Croatia to upgrade military equipment, old gear may be given to Ukraine
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
The Croatian authorities have decided to upgrade the armament of the country's Armed Forces. Old armored vehicles of Russian and Yugoslavian production may be transferred to Ukraine, Vecernji list reports.
The long-term development plan for the Croatian Armed Forces until 2028 provides for the purchase of a significant amount of military equipment, including infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, air defense systems, and self-propelled artillery systems.
In April, the first six of the 12 Rafale fighter jets arrived in Croatia, and the squadron will be fully operational in a year. These purchases are historic for Croatia, which has invested €1.2 billion in military needs for the first time.
By 2026, all 62 Bradley M2A2 ODS armored fighting vehicles will be repaired and modernized at the Đura Đaković plants in cooperation with Bae Systems. The Ministry of Defense also plans to order the production of 30 new Patria armored personnel carriers, bringing the total number of these vehicles to 200. The new armored personnel carriers will be equipped with DUOS turrets with 30-mm guns and Israeli-made SPIKE anti-tank missiles.
Croatia plans to strengthen its artillery units. In addition to the existing 14 German PzH 2000 tank howitzers of 155 mm caliber, it is planned to purchase additional units. There are also plans to purchase mobile artillery on wheels, such as the Swedish Archer or the French Caesar, both of 155 mm caliber.
The Ministry of Defense is already in talks with potential suppliers, but deliveries are delayed due to the priority of sending weapons to Ukraine. As a result of the modernization of the Croatian army, outdated Russian and Yugoslav armored vehicles may be transferred to Ukraine.
Croatia's assistance to Ukraine
Croatia actively supports Ukraine in its struggle for independence and territorial integrity. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Croatia has been providing comprehensive assistance to Ukraine.
Croatia has provided temporary protection to thousands of Ukrainian refugees, providing them with housing, medical care, and other necessary services. Croatia has also transferred significant amounts of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine to help the Ukrainian army defend the country.
Earlier it was reported that Croatia would allocate a new package of military assistance to Ukraine worth 30 million euros.
