The Croatian government has decided to update the country's Armed Forces' weaponry, and the old Russian and Yugoslav-made armored vehicles may be transferred to Ukraine.
According to Vecernji list, the long-term development plan for the Croatian Armed Forces until 2028 includes the purchase of a significant amount of military equipment, including infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, air defense systems, and self-propelled artillery units.
In April, the first six of twelve Rafale fighter jets arrived in Croatia, and within a year, the squadron will be fully equipped. These acquisitions are historic for Croatia, marking the first time the country has invested €1.2 billion in military needs.
By 2026, all 62 Bradley M2A2 ODS armored fighting vehicles will be repaired and upgraded at the Đura Đaković plants in cooperation with Bae Systems. The Ministry of Defense also plans to order 30 new Patria armored personnel carriers, bringing the total number to 200. These new carriers will be equipped with DUOS turrets featuring 30mm cannons and Israeli-made SPIKE anti-tank missiles.
Furthermore, Croatia plans to strengthen its artillery units. In addition to the existing 14 German PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers of 155mm caliber, additional units are planned for purchase. The country is also considering mobile artillery on wheels, such as the Swedish Archer or French Caesar, both of 155mm 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 As a result of the Croatian army's modernization, outdated Russian and Yugoslav-made armored vehicles may be handed over to Ukraine.