Croatia Receives First Bayraktar TB2 and Trains Operators

The first Turkish Bayraktar TB2 attack drone was delivered to Croatia and the first operators of these UAVs were trained.

The Croatian Ministry of Defense reported that operators and technicians were trained at the training center of the Turkish company Baykar.

The first Bayraktar TB2 has already been demonstrated during a military parade in the country’s capital, Zagreb.

Last year, as part of the modernization of the Armed Forces, Croatia signed a contract for the purchase of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones worth $91 million.

The drones are expected to be used for both reconnaissance activities on the country’s border and for precision strikes. The initial kit includes weapons for combat missions.

The first batch will include the purchase of six drones to be distributed between two command centers.

The contract also covers the supply of a command and control station, simulators, ground monitoring and airspace management stations. The agreement also includes a set of spare parts designed for a total flight time of up to 4000 hours.

Croatian crews are currently being trained in Turkey.

The training allows operators to familiarize themselves with the capabilities of the drones and acquire the necessary skills to effectively use the Bayraktar TB2.

Croatia considers this procurement as part of a strategy to strengthen its defense capabilities, in particular in the field of aerial reconnaissance and unmanned combat systems.

The delivery of Bayraktar TB2 has become one of the key investments in strengthening the country’s military capabilities in recent years.

This year, the Croatian Air Force also received the last of the ordered French Rafale fighter jets.