In what could be defined as the end of an era, the MiG-21 Fishbed fighter jets operating in Croatia have finally been removed from service, marking the end of operational duty for the “iconic” Soviet-origin fighters in Europe. 

Croatia’s Ministry of Defense announced on December 1 that its MiG-21 fighter jets, the country’s only fixed-wing combat aircraft, would no longer be used for peacetime quick reaction alert (QRA) duties in defending its airspace.

Notably, Croatia is the last European country to withdraw the MiG-21 from service. Last year, Romania, another European operator of Soviet aircraft, replaced the aircraft with F-16s.

The MiG-21s in the Croatian Air Force were responsible for protecting the country’s airspace and carrying out QRA duties.

The MiG-21 is being replaced by French Dassault Rafale fighter jets. The country has already secured the delivery of seven of the twelve Dassault Rafale combat aircraft ordered from France. However, the aircraft has yet to be inducted into service, and the Croatian fighter pilots are currently undergoing training on the advanced Western fighter.

While Croatia continues transitioning from the MiG-21 “Fishbed” to the Dassault Rafale combat aircraft, Hungary and Italy will take over its air defense as its NATO allies.

According to the Croatian Ministry of Defense (MoD), Hungarian Air Force Saab Gripen C and Italian Air Force Eurofighter F-2000 aircraft will provide quick reaction alert (QRA) and air policing for Croatian airspace until the end of 2025 or the start of 2026.

“In order not to affect the training of [Croatian Air Force] pilots, Rafale aircraft temporarily do not form a combat duo on [QRA] duty. From 1 December, air policing, a peacetime task of surveillance and protection of airspace, will temporarily … be performed from the airbases of neighboring allied countries Italy and Hungary,” the MoD said in a statement.

Croatia ordered 12 Rafale aircraft in 2021—10 single-seaters and two twin-seater jets. These are surplus aircraft from the French Air and Space Force upgraded to the F3-R standard. Croatia chose the Rafale over the US and Israeli F-16 Fighting Falcons and the JAS-39 Saab Gripen in 2021.

The aircraft will significantly bolster the country’s combat capability. It has state-of-the-art self-defense systems, a new-generation electronic radar with excellent sensor integration, and attack-navigation systems. It also uses various air-to-air and air-to-surface weaponry and is operated by Croatia’s neighbor, Greece.

Moreover, with this acquisition, the Croatian Air Force will undergo a massive transformation—switching from a second-generation fighter equipped with short-range air-to-air missiles to a sophisticated 4+ generation aircraft with beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles. In addition to the aircraft, Croatia will also receive training programs, simulators, and continuing support services until the end of 2026 to help the new assets integrate and function smoothly.

Croatia is investing strategically to protect its national security and establish itself as a “credible NATO partner,” with plans to operate the Rafale until the early 2050s.

With this, it joins India in retiring its MiG-21s and adopting cutting-edge Rafale fighter jets. Currently, the biggest operator of MiG-21 aircraft—India—is in the process of retiring the aircraft that came to be known as “the flying coffin” due to frequent air crashes. After a complex procurement process, India opted for 36 Rafales in a “flyaway” condition in 2016.

Croatia’s Windfall MiG-21

Croatia received its first MiG-21 Fishbed when a Yugoslav Air Force fighter pilot defected to Croatia in 1992, during the breakup of Yugoslavia. He was followed by two more pilots who also landed in Croatia, which was part of the erstwhile Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

However, two of these MiG-21 fighters were lost, one to the air defense system in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the other to friendly fire. With just one remaining in its inventory, Croatia decided to make a big purchase.

The following year, in 1993, an order for 40 MiG-21s was placed with Ukraine in violation of a United Nations arms embargo imposed on all six republics in the Yugoslav federation—including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. Of the 40 MiG-21s purchased, only 26 were reportedly inducted into service, and the rest were set aside for spare part requirements.

A few more fighters were lost by the time hostilities ended in 1995. According to multiple reports, Croatia lost six MiG-21 fighters by the end of the war. 

To keep the aircraft flying and combat-ready, Croatia decided to upgrade eight of its single-seat MiG-21s in Romania in 2003. Simultaneously, four more MiG-21s with two seats were purchased, perhaps from another European operator. Notably, the upgrades incorporated Western communication, identification, and navigation equipment since membership in NATO was upon this European country.

However, a few years later, it was determined that the aircraft could not remain in service any longer. So, Croatia decided to upgrade its fleet with an advanced multi-role aircraft. Although a formal tender was filed in 2008, and there were early plans to replace the MiG-21 fleet with a multirole aircraft in 2013, these plans were abandoned due to budgetary constraints.

Finally, the country decided to acquire the French Rafale, which was experiencing a resurgence at the time. The contract was inked in November 2021.

In August this year, the MiG-21 made a retirement flight over the Knin Fortress, leaving the spectators emotional. At the time, the Chief of the General Staff, Tihomir Kundid, observed that the flyover marked the end of the MiG-21 era and the start of a new one for the Rafale.

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