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Armed Forces of Croatia

"Croatian Armed Forces" redirects here. For other uses, see Croatian Armed Forces (disambiguation).

The Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Croatian: Oružane snage Republike Hrvatske – OSRH) are the military forces organized for the defense of the Republic of Croatia and its allies by military means and for other forms of use and use in accordance with the domestic and international law. The Croatian Armed Forces protect the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Croatia and defend its territorial integrity.

Armed Forces of Croatia
Oružane Snage Republike Hrvatske
Croatian Armed Forces emblem
Founded1991
Service branches Croatian Army
 Croatian Navy
 Croatian Air Force
Websitewww.morh.hr/en/
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief Zoran Milanović
Ministry of Defence Ivan Anušić
Chief of the General Staff Tihomir Kundid
Personnel
Military age18 years of age
ConscriptionNo
Active personnel14,325[1]
Reserve personnel20,105[2]
Deployed personnel Iraq - 31[3]
 Hungary - 192[3]
 Poland – 145[3]
 Kosovo – 483[3]
 India /  Pakistan – 17[3]
 Western Sahara – 10[3]
Expenditure
Budget€1.283.95 billion[4]
Percent of GDP1.78%[4]
Industry
Domestic suppliersĐuro Đaković (armored vehicles)
Brodosplit (naval vessels)
HS Produkt (small arms)
Foreign suppliers France
 Germany
 Finland
 Israel
 United States
Related articles
HistoryMilitary history of Croatia
Croatian War of Independence
War in Bosnia and Herzegovina
List of Croatian soldiers
Orders, decorations, and medals of Croatia
RanksCroatian military ranks

In accordance with the requirements set for the Croatian Armed Forces in national defence and the fulfilment of obligations arising from NATO membership, the missions and tasks of the Croatian Armed Forces have been defined. The Croatian Armed Forces have three basic missions and those being: Defence of the Republic of Croatia and its allies, contribution to the international security and supporting civil institutions.

The President is the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief and exercises administrative powers in times of war by giving orders to the Chief of Staff, while administration and defence policy execution in peacetime is carried out by the Government through the Ministry of Defence. This unified institution consists of land, sea, and air branches referred to as:

In 2020, Armed Forces had 15,605 members, of which 14,325 were active military personnel and 1,280 civil servants.[1] Total available male manpower aged 16–49 numbers 1,035,712, of which 771,323 are technically fit for military service. Conscription is to be introduced once again from January 2025.[5]

The Army has 650 AFVs, around 150 pieces of Artillery, 105 MLRSs, 75 Tanks, and 25 SPGs. The Air Force has 6 Dassault Rafale F3-R fighter jets, 4 UH-60 helicopters, 10 Mi-171 combat-transport helicopters and 16 OH-58 attack helicopters. The Navy has 30 ships, out of which five 60-80 metre fast attack craft are used in offensive capabilities. In April 2024 Croatia acquired first 6 out of 12 used French Rafale F-3R.[6]

Budget

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See also: List of countries in Europe by military expenditures

The trajectory of Croatian military budget and spending was constantly below 2% of GDP, a major difference from the 1990s when defence expenditure represented a major stake in Croatian budgetary expenditure due to then ongoing Croatian War of Independence. For example, in 1995 the Croatian defence budget stood at 12.4 billion Croatian Kuna or around 10% of GDP, which was also represented at the time highest defence expenditure rate. In late 2019, the Croatian Government issued a revised defence expenditure strategy which will see the country increase its defence expenditure to gradually meet the 2% NATO target, with 2019 and 2020 defence budgets seeing immediate revisions and increases to meet the new spending plan. Defence expenditure in 2025 therefore based on current projections could reach €1.75 billion or around 2% of GDP which would meet NATO recommendation. However, if defence pensions are included in Croatia's defence expenditure, then Croatia already meets the 2% target recommended by the NATO. Some €1140 million was paid in defence pensions to some 97000 individuals in Croatia.[7][8]

Defence expenditures in recent years (source Croatian MOD);

Year Amount (in HRK) % of GDP Change in %
2000 4.768 bln[9] 3.13  
2010 4.811 bln 1.45   0.07
2011 5.119 bln[10] 1.47   0.02
2015 4.75 bln[11] 1.21   0.04[11]
2016 4.7 bln[11] 1.21   0.04
2017 4.39 bln[12] 1.21   0.04[12]
2018 4.816 bln[13] 1.25   0.04
2019 5.375 bln[13] 1.31   0.03
2020 7.19 bln[13] 1.71   0.40[14]
2021 7.273 bln[13] 1.65   0.06[15][16]
2022 7.568 bln[13] 1.46   0.21[15]
  • Croatia adopted € and therefore, Kuna is no longer national currency in circulation or used in statistics. As of January 1, 2023 exchange rate for €1 = 7.53 Kuna.
Year Amount (in Euro) % of GDP Change in %
2023 1.28 bln[17] 1.78   0.32

Structure

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Structure of the Croatian Armed Forces 2016 (click to enlarge)

The Armed Forces are divided into branches, services, professions and their specialties. The branches of the Armed Forces are the Croatian Army, the Croatian Navy and the Croatian Air Force.

Branches of the Armed Forces are parts of the Armed Forces within which the preparation and equipping of individuals, units and purpose-built forces are carried out for the execution of tasks in certain geographical areas (land, sea, air) whose primary task is to maintain the required level of combat readiness of operational units.

The armed forces have a peacetime and a wartime composition. The peacetime composition of the Armed Forces consists of active military personnel, civil servants and employees assigned to the Armed Forces, reservists called up for training, contract reservists, cadets and persons who have received voluntary military training. Exceptionally, the peacetime composition of the Armed Forces also consists of conscripts when compulsory military service is in force. The wartime composition of the Armed Forces, in addition to military personnel, civil servants, employees and conscripts (when compulsory military service is in force), also consists of conscripts mobilized into the Armed Forces.

The current structure of the Croatian Armed Forces has been in force since 1 December 2014 and includes the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Military Representations, Headquarters Units, three branches: the Croatian Army, the Croatian Navy and the Croatian Air Force, as well as the Croatian Defence Academy "Dr. Franjo Tuđman", the Support Command and the Special Forces Command.[18]

  • General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces is the general staff of the Armed forces of Republic of Croatia, a joint body organized within the Ministry of Defence which is responsible for the command, preparation and use of the Armed Forces. General Staff commands the entire Armed Forces in accordance with the dictates of the Commander-in-Chief (President of Croatia) and the Minister of Defense and performs other professional activities for the Commander-in-Chief and the Minister of Defense. It also has a number of units under its direct command, including the CROSOFCOM, Honour Guard Battalion and several others.
  • Croatian Defence Academy "Dr. Franjo Tuđman" (HVU) is a higher educational military institution of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. It is responsible for the training of individuals for the needs of the entire Croatian Armed Forces. It is located in the "Petar Zrinski" barracks in the Zagreb district of Črnomerec.
  • The Support Command (ZzP) is the most important part of the logistics system of the Croatian Armed Forces and is responsible for the implementation of logistical, medical and part of personnel support for the Croatian Armed Forces. It's responsible for the acquisition and preparation of all State resources allocated to the Armed Forces and for the overall plan of their use and its applicability to operations on the battlefield.
  • Croatian Special Forces Command (CROSOFCOM) is one of the three independent commands of the Croatian Armed Forces, subordinate directly to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. CROSOFCOM mission is to ensure the combat readiness of the special operations forces for operations in defense of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Croatia and to participate in NATO and coalition-led operations.
  • Military representations (VP) represent the Armed Forces and carry out their duties, professional tasks related to participation in the work and monitoring the work of departments, working groups, permanent and temporary bodies at the North Atlantic Alliance, European Union and at the Allied Command Operations and the Allied Command Transformation.
  • Support units (PP) are established for the purpose of developing capabilities for the implementation of various tasks and support activities, which other compositions, due to the specificity or scope, cannot be provided by the Armed Forces within the organic composition. Those units are: Presidential Guard Battalion, Military Police Regiment (PVP), Intelligence Operations Center (SOD), Center for Communication and Information Systems (SKIS), Personnel Management Center (HRC), Home of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (DGSOS)

Arms exports

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As a small country, Croatia has a relatively well developed arms industry that is highly competitive internationally with significant annual arms exports. In 2012, Croatia managed to export nearly €120 million.[19] However it has been reported in The New York Times that Croatia has been arming Syrian rebels with Croatian manufactured arms used during the Homeland War, arms Croatia no longer uses due to their obsolescence. Nevertheless, these arms played a crucial role in some significant rebel gains during 2012.[20][21] As a result of these arms sales into this volatile region the Croatian government ordered the immediate withdrawal of the Croatian UN Golan Heights contingent to avoid being targeted in retaliation.

In 2013 Croatia exported €143 million worth of arms,[22][23] however it is not clear if this also includes $36.5 million worth of arms Croatia exported to Jordan for Syrian rebels. Croatia was the top supplier of arms to Syrian rebels in 2013, but much of it through illicit channels without Croatian government approval or knowledge. Most of these arms were exported via Jordan.[24]

In 2014 Croatian arms exports reached 1.5 bn HRK (Croatian kuna) or €200 million or $257 million, the majority of exports being to NATO allies and Australia. In late 2014 the Croatian Defence Minister announced a major export deal to Iraq including the State of Kurdistan. This agreement includes the sale of 20,000 VHS Rifles, 150,000 complete sets of uniforms, helmets and associated equipment valued at €100 million.[25] Croatian arms exports are growing steadily at 10–15% year-on-year and were expected to reach 1.75 billion HRK in 2015 or around €230 million, although much of the equipment exported is non-lethal. Croatian firms are well positioned on some major arms tenders in the Middle East, supplying complex military hardware such as the Patria AMV incorporating a newly developed 30mm overhead weapon station (valued at €1.25 million each) and said vehicles valued at €1.75 million. Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have been mentioned as potential customers, although no concrete contracts have been signed so far. Croatian firms are participating in Kuwaiti and UAE tenders for next-generation APC programmes, each valued at billions of euros.

Croatian arms exports have grown steadily for the better part of this decade and have reached €325 million per year, placing Croatia in the top 10 arms exporters within NATO, behind the US, Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Poland and Norway. The vast majority of these exports are to NATO partners such as the US, Norway, Australia, Canada, France. Croatia granted €5.75 billion in export licenses in 2016 and 2017; however, only a fraction of this sum has materialised in actual arms exports.[26]

International cooperation

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On 1 April 2009, Croatia joined NATO and on 1 July 2013, it became the 28th member of the European Union. The Croatian Armed Forces participate in many of the (military) aspects of both organisations as well as actively participating in many United Nations peacekeeping operations worldwide.

Current Mission Organization Location Number of personnel
European Union Naval Force Mediterranean – Operation Irini European Union Mediterranean Sea 1
European Union Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta European Union Somalia 1
European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo – EULEX European Union Kosovo N/A
Kosovo Force – KFOR NATO Kosovo 142
NATO Enhanced Forward Presence – Battle Group Poland NATO Poland 80
NATO Enhanced Forward Presence – Battle Group Lithuania NATO Lithuania 188
NATO mission in Iraq NATO Iraq 1-10
Operation Inherent Resolve U.S Armed Forces Kuwait 1
Operation Sea Guardian NATO Mediterranean Sea 32
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan – UNMOGIP United Nations India and Pakistan 9
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara – MINURSO United Nations Western Sahara 6
Former Mission Organization Location
European Union mission in Chad – EUFOR Tchad/RCA European Union Chad
European Union Naval Force Mediterranean – Operation Sophia European Union Mediterranean Sea
International Security Assistance Force – ISAF NATO Afghanistan
Operation Active Endeavour NATO Mediterranean Sea
Operation Triton European Union Mediterranean Sea
Resolute Support Mission – RS NATO Afghanistan
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force – UNDOF United Nations Golan Heights - Syria and Israel
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea – UNMEE United Nations Ethiopia and Eritrea
United Nations Mission in Liberia – UNMIL United Nations Liberia
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone – UNAMSIL United Nations Sierra Leone
United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor – UNMISET United Nations East Timor
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia – UNOMIG United Nations Georgia
United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire – UNOCI United Nations Ivory Coast
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus – UNFICYP United Nations Cyprus
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti – MINUSTAH United Nations Haiti
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  •  
    Croatian Army soldier with a U.S. Army soldier
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    Special operation forces conduct close quarter battle training
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    Patria AMV infantry fighting vehicle
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    PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer
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    Croatian M-84 at Zagreb Military Parade
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    MOL coastal anti-ship missile launcher
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    Kralj class missile boat
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    Omiš patrol vessel
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    Silba class landing ship-minelayer
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    OH-58D light attack helicopter
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    UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopter
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    Dassault Rafale omnirole fighter jet
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    Wings of Storm aerobatic team PC-9M aircraft
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    Canadair CL-415 firefighting aircraft

References

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  1. ^ a b "OSRH - Glavna".
  2. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (14 February 2020). The Military Balance 2020. London: Routledge. p. 93. ISBN 9780367466398.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Annual report on the implementation of the Implementation Program of the Ministry of Defense 2021–2024 for the year 2023" (PDF).
  4. ^ a b "SIPRI Military Expenditure Database".
  5. ^ "Croatia to reintroduce compulsory military draft as regional tensions soar". Associated Press News.
  6. ^ "MORH Oprema". 24 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Pročešljali smo novi državni proračun: Vojska, policija, političari, umirovljenici i učitelji trljaju ruke, medicinari najveći gubitnici".
  8. ^ "Koliko iznose mirovine hrvatskih branitelja?". 18 November 2022.
  9. ^ Alvir, Marija (March 2005). "Proračun MORH-a neće više padati". Hrvatski vojnik (in Croatian). Croatian Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  10. ^ "Ograničeni vojni proračun za 2011. iznosi pet milijardi kuna". Archived from the original on 16 December 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  11. ^ a b c "NACRT PRORAČUNA - kupuje se Air Tractor za obuku i jedan ophodni brod do 2015". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Nestali u tišini: Hrvatska vojska s 43.000 spala na 17.000 zaposlenih - Večernji.hr". Vecernji.hr. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Krstičević: U 4. godini mandata nabavljat ću oružane sustave!". vecernji.hr. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Jutarnji list - VIDEO: HRVATSKA VOJSKA TESTIRALA NOVO MOĆNO NAORUŽANJE Stižu Patrije s izraelskim topom, 8 sofisticiranih stanica instalirat će u DOK-ING-u i Đakoviću". www.jutarnji.hr. 30 November 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Zaključak Vlade RH o postupnom povećanju izdvajanja za obranu". MORH. 21 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Proračun Ministarstva obrane najveći je do sada, iznosit će 7,568 milijardi kuna". 12 May 2022.
  17. ^ "SIPRI Military Expenditure Database".
  18. ^ "DUGOROČNI PLAN RAZVOJA ORUŽANIH SNAGA REPUBLIKE HRVATSKE ZA RAZDOBLJE OD 2015. DO 2024" (PDF).
  19. ^ "Hrvatska među 25 najvećih izvoznika vojne opreme na svijetu: lanjski izvoz 880 milijuna kuna / Novi list". Novilist.hr. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  20. ^ C. J. CHIVERS;ERIC SCHMITT (25 February 2013). "In Shift, Saudis Are Said to Arm Rebels in Syria". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ By C. J. CHIVERS and ERIC SCHMITTFEB. 25, 2013 (25 February 2013). "In Shift, Saudis Are Said to Arm Rebels in Syria - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 December 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ program, IRIB-Bosanski radio. "Hrvatski izvoz oružja blizu 143 miliona eura". bosnianold.ws.irib.ir.
  23. ^ "Croatian military output approaches USD1 billion". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  24. ^ "Hrvatska trgovala preko Jordana: Siriji prodano oružje vrijedno 200 milijuna kuna". Novi list online portal. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  25. ^ "Kotromanović: Lani izvezeno 25 posto više vojne opreme i oružja > Slobodna Dalmacija". Slobodnadalmacija.hr. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  26. ^ "Izvezli oružja za 200 mil. eura, SAD ostaje najveći kupac". www.vecernji.hr.
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