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Beheading of Croatian hostage

#ISIS shares this photo claiming the beheading of #Croatia(n) hostage GRAPHIC CONTENT pic.twitter.com/XmGFY1LWRC

— TRACterrorism.org (@TRACterrorism) August 12, 2015

Croatia to keep combat aircraft, confirms Kiowa acquisition

Croatia has confirmed that it will retain a combat fixed-wing fleet, which will include restarting a programme for the replacement of its aging Mikoyan MiG-21 bisD/UMD aircraft.

The Croatian state defence council - chaired by President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović - confirmed the decision, and the ministry of defence is believed to be “already evaluating three possible options” to replace its MiG-21 fleet.

By the end of the year a commission that is to include members from the MoD, Croatian air force, ministry of finance and commerce and parliamentary parties is to announce its choice, and a decision is to be finalised in 2016.

Sources in Croatia claim that only western aircraft are under consideration, either new or second-hand/refurbished, and cite already speculated Saab Gripen and Lockheed Martin F-16s as the most probable contenders.

However the Dassault Mirage 2000, Israel Aerospace Industries Kfir and a variant of the Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 are all considered to also be candidates.Funding is still the main drawback, so the NATO “Smart Defence” model that encourages member states to pool assets – like the Czech Republic and Hungary did in leasing the Gripen - is being considered. USA donations of used older models of the F-16 that could be modernised is another option, or alternatively ex-Royal Netherlands Air Force or Belgian air force aircraft could be an option.

If the funding shortage were more dire, secondhand Mirage 2000s, Kfirs or T-50s could be considered.

An effort to acquire a new type was halted due to a funding shortage, while 12 overhauled MiG-21bis aircraft have been delivered through Ukraine’s Ukrspecexport agency, which was brought about in order to bridge the gap in training and operations until funds are secured for a new combat type. Croatian chief of staff, Gen Drago Lovric, says that the full squadron should be fully operational by May.

Meanwhile the defence council has also informed Grabar-Kitarović on the progress of the Bell Helicopter OH-58D Kiowa acquisition. Croatian portal Defender.hr. has cited MoD sources saying that a “Croatian team is expected in May to choose 16 helicopters from US stock to be delivered”.

Croatia's air force already operates the Bell 206B – from which the OH-58 was derived – for pilot training and light transport duties.

Croatian Air Force MiG-21 crashes - pilot unhurt

Photo credit: Tomislav Kozacinsky and
https://twitter.com/tangosix/status/496648221763317760/photo/1

Photo credit Hungarian media outlet VGDanas

A Croatian Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed “121″ crashed in an uninhabited the area at ​​Donja Lomnica near Velika Gorica, Croatia during a mission.

The aircraft suffered an engine fire as well as a landing gear problem.

Croatia nears receipt of delayed MiG-21s from Ukraine

Photos Croatian defence ministry

Croatia's defence ministry says the current turmoil in Ukraine “has nothing to do” with a roughly five-month delay in returning its Mikoyan MiG-21bisD fighters and UMD-model trainers that are being overhauled in Odessa, instead citing “technical problems”.These include issues with integrating new navigation and communication equipment from Czech supplier CLS, along with “digital to analogue signal conversion”.

Being performed under a €13.9 million ($19.3 million) deal forged through Ukraine's Ukrspecexport organisation, the project includes the overhaul of the seven aircraft and the provision of five additional single-seat examples, which are being refurbished and equipped to Croatian air force specifications.