Croatian Air Force and Defense (Croatian: Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo i protuzračna obrana) is a branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. Image File history File links Croatian Airforce and Defense badge This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... Croatian military is officially called Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oružane Snage Republike Hrvatske) and it consists of these branches: ground forces (Hrvatska kopnena vojska) naval forces (Hrvatska ratna mornarica) air and air defense forces (Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo i protuzračna obrana) Total active duty members of...

Duties

Croatian Air Force and Air Defence aim is securing sovereignty of the air space of the Republic of Croatia and providing air support to other services in implementation of their tasks in joint operations. It is a proponent and organizer of the Croatian air defence integrated system. This double role of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence is realized with the following main tasks: Joint warfare is a military doctrine which places priority on the integration of the various service branches of a states armed forces into one unified command. ...

Roundel

Tail fin

• Inspection and control of the air space security
• Predominance in Croatian air space, over land and sea, with defence and attacks
• Providing help in natural, humanitarian and technological disasters
• Search and rescue operations
• Support to control of the proliferation of people and material goods

Basic structure: Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Croatian_Coat_of_Arms. ... Image File history File links Croatian_Coat_of_Arms. ... Search and Rescue (acronym SAR) is an operation mounted by emergency services, often well-trained volunteers, to find someone believed to be in distress, lost, sick or injured either in a remote or difficult to access area, such as mountains, desert or forest (Wilderness search and rescue), or at sea...

• Air Force Command
• Staff Service Support
• 91st Airbase
• 92nd Airbase
• 93rd Airbase
• 95th Airbase
• 218th Air Surveillance Brigade
• 205th Air Defense Brigade
• 74th Military Police Battalion
• 25th Mixed Elint Battalion
• 279th Signal Battalion
• 313th Logistic Brigade
• Air Force Education and Training Command
• Air Force Medicine Institute
• 42nd Engineer Battalion

As seen in the August 5, 2005 military parade, the Croatian Air Force is currently comprised of 108 operational aircraft, ranging from interceptors and fighter jets to cargo planes and different types of helicopters. ELINT stands for ELectronic INTelligence, and refers to intelligence-gathering by use of electronic sensors. ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Current status

Croatian MiG-21

Croatian Air Force, Antonov An-32B

In 2006 Croatian Air Force was considered to be the most combat-capable (though not the biggest) of all ex-Yugoslav air forces. It is compromised of 12 modernized MiG-21 bisD/UMD fighters which were sent to an overhaul in 2003 and returned to service a year later for a cost of 8.5 million USD. Today they are believed to be in good condition and pilots get more flight-hours than ever before. Some 15 older MiG-21s are kept for spare parts and as a reserve. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 590 pixel Image in higher resolution (876 × 646 pixel, file size: 53 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Croatian Air Force... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 590 pixel Image in higher resolution (876 × 646 pixel, file size: 53 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Croatian Air Force... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 433 pixel Image in higher resolution (1364 × 739 pixel, file size: 110 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Croatian Air Force... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 433 pixel Image in higher resolution (1364 × 739 pixel, file size: 110 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Croatian Air Force... Antonov An-32P © ANTONOV ASTC The Antonov An-32 (NATO reporting name: Cline) is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ...

In 2003 and 2004 a major part of the transport fleet was sent to Russia and Ukraine for an overhaul and light upgrading including 10 Mi-8 MTV-1 and 2 An-32B. Russian Mi-8 Hip The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) is a large transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. ... Antonov An-32P © ANTONOV ASTC The Antonov An-32 (NATO reporting name: Cline) is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft. ...

In 2006 Croatia made a deal to acquire 10 new Mi-171 attack-cargo helicopters as compensation for the Russian debt to Yugoslavia which Croatia partly inherited. The contract is worth 65 million USD. However, the new aircraft will be equipped mostly with Western technology.

Sometime before the 2005 airshow in Knin, the Croatian Air Force aerobatic group Krila oluje (Wings of Storm) were formed. It includes 5+1 Pilatus PC-9M turboprop trainers. Captain Dijana Doboš is one of only 4 female pilots in the world that are members of a national military aerobatic group. Croatian military ranks are as follows: Military of Croatia Category: ...

A few months toward the end of 2006, 7 Mi-24 were offered for sale at a price of 80,000 USD each due to their poor overall state. Croatia concluded that these helicopters were not worth upgrading and thus have been retired. Only 2 units will be kept, one of them sent to a museum and the other used as a ground-trainer. Their full replacement isn't considered yet but some tasks will be taken over by new Mi-171s. The Mil Mi-24 is a large combat helicopter gunship and low-capacity troop transport operated from 1976 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and over thirty other nations. ...

The Croatian Minister of Defense said that the overall readiness of the air force has been much improved in the past few years as a result of constant modernization which made possible that over 90% of all aircraft were airworthy at any given time in 2006.

Mil Mi-8MTV-1

Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 606 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Croatian Air Force and Defense... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 606 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Croatian Air Force and Defense...

Future Plans

The government plans to modernize the entire Armed Forces at a cost of 2.7 billion USD. Modernization calls for procurement of new fighters, new naval helicopters, new transport helicopters, 4 state-of-the-art stealth corvettes Gowind 200, 4 Gothenburg Class Gunboats Sweden offered as apart of a JAS-39 Gripen deal, 126 armored personal carriers Patria 8x8 (more are considered) and modernization of M-84A Main Battle Tanks. Although procurement of 108 Leopard 2 A4 tanks could still be an option. The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (Griffin) is a 4. ...

Aircraft inventory

Other aircraft reported in recent Croatian service include: Antonov An-32P © ANTONOV ASTC The Antonov An-32 (NATO reporting name: Cline) is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Bell Helicopter Model 206 JetRanger is a two-bladed main rotor, turbine powered helicopter with a conventional, two-bladed tail rotor. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The CL-215 is an indispensable tool for Canadian forest fire fighters. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Canada_(bordered). ... The Canadair CL-415 is a Canadian amphibious aircraft purpose-built as a water bomber. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Canada_(bordered). ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) is a large twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Pilatus PC-9 is a single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop training aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... The PA-31 Navajo was designed by Piper Aircraft to fill a gap in their product line; a large twin for the general aviation market was sorely needed in the mid-1960s, and founder W.T. Piper requested the type be developed. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

• 11 Utva-75
• 1 Air Tractor AT-802F (firefighting)
• 3 Augusta-Bell 212 (police)
• 1 CL-600 Challenger (Croatian Government)

Canadair CL-415 of Croatian AF

The Lola Utva 75 is a compact, piston engined aircraft that is mainly used as a military training aircraft for air force pilots that are not able to fly jet aircraft yet. ... The Bombardier Challenger is a family of business jets designed by Bill Lear and produced first by Canadair until that company was bought by Bombardier Aerospace in 1986. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 693 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Aerial firefighting Croatian... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 693 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Aerial firefighting Croatian...

On Order

• 10 Mi-171Sh to enter service in 2007 and 2008 (part of Russia Debt to Croatia)
• 14 JAS 39 Gripen or F-16 Block 40+ - entry service - before 2011
• 8 Zlin 242L basic trainers (2 were already delivered)
• 8-12 NHI NH90 or Eurocopter Eurocopter Panther Naval helicopters,(naval helicopters for 4 new corvettes ordered by Croatian Navy and 4-8 for Maritime/ASW/SAR Patrol) - before 2012.
• 3-5 CASA C-295 or Lockheed C-130 Hercules Medium transport aircraft primarily for peacekeeping and transport operations.
• 5-8 Bell 412/NHI NH90 Utility helicopters for and transport/logistics duties - sometime before 2012.
• 2-3 CL415 Fire bombers

2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (Griffin or Gryphon) is a fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in the United States and used by dozens of countries all over the world. ... 2011 (MMXI) will be a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The NHI NH90 is a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries, a company established by Agusta, Eurocopter and Stork Fokker Aerospace. ... The Panther helicopter of the Cassard frigate transferring a light load to the Meuse Maneuvering of a Panther helicopter on the Cassard frigate The Eurocopter Panther is the military version of the Eurocopter Dauphin medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter and is manufactured by Eurocopter (originally by Aérospatiale). ... 2012 (MMXII) will be a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... EADS CASA C-295 is a twin-turboprop tactical military transport aircraft made by EADS CASA. // The C-295 is a further development of the commercially successful Spanish transport aircraft CASA CN-235 with a stretched fuselage, 50% more payload capability and new PW127G turboprop engines. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and United Kingdom military forces. ... It has been suggested that CH-146 Griffon be merged into this article or section. ... The NHI NH90 is a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries, a company established by Agusta, Eurocopter and Stork Fokker Aerospace. ... 2012 (MMXII) will be a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Plans for new aircraft

• In 2006 Croatia officially declared its intention to purchase 14 modern multi-role fighters sometimes before 2010. Older MiG-21s will be retired sometime before 2011 although they were overhauled to serve until 2013.

The two most talked about replacements for MiG-21s are second-hand F-16s (Block 40+) or new SAAB Gripens as a more desired option. For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... 2011 (MMXI) will be a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in the United States and used by dozens of countries all over the world. ... The Saab JAS-39 Gripen (Griffin) is a fighter aircraft, originally from Sweden but later also United Kingdom, manufactured by Saab and BAE Systems. ...

• The fleet of ageing Lola Utva 75 basic trainers will be replaced by a new type, probably Zlin or Aermacchi SF-260 before 2008, 4 Zlin 242L aircrafts have already been ordered, and 2 were delivered last year plus 2 more to join in 2007.
• At least 3 more cargo aircraft will be bought before 2010 or sooner (probably C-130s)
• In late 2006, the Minister of Defense said that the number of new fighters might be raised to 14 aircraft meaning 10 single-seaters and 4 twin-seater
• New medium ASW helicopter is needed for Croatian Navy, Croatian Navy has no ASW role helicopter, currently ASW role is filled by ageing Mil Mi-8 helicopters which are ill equipped for such role. Croatia has needs for 8 to 12 ASW/SAR helicopters, 4-8 to serve on new Frigates/Corvettes Croatia is buying from France and 4 more helicopters are needed for SAR duties.

The Lola Utva 75 is a compact, piston engined aircraft that is mainly used as a military training aircraft for air force pilots that are not able to fly jet aircraft yet. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Sailing frigates were 4th, 5th, or 6th-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... For the automobile, see Chevrolet Corvette. ... SAR may stand for: (in pharmacology and computational chemistry) structure-activity relationship In plant disease resistance Systemic acquired resistance Salanter Akiba Riverdale, a modern Orthodox yeshiva in Riverdale, New York Saudi riyal (ISO 4217 currency code SAR) Search and rescue IPCC Second Assessment Report Segmentation and Reassembly of data packets...

References

Aviation Week & Space Technology (often abbreviated as Aviation Week or AW&ST) is a weekly magazine which reports upon the state of the aerospace industry. ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ...

External links

• Croatian Air Force at YuAirWar
• Croatian Air Force by Dragan Kostadinov
• Croatian Air Force History
• Croatian Air Arms
• MiGs Over Croatia