Krstičević: In the procurement of aircraft, we will ensure that the partner country invests in our economy

Croatia will take into account not only the characteristics and capabilities of the aircraft but also the strategic partnership, price, and business-economic cooperation when selecting a combat squadron to replace the outdated Russian MiG-21s, said Defense Minister Damir Krstičević on Monday after talks with his Swedish counterpart Peter Hultqvist.

The Ministry of Defense (MORH) submitted a Request for Proposal (RfP) for a multi-role combat aircraft in July to five countries – Greece, Israel, South Korea, Sweden, and the USA. Greece, Israel, and the USA are offering Croatia F-16 aircraft, Korea is offering the FA-50 aircraft, and Sweden is offering the Gripen JAS-39.

>>> VIDEO/PHOTO: Krstičević acquainted with Gripen

“What we will consider, besides the characteristics and capabilities of the aircraft, are other parameters that are also crucial and important – that is strategic partnership because we want to work with the country (…) another important thing is the price and the third important element is business-economic cooperation,” Krstičević told reporters.

He emphasized that it must be “a partner that will invest in Croatia and create jobs.”

“Our task is to ensure that when we conclude a contract for the procurement of aircraft, that contract serves as a basis for strengthening economic cooperation and that the key element is a partner who will invest in the Croatian economy,” Krstičević explained.

He expressed satisfaction that there is consensus that we need a military aviation. “We must never forget the nineties when we were disarmed, without equipment and weapons, and we saw in all liberation operations how significant, among all others, our pilots were,” said the Croatian minister.

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Hultqvist stated that Sweden has very good combat aircraft of exceptional capabilities and that it is a new generation of combat aircraft.

“I invited Minister Krstičević to visit Sweden and see what we are doing in our defense forces, what capabilities we have,” said Hultqvist, reminding that the Czech Republic and Hungary equipped their air forces with Swedish aircraft.

In the area of the Visegrad Group countries, a kind of “Gripen zone” has already formed, and it is expected that Slovakia will also opt for Gripens.

Krstičević reminded that the offers will be opened on October 3 in alphabetical order, after which all bidders will have the opportunity to present their offers to the project team, which will then select what is best for Croatia according to the set criteria during the evaluation process. The Swedish minister was also received by the President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

On Tuesday, Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli Minister of Defense, will arrive in Zagreb, offering Croatia an upgraded version of the American F-16 Barak aircraft. This is the first visit of an Israeli defense minister to Croatia.