Summary: Croatia has recently bolstered its air force by integrating the first batch of six Dassault Rafale fighters, with plans to complete the squadron by 2025. This acquisition enhances Croatia's defense capabilities within NATO and signifies a strengthening of Franco-Croatian military cooperation.

-The deal, which encompasses 12 aircraft in total, is part of a broader regional trend, with Serbia also expressing interest in Rafales to modernize its aging fleet. Beyond the Balkans, the Rafale is gaining attention in the Middle East, with Oman contemplating the purchase of up to 24 jets.

-The Dassault Rafale, known for its versatility across multiple combat roles, continues to be a significant player in the global defense market, underscoring Dassault Aviation's robust position in European military aviation.

Dassault Rafale Fighter Expands Global Reach from the Balkans to the Middle East

Croatia added the first of two batches of Dassault Rafale fighters to its air force at the Zagreb operational base this month. Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, and Minister of Defense Ivan Anusic welcomed the arrival of six aircraft. 

The NATO member-state closed a deal in November to acquire a full dozen of the aircraft. The initial six, operated by pilots trained in France, arrived in their new homeland and will soon join the 191st Fighter Squadron of the Croatian Air Force. 

The next batch of aircraft is expected to arrive in 2025 and will complete a full squadron.

"The mastery with which the Croatian Air Force carried out this first ferry testifies to the excellence of its pilots and personnel, and brilliantly illustrates the quality of Croatia's cooperation with France,” said Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. “Dassault Aviation is fully committed to completing the full integration and logistic support of the Rafale into the Croatian Air Force, which will contribute to ensuring Croatia's sovereignty and enable it to successfully carry out its operational missions within NATO."

Regional Arms Race in the Balkans

Croatia is not the only Balkan nation seeking to acquire the French-made fighter. Serbia announced last month its plans to purchase 12 new Rafale fighters in a deal reportedly worth 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion). As previously reported, Belgrade seeks to modernize its air force, which currently consists of Soviet-made MiG-29 fighters and other aging Yugoslav-era combat aircraft.

However, the deal has not been confirmed by French officials.

Dassault occupies 5.6% of the European military fixed-wing aircraft market. According to GlobalData's The Global Military Fixed Wing Aircraft Market 2023-2033 report, the company has undertaken major programs, including Rafale aircraft for France, Greece, and Croatia.

Dassault Rafales in the Middle East?

According to other reports, multiple Middle Eastern nations are considering the Rafale as well, especially since the United States is unlikely to allow the sale of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II to any nation in the region other than Israel.

Oman, which is strategically located near the Arabian Sea and borders Yemen, is the latest Middle Eastern state to eye the Rafale. The Arab nation seeks to acquire 18 to 24 of the French-made fighter jets.

The French Burst of Fire

The Dassault Rafale – which means "gust of wind," or "burst of fire" in a more military sense – was conceived for use by France’s air and naval services as an "omnirole" fighter, meaning that it would replace seven types of combat aircraft in operation at the time of its development.

The new aircraft was developed to carry out a wide range of missions, including air-defense/air-superiority, anti-access/area denial, reconnaissance, close air support, dynamic targeting, air-to-ground precision strike/interdiction, anti-ship attack, nuclear deterrence, and even buddy-buddy refueling.

The requirements for these many roles were taken into account during the aircraft's early development. Engineers sought to create an aircraft that was able to go above the needs for each type of mission and serve as a force multiplier.

The Rafale is slated to be the French armed forces' prime combat aircraft until at least 2050.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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