The government says it doesn't have enough funds to purchase new aircraft.

ZAGREB, March 28, 2018 - Commenting on Croatia's decision to buy Israeli fighter aircraft, Defence Minister Damir Krstičević said on Wednesday that this project would guarantee the country's security and sovereignty and would help maintain its capability of monitoring its own airspace.

ZAGREB, March 28, 2018 - Croatia's Council for Defence, at its meeting on Tuesday evening, accepted Israel's offer of multipurpose fighter jets as the most favourable one and recommended to the government to decide accordingly, a government statement said.

ZAGREB, March 27, 2018 - Croatian Defence Minister Damir Krstičević told reporters on Wednesday that in the process of procurement of fighter jets Croatia was looking for a strategic partner that would provide it also with operational experience as well as the experience in maintaining the aircraft and in logistics, given the complexity of the procedure.