As of the January 1, 2026 Croatia took back responsibility for its own airspace. With a long and deep history of the Croatian Air Force and this role, Chris Lofting provides AeroResource with his unique insight, a recent timeline plus outstanding imagery before and after this historic event.

With the sunsetting at 16:13 local time on November 30, 2024, it was believed that the Mikoyan MiG-21 had finally given up Croatia’s Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) role. Just four days later on December 4 at 12:50 local time, ‘ KNIGHT01 ‘ was scrambled on a live unknown bogey which unfortunately proved unsuccessful and the jet returned 27 minutes later. Finally, on December 19, the KNIGHT01 call sign was used for the last time. The MiG-21 involved was number 116 which made its last flight touching down at 15:03 local time. On the evening of the December 23, 2024, 116 was towed from the QRA barns signalling a true end to this chapter of Croatian military aviation history.

In the final analysis, although undertaking the QRA role almost to the end of its service career, the MiG-21 was last seen carrying its R-60MK missile some 20 months before on May 1, 2023. From that date onwards, the aircraft had solely relied on its cannon.

New aircraft, new era

Since then, and up until January 1, 2026, Croatia’s airspace has been protected by fellow NATO member assets; Italian Eurofighters from Istrana Air Base, and Hungarian JAS-39 Gripens from Kecskemet Air Base. Having acquired 12 aircraft between April 2024 and May 2025, Croatia’s Rafale F3R’s can now provide a 24 hour all weather QRA unlike the MiG-21 which in its twilight years only provided a daylight QRA. Croatia’s QRA is situated on the military side of Zagrebs Franjo Tudjman airport. Located here is a purpose built QRA facility capable of housing three Rafales but at the present time, only one jet is being used unlike the two jets when the MiG-21 was active. This may possibly be due to a current shortage of pilots and on going training commitments. As in the former times, the QRA jet uses the callsign KNIGHT01. Regular weekly ‘Tango’ practice scrambles take place, usually against other Rafales or Air Force Pilatus PC-9s flying from their Zadar Air Base. They will also use targets of opportunity should they arise. A past example from the MiG era included a visiting USAF Beechcraft C-12D from the Budapest Embassy flight and a Croatian Air Force AT-802 Air Tractor firefighting aircraft which was transiting back to Zadar after maintenance at the ZTC Overhaul and Maintenance Depot attached to Franjo Tudjman airport. Training flights can also involve fictitious targets. A recent example of this was when a scrambled Rafale was given a bogey described as a four engine Russian transport serial 31015. Having intercepted and deemed hostile with the Rafale cleared to engage, the Rafale then intercepted an American registered business jet; registration given as N557SV, on the same sortie. Flying from Romania and interception complete, the aircraft was escorted back to Zagreb. 

Regular training continues a pace with Mondays and Tuesdays generally allocated to afternoon/night flying with the rest of the week allocated to day time operations. Most days sees two waves of 3-4 jets. French pilots are still present assisting in Croatia’s training process. Much publicised in the local press was a minor incident on January 15, 2026 when Rafale number 155 could not retract its main undercarriage on departure. Once the aircraft had spent some time assessing the situation and possibly burning excess fuel, the Rafale returned safely without incident. From a weapons perspective, the only armament seen carried so far has been inert MICA-IR AAMs.

Looking forward, Croatia has signed a letter of intent with France for the future upgrade of its aircraft to F4 standard but the timeline is currently unknown. 

Images

116 KNIGHT01 taxying in on its last day of operation 19th December 2024.

116 KNIGHT01 carrying a pair of R-60MK air to air missiles. 

A mix of recent Rafale images including jets carrying inert MICA-IR training rounds. Also one image of 155 which had the recent undercarraige incident.

You can find out more about the transition from NATO here: Allied Air Command | Croatian Rafales take over airspace protection under NATO’s IAMD after MiG-21 transition

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