At its session on Thursday, the government made decisions on the procurement of anti-drone protection systems, 18 French Caesar howitzers, 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks and 420 TATRA heavy off-road trucks worth a total of almost two billion euros, which will significantly modernize the Croatian Army.
"This is about the implementation of the loan we took from the EU SAFE instrument, and all of these are investments that will contribute to us fulfilling the goals we took on as a country at the NATO summit in the coming years," said Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić stressed that the Government and the Ministry of Defence are "firmly committed" to further improving and modernising the capabilities of the Croatian Army because, as he stressed, this is "a direct investment in the security of citizens and support for NATO capability goals". Equipping with anti-drone systems, he said, represents a strategic step forward in the development of national defence capabilities and the strengthening of the domestic industrial and technological base.
By decision of the Government, two stationary systems for the protection of military critical infrastructure and two mobile systems integrated into vehicles are being procured for the purpose of equipping a medium infantry brigade.
The procurement is being carried out by concluding a five-year Framework Agreement between the Ministry of Defense and the company Končar-Digital doo, which will be the system integrator and manufacturer of part of the equipment of the Polish company APS (Advanced Protection Systems), which, Anušić said, will enable the transfer of knowledge and part of the production of the SKYctrl system to the Republic of Croatia.
The total value is 156,3 million euros, and the funds are provided in the Ministry of Defense budget for the period from 2026 to 2029.
Procurement of self-propelled howitzers, tanks and heavy trucks with an EU SAFE loan
The government also made a decision on the procurement of 18 self-propelled howitzers 155 mm CAESAR MK2, which will be carried out through joint procurement through the French Armaments Agency together with Estonia, Bulgaria, Portugal and Slovenia.
The procurement is divided into two packages - the basic one, which consists of 18 self-propelled howitzers, and the additional one, which consists of means for monitoring and acquiring targets, fire control systems, communication and information transmission, communication vehicles, armored vehicles, and cargo-terrain vehicles for transporting combat ammunition sets.
The money will be provided from the EU SAFE instrument. The delivery deadline is 2030, and the procurement value is 328,1 million euros, with a projection of economic price increases.
44 German Leopard 2A8 battle tanks are also being procured with three simulators, spare parts and logistical support, for which we will pay 144,8 million euros less.
This is the amount the German Ministry of Defense paid to the Ministry of Defense for tanks, combat vehicles, and ammunition that we transferred to Ukraine at the end of 2024, and it is intended specifically for the procurement of their Leopards.
Leopards arrive from 2028 to 2030, agreement for tanks and howitzers next week in France and Germany
The tanks are expected to be delivered from 2028 to 2030, with a total procurement value of 1,5 billion euros. The majority of this amount, 1,1 billion, will be provided through the EU SAFE loan from 2026 to 2030, while funds for the provision of extended warranty services, economic price increases and VAT payments in the amount of 343,6 million euros are provided in the MOD budget from 2026 to 2033.
"With lower procurement costs, equipping will be carried out faster, military cooperation will be deepened and interoperability with allies will increase, and the unification of the fleet with the support of manufacturers and the engagement of the Croatian defense industry will ensure simpler logistical support and lower maintenance costs," said Anušić.
Framework agreements for the purchase of howitzers and tanks will be signed next week in France and Germany.
The government has also decided to procure 420 TATRA heavy off-road trucks, which will be carried out through a joint procurement with Slovakia through the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic. The amount of EUR 212,3 million will also be provided through the SAFE instrument at the expense of the Ministry of Defence, and the delivery deadline is from next year to 2030.
"The signing of the Framework Agreement will also enable the signing of a contract between the company Đuro Đaković Specijalna vozila dd and Tatra Defense Systems, according to which the final assembly of the trucks and their maintenance will be carried out in Croatia. Tatra trucks meet all NATO standards for ballistic and anti-mine protection, and 21 NATO members own them," said the Minister of Defense.
Photo: HINA/Admir Buljubašić
