Based on the overall ratings of the proposals, it was the proposal from the State of Israel that was assessed the most comprehensive and acceptable; it entails a proposal for strategic co-operation of two countries through a Government to Government Agreement for Long-term Strategic Partnership. The proposed F-16 C/D Block 30 Barak are NATO-compatible and upgraded aircraft ensuring the performance of all defensive and offensive air operations. “We are presenting to the Croatian public openly and transparently, as pledged, the overall process of procurement of the multirole fighter aircraft, the bids and the parameters based on which the Expert Team selected the proposal from the State of Israel“, said Minister Krstičević was in the introductory statement at the press conference held in the Ministry of Defence on 28 March 2018, organised to present the information related to the process of procurement of a multi-role fighter aircraft in view of a large interest and responsibility towards the public, closing a year-long period of systematic work an on the eve of the final decision of the Croatian Gov ernment.   Along with the Defence Minister Damir Krstićević the conference was attended by the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces  General Mirko Šundov, Special Advisor to the Minister Božo Kožul, the Diector of the General Staff, Rear admiral Robert Hranj and the Commander of the Croatian Air Force Brigadier General Mato Mikić and the Head of the Ministry of Defence ‘s Expert Team Colonel Davor Tretinjak. Recalling the birth of the state of Croatia and the establishment of the Croatian National Guard in the 1990ies, the Minister stressed that the Croatian Air Force had a decisive role during the Homeland War and also stated that the decision was a historic moment for the Croatian Army and the Croatian Air Force: “We are doing this for future generation, for a safe and sovereign Croatia, capable of responding to any threat, risk of challenge, “The Minister also recalled the steps preceding the adoption of the final Decision on the Procurement of a Multirole Fighter Aircraft and stressed that it had been delayed for 15 years, and that it was a project of several ministers and governments; he also underlined the engagement of the representatives of the Office of the President of the Republic, of the Prime Minister and of the State Attorney’s Office of the Republic of Croatia. The Chief of the General Staff, General Mirko Šundov appreciated Minister Krstičević for initiating the procurement of the aircraft as crucial to maintain the air force capability. General Šundov stated it was a political responsibility and extended appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Office of the President of the Republic and the Croatian Parliament. “From my 28-year experience in the Croatian Armed Forces I can say that the procurement of the combat aircraft has been one of the best managed projects and processes in the Ministry of Defence and in the Armed Forces“. The presentation on the procurement process was delivered by the Head of the Expert Team, Colonel Davor Tretinjak, who outlined the details of the process preceding the final recommendation to accept the proposal from the State of Israel. Colonel TretinjakCol. Tretinjak reminded that the Request for Proposals were addressed to the embassies of Greece, Israel, South Korea, the United States and Sweden and that South Korea renounced the proposal. , dropped out of the bidding because it was not able to meet all the established tactical-technical requirements. Other countries submitted their bids within the defined deadline, and presentations were submitted and written and electronic documentation was submitted to the Ministry of Defence. Brigadier Tretinjak stressed that the Request for Proposal contained the quantitative and qualitative requirements based on the tactical and technical study and included a “Total Package” (for 100 hours of flying hours per aircraft annually/ 1,200 hours a year in total) for the delivery of 12 aircraft (10 single-seat and two 2- seat aircraft), flight simulator, personnel training, an initial weapons package, spare parts, technical support services, tools and equipment for flying support, the infrastructure adaptation and transportation of parts and equipment according to the agreed timeline. He also presented that the Israeli proposal was assessed the most comprehensive and acceptable,sed on the overall evaluations of the scored. Based on the overal proposal ratings and based on the previously determined domain-subdomain ratio, the proposal from the State of Israel’s proposal has been accepted as the most comprehensive and acceptable. The Israeli offer entails delivery of 12 aircraft (ten single-seat and two 2-seat) with NATO- compatible equipment and advanced avionics, the individual pilot equipment, F-16 flight simulator, the “train-the-trainers“ training of pilots and technical staff in Israel, an initial package of spare parts, a package of ground support equipment, an initial weapons package, infrastructure construction and adaptation and three years of overall logistic support, including the assistance of the Israeli instructors with the maintenance and personnel training, and transportation of parts and equipment according to the agreed schedule. The proposed concept of support and airworthiness of the F-16 aircraft entails contract logistic support provided in the Republic of Croatia and engineer support provided in the State of Israel. The proposed aircraft will undergo complex upgrades and modernisation, ensuring the high technological level. They will be delivered with the resource of 3,000 flying hours, which extends their service life for further 25 years, according to the assessments by the Croatian Air Force.

Government adopts decision on the procurement of MFA

At its session of 29 March 2018 the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted a Decision on the Procurement of Multi-role Figher Aircraft, endorsing the proposal of the Expert Team of the Ministry of Defence’s Expert Team decision by the Ministry’s Defence’s Expert team and the recommendations issued by the Defence Council. Pursuant to the Decision, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia will undertake all necessary steps with regard to the agreement with the State of Israel on the procurement of the aircraft. The Decision also previews establishment of a working group assigned with drafting the agreement on business and economy co-operation pertaining to the procurement of the aircraft and a commission monitoring the co.operation and its realisation. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said: “The decision to procure multi-role purpose combat aircraft is a strategic decision aimed at strengthening the capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces and Croatia as a credible NATO and the EU member nation. The decision demonstrates strong political will and enhances the strategic partnership with the State of Israel and with the United States”. The Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević stated that the Decision was one of the most important and most complex pertaining to the defence sector following the Homeland War, underlining: “This is a historic day for the Croatian Air Force, we have retained the ability to control airspace and the aviation. The Croatian Air Force now has a bright future, and the Croatian Armed Forces are undergoing technological progress and keeping up with the western countries. Minister Krstičević appreciated the Prime Minister and the Government members for the support to the important project and emphasised “ Our dream is to see the modern fourth-year generation aircraft flown by Croatian pilots on the Croatian skyline in 2020- the year of the Croatian presidency of the EU and coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the military and police Operation “Storm“. The Minister of Finance Zdravko Marić commended the management of the overall process of the procurement of the aircraft: “The process has been managed transparently and the Ministry of Finance has taken part since its beginning and with due consideration of the overall financial capacities of the Republic of Croatia. The Minister of the Homeland War Veterans Tomo Medved also stated support to the project as well“.

From Request for Proposals to the final choice

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia on 20 July 2017 sent requests for proposals (RfP) for the procurement of multi-role fighter aircraft to five countries (Greece, F-16 aircraft), Israel (F-16 aircraft), South Korea (FA-50 aircraft), Sweden (Gripen JAS-39 aircraft) and the United States (F-16 aircraft). Request for Proposal contained the quantitative and qualitative requirements based on the tactical and technical study and included a “Total Package” (for 100 hours of flying hours per aircraft annually/ 1,200 hours a year in total) for the delivery of 12 aircraft (10 single-seat and two 2-seat aircraft), flight simulator, personnel training, an initial weapons package, spare parts, technical support services, tools and equipment for flying support, the infrastructure adaptation and transportation of parts and equipment according to the agreed timeline. The response deadline was 75 days. The opening of the proposals took place on October 2017 in the Ministry of Defence, and was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Defence and of the Croatian Armed Forces, of the Office of the President of the Republic, of the Government and of the State Attorney of the Republic of Croatia adn the Expert Team members. The proposals were received from Greece, Israel, Sweden and the United States. South Korea renounced the proposal because it was not able to meet all the established tactical and technical requirements. The responding countries boast strong defence technological and industrial base and offer the possiblity for technological and industrial development of the Republic of Croatia and growth of employment and investment into its economy. The proposals feature high-tech solutions, transfer of knowledge and experience paving the way to the development of underdeveloped industrial sectors direcly associated with the procurement of aircraft. The Expert Team assigned with the preparation of the procurement conducted a thorough evaluation and validation process.