Reliability and ruggedness are the qualities, that characterize the long-term usage of legendary MiG-21 fighter in Croatian service. Similar evaluation would be most likely confirmed by other MiG-21´s users. The MiG-21 has been present on Croatian soil for more than 50 years, thus local aviation experts have strongly adopted its philosophy of operational service and doctrine, which has originated in USSR in 1960´s.

MiG-21bis & MiG-21UM have become symbol of CROATIA´n civil war, that has taken place between 1991 and 1995. When CROATIA begun its negotiations to join NATO in 2003, those fighters had to undergo general overhaul and modernization in Romanian company “AEROSTAR”, which would bring them necessary compliance with communication, navigation and identification equipment of NATO. First generation of CROATIAN pilots has also underwent training on those machines, and it is perceived as a strong platform provided by CROATIA to NATINAMDS (NATO integrated air and missile defense system). After 10 year service of “Romanian” MiG´s, new general overhaul was scheduled in July 2013. The contract has been concluded with Ukrainian company “UKRSPETSEKSPORT” and included partial modernization of avionics, which should be concluded by “ODESAVIAREMSERVICE” in ODESSA. However, strong media campaign in CROATIA has brought to light many strange facts, connected with general overhaul and origin of acquired “new” MiG-21bis. Soon, the suspicion was proven to be correct and general prosecutor has charged one officer of Croatian ministry of defense and one representative of UKRAINIAN company with bribery. How did it affected the quality of overhaul is the subject of further investigation. Suspicion of involvement of high-ranking officers and managers has been also voiced by Croatian president Kolinda Grabar KITAROVIĆ. Meanwhile, Serbian air force is conducting significant steps towards modernization of its tactical aviation, when they acquired 6 MiG-29´s from RUSSIA and also plan to acquire 8 more from BELARUS. First MiG-29´s are scheduled to land in SERBIA in late summer 2017. This is perceived as a threat by CROATIA and speeds up the process of acquisition of new multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA).

MRCA project, which aim is to acquire modern jet, which will replace obsolete MiG-21bis, was started shortly after CROATIA joined NATO in 2009. Several manufacturers were contacted various jets were proposed, including SAAB JAS-39C/D Gripen; CASSIDIAN Eurofighter Typhoon; Lockheed Martin F-16A/C Block 15/30/50/52; IAI F-16ACE; KFIR C-7 Block 60; Dassault Mirage 2000-5; ASTRAC Mirage F-1CT M2000 or MiG-29M/M2 from RUSSIA. However, due to insufficient funds, the execution of modernization was postponed and short-term solution, in the form of overhaul of current MiG-21bis was agreed. Nevertheless, the outcome of the first evaluations showed, that the best candidates are JAS-39C/D Gripen and MiG-29M/M2.

However, Russian MiG-29M/M2 has almost no chance to succeed, due to political pressure and Croatian membership in NATO, which has experienced worsening of bilateral relations with RUSSIA.

New official RFI (request for information) has been requested by Croatian defense ministry from ISRAEL, FRANCE (RAFALE), SOUTH KOREA (FA-50), while RUSSIA was not approached. US has also joined the initiative and send proposal for SCORPION. ISRAEL´s proposal included two options. The first was to acquire F-16C/D Block 40 BARAK, manufactured in 1994, together with short and medium range AAM´s and training of Croatian pilots in ISRAEL. Overall price was estimated at 600 mil. EUR, which was the amount close to acquisition of new Swedish GRIPEN. The second option was for older F-16A/B NETZ from mid 80.´s, withdrawn from service due to introduction of new F-35A. This offer also included AAM´s, general overhaul and training of CROATIAN pilots in CROATIA for 120 mil. EUR. It is worth mentioning, that as early as 2011, Croatian experts said, that any solution based on F-16 is inappropriate, due to high costs of operating, servicing and maintenance, demand for sophisticated infrastructure, number of ground personnel, quality of runways and other important factors.

KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES (KAI) sees its chances highly optimistically, even though their FA-50 is not fully comparable with combat aircraft of the 4, 4+ and 4++ generation. However, its main advantage is the cost, which represents only half of the price of modern combat aircraft. KAI also emphasizes very good training capabilities of the FA-50, which would allow CROATIAN pilots to achieve sufficient flying time for affordable price, and low demands for ground infrastructure and maintenance, especially compared with F-16. Considering, that South Korean manufacturer tries hard to sell its planes to Europe, CROATIA has good outlook for possible industrial cooperation. South Korean experts are realistic and admit, that in case of the regional conflict, FA-50 would not have a chance against MiG-29 in dogfight or BVR combat, but they admit some chance for group of FA-50 against single MiG-29.

The biggest campaign of the MRCA is led by SAAB, since 2006, which is the only one who specified long term benefits of its offer, oriented for low service costs, while retaining all operational requirements of fighter squadron. CROATIAN ministry of defense is after 10 years still the process of collecting information and no RFP (request for proposal) was announced. Without clear technical and tactical specifications, various planes which are of totally different class, compete against each other. Such approach can only lead to further delay of this program. Also, Croatian air force has been struggling with shortage of pilots and ground personnel, and also their high average age. Even the Croatian training concept can not be evaluated as a modern, safe and effective one. In this case, combat pilots are transiting from turboprop Pilatus PC-9M to supersonic MiG-21UM.

As the Croatian president has already announced, that final decision about which type of combat aircraft will be acquired will be announced in the 2^nd half of 2017. Taking into account the economy of the country and budget cuts, rumors have appeared, about acquisition of more overhauled and modernized MiG-21bis, which would retain capabilities of tactical aviation, with complete re-armament being delayed by 10-15 years. In the near future, we will see the results of Croatian MRCA plane.