ZAGREB, 27 May 2022 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Friday that government officials had met with Croatian Air Force pilots who had taken part in the 1995 Operation Storm, stressing that all available mechanisms would be used to protect them from an indictment from Serbia.

"We discussed the latest developments following media reports that indictments are being prepared in Serbia, at the request of their prosecutor, against four pilots, Air Force commanders at the time of the military and police operation Storm," Plenković said at the start of a government session.

He said that they still did not have any concrete documents or requests for legal assistance but that they would do everything to protect the pilots.

"As before, the government will use all the available mechanisms to protect the Croatian pilots and the dignity of the Homeland War, thus sending a clear message about the fundamental values on which free Croatia is founded," said Plenković.

He said that during the Homeland War no orders had been issued, especially not in the Air Force, that would in any way be directed against civilian targets, repeating that the Homeland War, notably its operations Storm and Flash, had been part of efforts to liberate, protect and reintegrate Croatian territory.

Plenković repeated that with the indictment Serbia "is making a step backward in reconciliation", stressing that he had conveyed his dissatisfaction with the indictment to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić at a meeting in Davos.

The Serbian war crimes prosecutor has issued an indictment charging four Croatian officers with having ordered, on 7 and 8 August 1995, a missile attack on a refugee convoy, but the prosecutor's office has said that the indictment is not final and that the proceedings currently underway are not public.

According to unofficial reports, the indictment refers to Croatian Air Force pilots Vladimir Mikac, Zdenko Radulj, Željko Jelenić, and Danijel Borović.

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May 29, 2021 - Defence and Security Company Saab recognizes and respects the decision of the Croatian government in the fighter aircraft procurement process.

However, Saab is convinced that the offer made by the Swedish government for the 12 new Gripen C/D aircraft, which includes delivery within 2 years, a full logistic support package and training for Croatian Air Force pilots and technicians, as well as a tailor-made strategic cooperation package to be delivered by Saab, would meet and even exceed all the needs of the Croatian Air Force.

"We believe that our proposal is very comprehensive and highly beneficial in many aspects for Croatia and the Croatian Air Force. Gripen is the first of the new generation fighters in operational service, it is a fully NATO interoperable fighter, includes the latest technology and our offer was for new aircraft together with rapid deliveries. We have a strong customer base and a roadmap to keep Gripen technologically and operationally relevant into the 2060s. 

Procuring and operating new Gripen does not raise any additional costs often associated with used aircraft, and we can confirm that the Gripen offer transparently provided a total inclusion of all costs. The proposal also included a very attractive financial scheme for Croatia, which would enable re-payment over a long period of time, in combination with an initial “grace” period between 2023 and 2025. 

Such financing solutions would be delivered through the Swedish government and not through commercial banks, thus leading to exceptionally favourable financial terms. 

Partnering with Sweden and Saab would also have brought much more benefits for Croatia. Such an example is a Regional Aeronautical & Support Centre which would develop long-term cooperation with the local defence industry as well as the academic sector, generating some 500 high-tech, local jobs. We will continue to monitor and follow the process” stated Jonas Hjelm, Senior Vice-President and Head of Business Area Aeronautics.

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