as 2.08 per cent of GDP in 2025
Infrastructure
- Wings
-
- 91st Wing — Pleso (Zagreb): Rafale, Black Hawk, Mi-171Sh, TB2
- 93rd Wing — Zemunik (Zadar): training, firefighting, Kiowa; helicopters at Divulje
The 392nd squadron flies from Zemunik and the 395th transport helicopter squadron from Divulje near Split
- Helicopter bases
- Lučko and DivuljeNamed by the ministry as helicopter bases; Lučko received the first captured Mi-8 in 1991
- Air policing
- Two Rafales, 24/7, since 1 January 2026Within NATO’s integrated air and missile defence system. Italy and Hungary covered from 1 December 2024 to the end of 2025
- Display team
- Krila Oluje (Wings of Storm)Founded 2005 on the PC-9M at Zemunik; 261 displays including 68 abroad in 15 countries by April 2025
- Firefighting abroad
- Regular rescEU and bilateral deploymentsCL-415s went to Greece in 2024, to Albania three times and to Montenegro in 2025, and to France in July 2026
- Memorial aircraft
- Four defection MiG-21sSelak’s at Pleso, Borović’s at Pula, Perešin’s at Gornja Stubica and Ivandić’s at Divulje
How the Croatian Air Force is organised
One command at Pleso over two wings. The 91st Wing at Zagreb-Pleso holds the Rafales, the TB2 drones and, at Lučko, the multirole helicopters; the 93rd at Zadar-Zemunik runs pilot training, firefighting and the Kiowa Warriors, with transport helicopters at Divulje. Croatia’s firefighting aircraft belong to the air force.
Air Force Command
At the Pukovnik Marko Živković barracks at Pleso, under the Chief of the General Staff, General Tihomir Kundid. Brig. Krešimir Ražov took command on 23 October 2025 from Maj. Gen. Michael Križanec, who had led the service for about six years.
191st Fighter Squadron, 91st Wing
Every Croatian fighter: 12 second-hand Rafale F3-Rs, the last delivered on 25 April 2025, which have held the air policing alert around the clock since 1 January 2026. The squadron flew the MiG-21 from 1992 until 2024.
125th Reconnaissance-Combat Squadron
Six Bayraktar TB2s, in service since 2 September 2025; in May 2026 one dropped the service’s first live laser-guided bomb near Slunj.
194th Multirole Helicopter Squadron
Formed on 23 September 1991 around a Yugoslav Mi-8 hit near Petrinja; today it flies UH-60M Black Hawks, with eight more due, and Mi-171Sh.
93rd Wing
The 392nd squadron trains every military pilot on the Zlin 242L and PC-9M, the 855th Firefighting Squadron flies six CL-415s and Air Tractors, and the 393rd flies OH-58D Kiowa Warriors; the Krila Oluje display team flies from here too.
395th Transport Helicopter Squadron
Mi-171Sh helicopters of the 93rd Wing on year-round call for medical evacuation and search and rescue along the Adriatic. The military’s firefighting command sits at Divulje in the fire season.
What the Croatian Air Force flies today
Every type on charge, linked to its Book of Beasts page where one exists. Counts are aircraft on the books, not aircraft available on a given day.
| Type | Role | In service | Since | Units | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dassault Rafale C and B (F3-R)In service | Multirole fighter | 12 | 2024 | Ten single-seat and two two-seat, all used French aircraft. Six arrived on 25 April 2024, the rest from November 2024; the twelfth on 25 April 2025. | ||
| Baykar Bayraktar TB2In service | Armed reconnaissance drone | 6 | 2025 | Six aircraft with ground control stations and a simulator. | ||
| Sikorsky UH-60M Black HawkIn service | Utility and special operations helicopter | 4 | 2022 | Four: two donated by the United States and two bought. Eight more ordered in 2024 for a squadron of 12. | ||
| Mil Mi-171ShIn service | Transport and armed helicopter | 10 | Ten per Wikipedia; ten were overhauled by ZTC Velika Gorica with Russian Helicopters under a 2017 contract. | |||
| Bell OH-58D(R) Kiowa WarriorIn service | Armed scout helicopter | 15 | 2016 | Sixteen received from US Army stocks in 2016; one lost on 27 January 2020. | ||
| Bell 206B-3 JetRangerIn service | Helicopter trainer | 8 | Ten received, two lost (Wikipedia). | |||
| Pilatus PC-9MIn service | Basic trainer and display aircraft | 1996 | 14–17. The ministry counted 17 in 2019; Wikipedia says three second-hand aircraft came in 1996 and 17 new in 1997, and that six were later sold, leaving 14. | |||
| Zlin Z 242LIn service | Screening and primary trainer | 4–5: five in 2019 per the ministry; four after one loss per Wikipedia. | ||||
| Canadair CL-415In service | Amphibious water bomber | 6 | 1996 | Six since 2009–2010. | ||
| Air Tractor AT-802A/F Fire Boss and AT-902In service | Firefighting aircraft | 2000 | About 6–8. The ministry’s history lists two in 2000, five in 2007–2008 and a two-seat AT-902 in 2014; Wikipedia gives six in service after one loss. |
On order
| Type | Ordered | First delivery | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sikorsky UH-60M Black HawkOn order | 8 | 2028 | Ordered in March 2024 for USD 273,807,829, 51 per cent paid by the United States; delivery was expected during 2028.
MoreIn September 2026 the minister said they were in final production at Huntsville and might arrive within a year. |
|
| De Havilland Canada DHC-515 FirefighterOn order | 2 | 2029 | Ordered through the EU rescEU mechanism; due in 2029 and 2030. Wikipedia gives the wider European deal as worth EUR 105 million. | |
| Rafale F3-R to F4 upgradeOn order | 12 | An upgrade, not new aircraft: letter of intent 8 December 2025, government approval in September 2026 for EUR 112.2 million with VAT over 2026–2032, adding passive detection and self-protection improvements. |
Every type the Croatian Air Force has retired
12 types, from the Messerschmitt Bf 109E and G to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21bis, bis-D, UM and UMD. Peak figures are airframes taken on charge over the whole service life, not fleet strength on any one date.
| Type | Role | Peak | Served | Replaced by | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21bis, bis-D, UM and UMD | Fighter | 1992–2024 | Rafale | Three defection aircraft in 1992, about 27–40 bought in 1993–1994 (sources disagree on how many were flyable), and 12 in the overhauled squadron of 2015 (seven Croatian, five bought from Ukraine). | ||
| Antonov An-32B | Tactical transport | 2 | Two per Wikipedia. | |||
| Mil Mi-8MTV-1 and Mi-8T | Transport helicopter | 1991–2023 | UH-60M | Total not confirmed. Wikipedia says 14 (12 Mi-8MTV-1 and two Mi-8T) were donated to Ukraine in 2023. | ||
| Mil Mi-24D/V | Attack helicopter | 1993–2005 | About 15 acquired in mid-1993 per Wikipedia; seven Mi-24Vs were retired in 2005. | |||
| Canadair CL-215 | Amphibious water bomber | 1994–2002 | CL-415 | Two arrived in 1994 with mixed Croatian and Canadian crews; two used aircraft were bought from Italy in 1995. | ||
| Messerschmitt Bf 109E and G | Fighter (NDH air force and Legion) | 1941–1945 | More than 50 per Wikipedia. | |||
| Dornier Do 17 | Bomber | 62 | 1941–1945 | 62 of all variants per Wikipedia. | ||
| Fiat G.50 | Fighter | 1942–1945 | More than 30 per Wikipedia. | |||
| Macchi C.202 and C.205 | Fighter | 22 | 1943–1945 | 22 of both types per Wikipedia. | ||
| Bristol Blenheim | Bomber | 1941–1945 | Ex-Yugoslav aircraft. | |||
| Potez 25 and Breguet 19 | Reconnaissance and light bomber | 1941–1945 | Ex-Yugoslav aircraft. | |||
| Antonov An-2 | Crop duster used as improvised bomber | 1991– | A few; numbers not published. |
Where the Croatian Air Force flies from
Black pins are active bases, hollow pins the ones that have closed. Željava, the Yugoslav army’s underground air base on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, was demolished in 1991–1992 and is still mined; Udbina, a Krajina Serb airfield struck by NATO in 1994, is now an army barracks. Sinj, where organised Croatian military flying began in 1990, is a sport airfield. Entries with no published aerodrome data carry no pin.
| Base | ICAO | Status | Runway | Units and aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divulje Helicopter BaseSplit-Dalmatia County (Splitsko-dalmatinska županija), near Trogir | Active |
|
||
| Lučko Helicopter BaseCity of Zagreb (Grad Zagreb) | LDZL | Active |
|
|
| UdbinaLika-Senj County (Ličko-senjska županija) | Active | |||
| Zadar-ZemunikZadar County (Zadarska županija), at Zemunik Donji | LDZD | Active | 13/312,500 mconcrete04/222,000 m |
|
| Zagreb-PlesoZagreb County (Zagrebačka županija), at Velika Gorica | LDZA | Active | 04/223,252 masphalt and concrete |
|
| PulaIstria County (Istarska županija) | LDPL | Closed | 09/272,950 m |
|
| SinjSplit-Dalmatia County (Splitsko-dalmatinska županija) | Closed |
|
||
| ŽeljavaLika-Senj County (Ličko-senjska županija), Croatia, and Una-Sana Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina: the international border runs through the site | Closed 1992 |
|
No air base matches that search.
Who is stationed where in the Croatian Air Force
Flying units by base, current units first. Most Croatian squadrons carry the number of their wing — the 191st and 194th in the 91st, the 392nd, 393rd and 395th in the 93rd — and three were founded in the autumn of 1991, in the middle of the war. Where a formation date or a unit could not be confirmed, the entry says so.
- 191st Fighter Squadron (191. eskadrila lovačkih aviona)Fighter squadron · active
- Dassault Rafale C/B F3-R (12 bought second-hand from France)
- 125th Reconnaissance-Combat Squadron (125. izvidničko-borbena eskadrila)Unmanned combat and reconnaissance squadron · active
- Baykar Bayraktar TB2 (6)
- US Air Force 31st Fighter Wing (exercise detachment)2025–2025
- F-16 Fighting Falcon
- 392nd Aircraft Squadron (392. eskadrila aviona)Pilot training squadron · active
- Pilatus PC-9M, Zlin 242L
- Krila Oluje (Wings of Storm) aerobatic teamWings of Storm · Aerobatic display team · active
- Pilatus PC-9M (six-ship formation)
- 393rd Helicopter Squadron (393. eskadrila helikoptera)Armed reconnaissance helicopter squadron · active
- Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
- 855th Firefighting Squadron (855. protupožarna eskadrila)Aerial firefighting squadron · active
- Canadair CL-415 (6), Air Tractor AT-802 (6)
- Multinational Special Aviation Training Centre (MSAP TC)Multinational special-operations helicopter training centre · allied
- 105th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (Yugoslav Air Force)1961–1991
- G-4 Super Galeb (249th Squadron), G-2 Galeb (251st Squadron), Utva 75 (333rd Squadron)
- US Army Patriot battery (10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command)2021–2021
- 395th Transport Helicopter Squadron (395. eskadrila transportnih helikoptera)Transport, search and rescue helicopter squadron · active
- Mi-171Sh
- Operational Firefighting Command Divulje (Operativno vatrogasno zapovjedništvo)Seasonal firefighting command · active
- 194th Multirole Helicopter Squadron (194. eskadrila višenamjenskih helikoptera)Multirole helicopter squadron · active
- Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk, Mi-171Sh
No unit matches that search.
Croatian Air Force milestones, 1914 to today
19 April: the NDH air force is formed from captured Yugoslav aircraft. 12 July: the Croatian Air Force Legion is formed to fly with the Luftwaffe.
8 May: the NDH air force ceases to exist; its aircraft pass to the new Yugoslav air force.
23 September: a Yugoslav Mi-8 hit near Petrinja becomes the first Croatian helicopter. 7 October: Yugoslav jets strike Banski dvori in Zagreb. 25 October: Rudolf Perešin flies a MiG-21 to Klagenfurt. 12 December: the air force and air defence (HRZ i PZO) is founded.
February: Danijel Borović defects with a MiG-21. 15 May: Ivica Ivandić flies a MiG-21 from Ponikve to Split.
About 15 Mi-24s are acquired; MiG-21s bought from former Soviet units follow into 1994. Mi-8s begin carrying firefighters.
2 May: Perešin is shot down and killed in Operation Flash. 4 August: Operation Storm begins with 17 MiG-21s available.
The Pilatus PC-9M and the first Canadair CL-415 enter service; ten Bell 206s are ordered.
Seven Mi-24Vs are retired; the Krila Oluje display team is formed on the PC-9M.
Croatia joins NATO; on 2 July Mi-171Sh crews begin flying with KFOR in Kosovo.
8 July: a contract with Ukrspecexport to overhaul and buy 12 MiG-21s is signed; the last is handed over in July 2015.
March: the ministry orders checks and an expert commission on the Ukrainian MiG-21s. Sixteen OH-58D Kiowa Warriors arrive from the US Army.
10 January: the Israeli F-16 Barak deal collapses. 12 May: Perešin’s MiG-21 returns from Austria. 4 July: the government decides to buy a new fighter.
25 November: contract for 12 used Rafale F3-Rs signed during President Macron’s visit.
3 February: the first two UH-60M Black Hawks arrive; four are in service by December. 6 December: a two-seat MiG-21 crashes near Slatina; both pilots survive.
25 April: the first six Rafales land. 30 November: the MiG-21’s last alert day; Italy and Hungary take over air policing. 21 November: six Bayraktar TB2s ordered.
25 April: the twelfth Rafale arrives. 2 September: the TB2 is presented. 23 October: Brig. Krešimir Ražov takes command. 8 December: letter of intent for the Rafale F4.
1 January: Rafales take over air policing 24/7. May: first live TB2 laser-guided bomb. September: F4 upgrade approved; Rafales train refuelling with a German A400M.
Every war the Croatian Air Force and the air arms before it have fought
Sorties and losses where the record gives them, and an honest blank where it does not.
- Air war against the Yugoslav Partisans 1941–1945 Bombing, reconnaissance and supply in support of Axis and NDH ground forces against the Partisans
- Croatian Air Force Legion on the Eastern Front 1941–1944 A fighter and a bomber squadron attached to the Luftwaffe
- Croatian War of Independence 1991–1995 Supply, casualty evacuation and improvised bombing in 1991; from 1992–1993 reconnaissance, air superiority and close air support with MiG-21s and attack and transport helicopters
- Operation Flash 1995 MiG-21 strikes on the Sava bridge at Stara Gradiška and Krajina Serb positions; Mi-24s were requested to stop Serb armour
- Operation Storm 1995 MiG-21 strikes on command posts, communications, bridges and artillery; Mi-24 attacks on armour; Mi-8 casualty evacuation
The Croatian Air Force display team
Each team has its own page: history, aircraft, the display, the accidents and the sources.
Everything people ask about the Croatian Air Force
What is the Croatian Air Force called in Croatian?
What aircraft does the Croatian Air Force fly in 2026?
How many Rafales does Croatia have and what did they cost?
When did Croatia retire the MiG-21?
What was the MiG-21 overhaul scandal with Ukraine?
Which pilots defected to Croatia with MiG-21s?
What did the Croatian Air Force do in Operation Storm?
Who protects Croatian airspace?
Why does the Croatian Air Force fly water bombers?
Did Croatia have an air force in the Second World War?
Read the aircraft the Croatian Air Force flew
Every type with a page in the Book of Beasts, in service first, then by the year it left the fleet.
Every fact, checked
- MORH: Brigadir Krešimir Ražov preuzeo dužnost zapovjednika Hrvatskog ratnog zrakoplovstva (23 October 2025)Change of command at the Pukovnik Marko Živković barracks, Pleso; predecessor Maj. Gen. Michael Križanec after about six years; presided by Gen. Tihomir Kundid.
- MORH: Zapovjednik HRZ-a: Black Hawk donosi širok spektar sposobnosti (15 September 2026)Ražov as air force commander; four UH-60M in service, eight more coming, twelve in all.
- MORH: Anušić: Black Hawkovi i HIMARS-i stižu ranije (15 September 2026)Eight UH-60M in final production at Huntsville; delivery possibly within a year; radar modernisation contracted.
- MORH: Ministar Banožić dočekao dva nova hrvatska helikoptera Black Hawk (3 February 2022)First two UH-60M, a US donation, arrive by C-17; project of four (two donated, two bought); special forces support.
- MORH: Helikopteri Black Hawk dokaz snažnog partnerstva Hrvatske i SAD-a (13 March 2024)Eight more UH-60M for USD 273,807,829, 51 per cent US-funded; delivery expected 2028.
- MORH: Anušić: HIMARS-e i Black Hawkove Hrvatska će dobiti 2028. godine (13 May 2026)Minister says the Black Hawks will arrive in 2028 as agreed.
- MORH: Ministar Banožić potpisao Ugovor o kupnji borbenih aviona Rafale (25 November 2021)Contract for 12 Rafales signed with France during President Macron’s visit; strategic partnership declaration.
- MORH: Avion Rafale za moderno Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo (project page)Government decision of 4 July 2019 to procure fighters; 12 used F3-R (10 single-seat, 2 two-seat); EUR 999,068,493, EUR 1,152,496,307 with indexation and VAT; MiG-21 life expiring by 2024.
- MORH: Dolazak u Hrvatsku (Rafale project page)First six Rafales in April 2024, further aircraft in November and December 2024; service life of 30 years and more.
- MORH: Stigao i posljednji Rafale! Hrvatska sada ima kompletnu eskadrilu od 12 borbenih lovaca (25 April 2025)Last of 12 arrives 25 April 2025, exactly a year after the first six; defence spending 2 per cent of GDP in 2025.
- MORH: Vlada donijela odluku o nabavi 18 samohodnih višecijevnih lansera raketa Chunmoo K239, dodatnom opremanju Rafalea (4 September 2026)F3-R to F4 upgrade, EUR 112.2 million with VAT, 2026–2032; combat communications upgrade EUR 41.1 million.
- MORH: Vlada RH odobrila 28 milijuna eura za održavanje borbenih aviona Rafale (2 July 2026)EUR 28,035,428 for 2027–2029 support by Dassault; EUR 64,006,780 for 2026–2029.
- MORH: Hrvatski Rafalei i njemački A400M uvježbavaju opskrbu gorivom u zraku (11 September 2026)191st Fighter Squadron, 91st Wing, trains air-to-air refuelling with a Luftwaffe A400M.
- MORH: Anušić: Opremamo sve tri grane hrvatske vojske (8 December 2025)Letter of intent for upgrading 12 Rafales to F4; about four billion euros of modernisation in all.
- MORH: Ministar Anušić na AIRVG2025 (10 May 2025)All 12 Rafales shown to the public at Zagreb airport, with two MiG-21s and the rest of the fleet on static display.
- MORH: Dok traje obuka pilota Rafalea, Airpolicing privremeno će obavljati mađarski Gripeni i talijanski Eurofighteri (12 October 2024)Allies to hold the alert pair from Italian and Hungarian bases while Rafale pilots train; no cost to Croatia.
- MORH: Talijanski Eurofighteri i mađarski Gripeni privremeno će od 1. prosinca obavljati Air Policing (30 November 2024)MiG-21 leaves the alert duty after 30 November 2024; Italy and Hungary cover from 1 December 2024.
- MORH: Hrvatski Rafalei od 1. siječnja 2026. preuzimaju nadzor hrvatskog zračnog prostora (27 December 2025)Rafales take over air policing 24/7 from 1 January 2026 within NATINAMDS.
- MORH: Ministar Anušić: Hrvatska i Mađarska jačaju suradnju u području obrambene industrije (21 October 2025)Hungarian air policing support ends by the end of 2025.
- MORH: Najveća postignuća Ministarstva obrane i Hrvatske vojske u 2025. godini (31 December 2025)Rafale fully integrated; Bayraktar TB2 introduced; defence spending 2.08 per cent of GDP in 2025.
- MORH: Ministar Anušić predstavio proračun obrane (20 November 2025)2026 defence budget EUR 1.626 billion, up EUR 281 million (20.9 per cent) on 2025; about EUR 640 million for equipment.
- MORH: Svečano obilježena 34. obljetnica Hrvatskog ratnog zrakoplovstva (11 December 2025)Anniversary at Pleso with President Milanović, Gen. Kundid and Brig. Ražov.
- MORH: Obilježena 26. obljetnica HRZ i PZO-a i primopredaja zapovjednika (12 December 2017)Founded 12 December 1991 as HRZ i PZO; built “almost from nothing” with agricultural aircraft; Maj. Gen. Miroslav Kovač hands over to Brig. Gen. Mate Mikić.
- MORH: Svečano obilježena 31. obljetnica HRZ-a (12 December 2022)Commander Michael Križanec; four Black Hawks received in 2022.
- MORH: Trideset četiri godine uspješnog rada 392. eskadrile aviona i 395. eskadrile transportnih helikoptera 93. krila (7 November 2025)Both squadrons founded 6 November 1991; Zemunik and Divulje.
- MORH: Obilježena 35. obljetnica osnutka 194. eskadrile višenamjenskih helikoptera (23 September 2026)First aircraft a Mi-8 hit by National Guard small-arms fire near Petrinja on 23 September 1991 and flown to Lučko.
- MORH: Odabran izvođač remonta borbenih zrakoplova MiG-21 (10 June 2013)Ukrspecexport chosen to overhaul and supply 12 MiG-21s.
- MORH: Potpisan ugovor o remontu i nabavi MiG-ova (8 July 2013)Contract signed by Minister Ante Kotromanović and Ukrspecexport’s director.
- MORH: Reagiranje MORH-a na članak u Večernjem listu o remontu MIG-ova (14 August 2014)Ministry rejects a newspaper’s claims about delays and avionics repair; 19 of 83 NAV/COMM/IFF units found unserviceable.
- MORH: U operativnoj uporabi HRZ i PZO-a i posljednji, 12. MIG-21 (16 July 2015)Twelfth overhauled MiG-21 handed over; seven Croatian and five bought from Ukraine; Odessa repair plant; contract of 9 July 2013.
- MORH: Ministarstvo obrane o zrakoplovima MIG-21 (22 March 2016)Military intelligence and military police checks; expert commission on the overhauled and bought aircraft after frequent difficulties.
- MORH: Zapovjednik HRZ i PZO general Šćuri i pilot MiG-a o detaljima pada aviona (5 August 2014)MiG-21 lost near Pleso after hydraulic failure and engine fire; Col. Stanko Hrženjak ejected. The URL contains 05062014 but the page is dated 5 August 2014.
- MORH: Istraga o padu aviona MiG-21 se nastavlja (7 December 2022)Two-seat MiG-21 crashed near Slatina, Virovitica-Podravina County, on 6 December 2022.
- MORH: Zdravstveno stanje pilota MiG-21 (7 December 2022)Both pilots ejected and survived.
- MORH: Obilježena 25. obljetnica pogibije pilota HRZ-a Rudolfa Perešina (2 May 2020)Defection 25 October 1991 to Klagenfurt; killed 2 May 1995 in Operation Flash near Stara Gradiška; remains returned 4 August 1997.
- MORH: Povratak pobjednika: Perešinov MiG-21 otkriven ispred MORH-a (12 May 2019)MiG-21 26112 returned from Austria and unveiled in Zagreb on 12 May 2019.
- MORH: Obilježena 33. obljetnica preleta Danijela Borovića avionom MiG-21 (5 February 2025)Borović, Ivandić and Selak defected from the JNA with MiG-21s; Borović’s aircraft displayed at Pula.
- MORH: Obilježena 28. obljetnica preleta Danijela Borovića avionom MiG-21 (5 February 2020)Anniversary of the flight; book Prelet za Hrvatsku.
- MORH: Svečano otkriven eksponat aviona MiG-21 pukovnika Ivice Ivandića u Divuljama (16 May 2022)Ivandić flew from Ponikve near Užice to Split on 15 May 1992.
- MORH: Pojašnjenje MORH-a vezano za otkrivanje eksponata MiG-a 21 u vojarni Knez Trpimir (15 May 2022)Four defection aircraft are memorials: Selak at Pleso, Borović at Pula, Perešin at Gornja Stubica, Ivandić at Divulje.
- MORH: Ministar obrane dodijelio sat s posvetom brigadiru Ivanu Selaku (17 July 2012)Selak in the Croatian forces since 1992; safely landed a MiG-21 whose rear canopy failed on 19 June 2012.
- MORH: Održana premijera dokumentarnog filma o prvim hrvatskim MIG-ovima (20 June 2011)Documentary on the three defecting pilots, Selak, Borović and Ivandić.
- MORH: Očitovanje Države Izrael o projektu nabave VBA (10 January 2019)Israel says it could not secure US approval to transfer F-16 Barak aircraft; no contract signed and no financial damage.
- MORH: Povijest gašenja požara iz zrakaAerial firefighting from 1993; CL-215 from 1994; CL-415 from 1996, six by 2009–2010; AT-802 from 2000 and 2007–2008; AT-902 in 2014.
- MORH: Hrvatski Canadair CL-415 upućen u Francusku (24 July 2026)855th Firefighting Squadron at Zemunik sends a CL-415 to France.
- MORH: Vojni piloti svakodnevno pokazuju svoje znanje, vještine i hrabrost dok čuvaju Hrvatsku od požara (24 July 2026)Two DHC-515 ordered through rescEU, due 2029 and 2030; 45 fires fought in the main 2026 season to date.
- MORH: Hrvatski protupožarni avion Canadair CL-415 treći put upućen u pomoć Republici Albaniji (8 August 2025)Third CL-415 deployment to Albania in the 2025 season.
- MORH: Moderan i moćan besposadni sustav Bayraktar dolazi u Hrvatsku vojsku (21 November 2024)Six armed TB2 with ground stations and simulator for EUR 67.01 million excluding VAT.
- MORH: Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo ojačano novom modernom sposobnosti – besposadnim zrakoplovnim sustavom Bayraktar (2 September 2025)TB2 presented at Pleso with the 125th squadron; crews trained in Turkey April–August 2025.
- MORH: Pokazana spremnost HRZ-a – bojna gađanja Rafalea, Bayraktara i helikoptera Kiowa Warrior (14 May 2026)Slunj range: first TB2 laser-guided bomb; Kiowa Hydra rockets; 393rd squadron, 93rd Wing.
- MORH: Obilježena četvrta obljetnica pogibije pripadnika 393. eskadrile helikoptera HRZ-a (27 January 2024)Kiowa Warrior crash in the Zlarin channel on 27 January 2020: Maj. Marin Klarin and 1st Lt. Tomislav Baturina killed.
- MORH: Ministar Anušić pripadnicima Krila Oluje (5 April 2025)Display team founded 2005, PC-9M, 261 displays including 68 abroad in 15 countries.
- MORH: Šezdeset tisuća sati naleta na avionima Pilatus PC-9M (11 July 2019)PC-9M in service since 1996; 17 with the 93rd Air Base; 60,000 hours; 38 Omani pilots trained; five Zlin 242L.
- MORH: Održana prezentacija remontiranih helikoptera Mi-171Sh na Plesu (23 September 2019)Ten Mi-171Sh overhauled by ZTC with Russian Helicopters under a 2017 contract of HRK 206.9 million; two to KFOR from August 2019.
- MORH: Obilježena 10. obljetnica sudjelovanja helikopterskih posada u operaciji KFOR (3 July 2019)Croatian Mi-171Sh crews in KFOR since 2 July 2009.
- MORH: Završena preduputna obuka 15. HRVCON KFOR i 10. Mi-17 AAT ISAF (4 February 2014)Tenth Mi-17 Air Advisory Team prepared to mentor Afghan Air Force crews.
- MORH: Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo (topic page)Official spelling of the service name; helicopter bases at Lučko and Divulje.
- MORH: Ministar Anušić susreo se s pilotima iz prošlogodišnje nesreće pada MiG-a 21 (28 December 2023)Names the crew of the December 2022 crash: Col. Zvonimir Milatović and Maj. Ivan Lukan; no cause published.
- Croatia Control: eAIP Republic of Croatia (portal page; AIRAC AIP AMDT 006/2025, 10 July 2025)The AIP itself is available only after registration on the AIM portal (aim.crocontrol.hr) and could not be retrieved; no AIP data are used.
- MORH: Hrvatsko nebo od danas čuvaju hrvatski Rafali (25 April 2024)First six Rafales (4 single-seat, 2 two-seat) from Bordeaux to Pleso; 191st Squadron, 91st Wing; 12 planned.
- MORH: Obilježena 29. obljetnica osnutka 191. eskadrile lovačkih aviona (18 January 2021)1st Fighter Squadron formed 17 January 1992; temporary squadron 6 November 1991; renamed 191st in late 2019; Pukovnik Marko Živković barracks on Pleso.
- MORH: Obilježena 33. obljetnica ustrojavanja 191. eskadrile lovačkih aviona 91. krila HRZ-a (21 January 2025)Transition from MiG-21 to Rafale described as the squadron’s greatest transformation.
- MORH: Obilježena 33. obljetnica 91. krila HRZ-a (December 2024)Ceremony at the Pukovnik Marko Živković barracks, Velika Gorica.
- MORH: Anušić povodom 33. obljetnice HRZ-a (12 December 2024)12 Rafales, all by April 2025; four Black Hawks with eight more by 2028; Osijek air platoon as the root of the air force.
- MORH: Pokazana spremnost HRZ-a – uspješno provedena bojna gađanja Rafalea, Bayraktara i helikoptera Kiowa Warrior (14 May 2026)191st, 125th and 393rd Squadrons on the Eugen Kvaternik range; first MAM-L drop.
- MORH: Provedena gađanja i raketiranja helikopterima Kiowa Warrior OH-58D (26 August 2021)393rd Helicopter Squadron, 93rd Wing, Pukovnik Mirko Vukušić barracks, Zemunik.
- MORH: Hrvatski nebeski vatrogasci (27 August 2025)855th Firefighting Squadron, 93rd Wing: six CL-415, six AT-802; about 800 hours abroad in ten countries.
- MORH: Francuski veleposlanik posjetio 855. protupožarnu eskadrilu u Zemuniku (18 August 2026)Two CL-415s in France, 24 July–2 August 2026; 93rd Wing commander Brigadier Tomislav Vacenovski.
- MORH: Na selekcijskom letenju u Zemuniku najveći broj kandidata u zadnjih 26 godina (17 July 2026)24 candidates on the Zlin 242L; Training Centre Rudolf Perešin; 392nd Squadron.
- MORH: Trideset četiri godine uspješnog rada 392. eskadrile aviona i 395. eskadrile transportnih helikoptera 93. krila (7 November 2025)Both founded 6 November 1991; 392nd at Zemunik, 395th at Divulje (Knez Trpimir barracks).
- MORH: Spektakl na nebu: “Krila Oluje” predstavila program nastupa za sezonu 2025. (9 May 2025)Six PC-9Ms; publicly presented 5 August 2005; presentation at the Zemunik barracks.
- MORH: Dan otvorenih vrata u vojarni Zemunik (22 March 2014)22nd anniversary of the 93rd Air Base; Zlin 242L, PC-9M, Bell 206B, Mi-8MTV, CL-415 on show; about 3,000 visitors.
- MORH: General Lovrić posjetio ETH u Divuljama i Obalnu stražu (31 December 2013)Transport Helicopter Squadron of the 93rd Air Base at the Knez Trpimir barracks; Mi-8MTV; 486 patients in 2013.
- MORH: Krstičević obišao Operativno vatrogasno zapovjedništvo Divulje (19 July 2019)2019 season to date: 339 flights, about 1,680 tonnes of water; Orbiter III drone and Mi-171Sh.
- MORH: HRZ u noćnoj akciji sigurno prevezao ozlijeđenu osobu iz Dubrovnika u Zagreb (16 August 2025)Mi-171Sh of the 395th Squadron from Divulje; UH-60M of the 194th Squadron from Lučko.
- MORH: Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo (Banovina earthquake relief)Four helicopters on the first day; helicopters based at Lučko and Divulje.
- MORH: Obilježena je 32. obljetnica 194. eskadrile višenamjenskih helikoptera 91. krila HRZ-a (23 September 2023)Formed 23 September 1991 as the 28th Transport Helicopter Squadron; over 3,000 people rescued in 7 years; standby crew at Rijeka airport.
- MORH: Obilježena 35. obljetnica osnutka 194. eskadrile višenamjenskih helikoptera (23 September 2026)Lučko barracks; first aircraft the Mi-8 “stara frajla”, hit near Petrinja on 23 September 1991; Mi-171Sh.
- MORH: Održana promocija knjige “Prelet za Hrvatsku” (11 February 2020)Danijel Borović flew a MiG-21 from the JNA base at Željava to the 92nd Air Base, Pula, on 4 February 1992.
- MORH: U Puli svečano otvorena vojarna Hrvatski branitelji Istre (15 November 2019)Barracks on the former air base; Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems; about 140 personnel; Borović memorial.
- MORH: HRZ oduševio građane atraktivnim letačkim programom iznad Pule (23 March 2024)Two MiG-21s, Krila Oluje, Kiowa Warrior, Black Hawk and Mi-171Sh at the Pula Airport open day; more than 5,000 visitors.
- MORH: Avioni i helikopteri HRZ-a na Danu otvorenih vrata Zračne luke Pula (21 March 2025)Search-result summary only: Rafale, Pilatus, Canadair, Air Tractor, Black Hawk and Kiowa Warrior announced.
- MORH: 17 savezničkih helikoptera doletjelo u vojarnu Udbina (17 May 2019)12 UH-60 and 5 CH-47 from Aviano at the Josip Jović barracks; air assault to the Eugen Kvaternik range.
- MORH: Scenarij vježbe IR 19 (May 2019)Parachute insertion and seizure of the airfield at the Josip Jović barracks, Udbina.
- MORH: U Sinju odana počast poginulim pilotima i padobrancima (26 January 2019)Aviation group founded at Sinj on 17 October 1990; Independent Air Platoon 1 June 1991–7 February 1992; An-2 crash at Šimci.
- MORH: Obilježavanje 29. obljetnice Samostalnog zrakoplovnog voda Osijek (5 October 2020)Platoon officially founded 15 October 1991; Marko Živković and Mirko Vukušić among its members; 29 combat flights.
- US National Photographic Interpretation Center: underground airfield report, Bihac (1968), National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book 439Declassified. 44-50N 015-47E, 4.5 NM WNW of Bihac; two NW/SE runways; four cave entrances; construction probably since 1959.
- Atlas Obscura: Željava AirbaseBorder through the site; built 1957–1965; charges set off 1991, 56 tonnes more 1992; mines, police patrols. Secondary source.
- MORH: Croatian Rafales and American F-16 in flight action together (14 March 2025)Joint flying 12–13 March 2025 with F-16s of the US 31st Fighter Wing from Aviano, hosted at the Colonel Marko Živković barracks.
- MORH: Obilježena 30. obljetnica 393. eskadrile helikoptera 93. krila HRZ-a (10 March 2026)30th anniversary marked at Zemunik on 6 March 2026; commander Colonel Krešimir Letica.
- MORH (English): Kiowa helicopters perform trial flights (25 April 2017)Trial flights of the 16 OH-58Ds at Zemunik on 11 April 2017; quote of Lieutenant Colonel Krešimir Ražov.
- MORH: Obilježena 32. obljetnica 855. protupožarne eskadrile 93. krila HRZ-a (10 April 2026)32nd anniversary at Zemunik Donji; commander Colonel Milan Došen.
- MORH (English): Multinational Special Aviation Training Centre (MSAP TC) formally opened at Zemunik (12 December 2019)Opened 11 December 2019; Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Hungary; quote of Minister Damir Krstičević.
- MORH (English): Croatian Air Force and Training Centre Day marked at Zemunik (10 December 2019)27th anniversary of the Training Centre Rudolf Perešin; commander Colonel Goran Huljev; 93rd Wing commander Colonel Željko Ninić.
- MORH: Počelo obilježavanje Dana 93. zrakoplovne baze (19 March 2018)26th anniversary; Mirko Vukušić, co-founder and deputy commander of the Independent Air Platoon Osijek, killed when his An-2 was shot down over Otok near Vinkovci on 2 December 1991; quotes of Colonel Mario Pleša.
- MORH: Američki protuzračni sustav Patriot u Zemuniku (19 May 2021)US 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, exercise Astral Knight 21 (13–22 May 2021); first Patriot deployment in Croatia.
- OurAirports airport database (public domain)
Figures verified 2026-09-29. Order of Battle pages are regenerated from a single dataset; if a number here disagrees with a Book of Beasts page, this page is the more recent of the two.
Photographs: Photo: MORH/ F. Klen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · Photo (Ukrainian TB2 shown): Ministry of Defence of Ukraine / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · Photo: MORH F. Klen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · Photo: Culo-sija / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Photo: Ivekbeg5 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Acroterion / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: André Gerwing / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Goran Novačić / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Photo: Rob Schleiffert from Holland / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: Dtom / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) · Photo: MyName (Dtom) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Photo: U.S. Army Air Forces photo 342-FH-3A23118-58426AC / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: SA-kuva is a photograph archive site storing solely photographs from the 20th-ce / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · Photo (Italian Macchi C.202 shown): Cliff / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) · Royal Air Force Blenheim. Roland Turner from Birmingham, Great Britain / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)