Croatian authorities will acquire from Israel a squadron of F-16 combat fighters in the modification of “Barak”. This decision was made after the meeting of the National Defense Council, which took place on the evening of March 27, 2018.
As specifies RIA Novosti news agency, Croatia has declared competition on delivery of fighters in 2017. Proposals were submitted by Greece, Israel, Sweden and the United States.
According to the Croatian media, the deal will cost the national budget of 420 million euros. For this money the country will receive 12 modernized F-16s with weapons and two flight simulators, and combat pilots and aircraft will be trained. Supplies are officially supported by the Israeli state.
The main competitor of Israel was considered the Swedish company Saab with fighters Gripen JAS-39, which without weapons and state guarantees were offered for 900 million euros.
“The Defense Council took into account the opinion and recommendations of the expert group of the Croatian Defense Ministry that the most advantageous proposal for multipurpose combat aircraft was made by Israel,” said the country’s President Colinda Grabar-Kitarovich.
The operation of the aircraft is expected to last 30 years. According to forecasts, the first F-16 will arrive in Croatia in the summer of 2020. Used Israeli warplanes must replace the obsolete Soviet MiG-21 fighters.
Source: https://военное.рф/2018/ТорговляОружием53/