Croatia’s government announced on Dec. 9 that it will be purchasing the French air defense system, the Mistral, for $75 million. The acquisition is part of the NATO member’s efforts to modernize its air force.
“The circumstances that occurred with the Russian aggression on Ukraine and the crash of a drone in Zagreb have shown it is important and necessary to adjust priorities and plans for equipping the Croatian army,” Defence Minister Mario Banozic told fellow ministers.
In March of this year, a Tupolev Tu-141 Strizh Soviet reconnaissance drone crashed in the capital city of Zagreb after entering Croatian air space from neighboring Hungary. The drone was carrying an aerial bomb, but fortunately did not cause any harm to residents. This incident highlighted the need for Croatia to improve its air defense capabilities, particularly in the face of potential threats from neighboring countries. The purchase of the French Mistral air defense system is seen as a step towards addressing this need and modernizing the country’s air force.
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