Rank #59 · Europe
Croatia became one of NATO's most notable modernisation success stories in 2024-2025 when its Rafale F3R fighters entered operational service — the first new-generation Western combat aircraft in Southeast European NATO. The acquisition, contracted in 2021 for EUR 999M, allowed Croatia to retire Soviet-era MiG-21s and simultaneously meet the NATO 2% spending target, transforming its air combat capability.
Croatia's 2025 defence appropriation of approximately EUR 2.2 billion is historically high, with capital spending inflated by Rafale delivery and integration payments. The Rafale contract — EUR 999M for 12 aircraft in Dassault's F3R standard with Meteor BVR and SCALP EG cruise missiles — was signed in November 2021 and includes a weapons package, simulator, and 10-year support contract with Dassault and MBDA. Beyond the Rafale, Croatia is procuring 30+ Patria AMV 8×8 armoured modular vehicles (contract with Patria Finland signed in 2023), upgrading its Osa-AKM air defence to SHORAD/VSHORAD systems, and expanding cyber defence capabilities. Croatia contributes to NATO's eFP in Latvia and the Resolute Support successor mission.
The Croatian Armed Forces total ~15,000 active personnel: Croatian Army (~10,500), Croatian Navy (~1,850), and Croatian Air Force (~1,500), with joint and support commands. The Air Force's 12 Rafale F3R fighters are based at Pleso Air Base near Zagreb, operating alongside UH-60M Black Hawks (5 aircraft) and Pilatus PC-9M trainers. The Navy operates coastal patrol vessels, a landing ship, and minehunters in the Adriatic — a relatively benign maritime environment but important for NATO's southern flank. The Army operates Patria AMVs, M-84 tanks (Yugoslavian T-72 derivative), and 120mm mortars. Croatia participates in NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) rotation.
Croatia retains a modest but technically capable defence industry as a legacy of Yugoslavian arms manufacturing. Đuro Đaković produces armoured vehicles and tank upgrades; RH Alan manufactures radio communications equipment used by multiple NATO militaries; Brodosplit and other shipyards build patrol vessels and can support naval MRO. HS Produkt is globally known for making the HS2000/XD pistol (sold as the Springfield Armory XD in the US). Croatia participates in EU EDIP and PESCO frameworks. The Rafale acquisition carried an industrial offset requirement, with Croatian firms tasked with participating in the wider Dassault supply chain for composite components and electronics. Domestic industry is too small for major platform production but is a capable tier-3 supplier.
Croatia has no active conflicts and its immediate borders are all NATO or EU territory since Montenegro (2017) and North Macedonia (2020) joined NATO and Serbia's European integration continued. Residual tensions with Bosnia and Herzegovina over the Dayton Accords implementation and with Serbia over war crimes accountability remain politically significant but are not military threats. Croatia contributes to NATO's eFP in Latvia (~150 troops), the Resolute Support successor mission in Kosovo (KFOR, ~200 troops), and EU Training Mission in Somalia. The 2024 Rafale IOC declaration closed Croatia's most significant capability gap — a non-existent modern air defence — inherited from the MiG-21 retirement.
The Rafale F3R squadron at Pleso achieved initial operational capability in mid-2024, with full operational capability declared in early 2025 after completion of the first Meteor and SCALP integration qualification flights. Croatia took delivery of the final batch of six Rafales in November 2024. In January 2025, the Croatian government approved a defence white paper prioritising Rafale sustainment, AMV fleet expansion, and a new air defence system to replace Soviet-era S-300 components donated to Ukraine in 2023. Croatia met the NATO 2% target in 2024 for the first time since joining the alliance in 2009. SIPRI's April 2026 data confirmed Croatia's 2025 spend at ~2% of GDP.
Yes. Croatia contracted 12 Dassault Rafale F3R fighters for EUR 999M in November 2021, with deliveries completed in November 2024. The aircraft are based at Pleso Air Base near Zagreb and carry Meteor BVR missiles and SCALP EG cruise missiles, making Croatia's air force one of the most capable in Southeast Europe.
The EUR 999M deal was financed through a mix of the Croatian state budget and a French government export credit (COFACE-backed loan). Payments are spread over the programme's lifecycle. The procurement drove Croatia's defence spending above 2% of GDP for the first time since joining NATO in 2009.
Croatia donated its entire Soviet-era S-300PMU2 air defence system to Ukraine in March 2023 — a significant contribution to Ukrainian air defence. The donation left Croatia temporarily without a strategic air defence layer, driving the 2025 decision to procure a replacement SHORAD/VSHORAD system.
Approximately 15,000 active duty personnel — one of NATO's smaller forces by headcount. Croatia has a volunteer professional military since 2008, with a small reserve component. The force focuses on NATO interoperability, Adriatic maritime security, and contributions to NATO collective defence missions.