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

Deliveries of PzH 2000 howitzers to Croatia from Germany begin

http://www.morh.hr/hr/vijesti-najave-i-priopcenja/priopcenja/11795-predstavljene-haubice-pzh-2000-29072015.html

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.

Croatia takes delivery of 30 MRAP MaxxPro armoured donated by the United States Government

Thirty Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected Vehicles MRAP MaxxPro for logistic use, donated by the U.S. Government to the Republic of Croatia, were officially taken over in the "Croatia" Barracks in Zagreb on 7 April 2014.

The official ceremony was attended by the Assistant Defence Minister of the Republic of Croatia for Material Resources, Viktor Koprivnjak as Envoy of the Defence Minister, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Drago Lovric and the U. S. Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, Kenneth Merten.
The U.S. Government decided on donating 212 MRAP vehicles, of which 162 MRAP M-ATV vehicles (combat terrain vehicle), 29 MRAP HAGA vehicles (for medical purposes) and 30 MaxxPro vehicles.
General Lovric extended the appreciation to the U.S. Government for the valuable donation, stating that hte takeover of the MRAP vehicles was one of its numerous instances of assistance and donations to the Republic of Croatia and its Armed Forces.

The vehicles have been assigned to the Croatian Army, Support Command and Special Operations Battalion respectively, and are intended for combat operations of smaller scale, in urban and restricted environments including patrolling, convoy securing, recce, MEDEVAC, transportation of personnel and cargo and command vehicle.