On 2 September 2025, at the “Pukovnik Marko Živković” Air Base in Pleso, Croatia’s Ministry of Defence formally presented the new Bayraktar TB2 combat drones purchased from Turkey. This delivery gives the Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo (HRZ, Croatian Air Force) an additional high-technology capability following the arrival of the Rafale fighters.
Bayraktar TB2 drones officially unveiled at Pleso
The six Bayraktar TB2 drones have been assigned to the HRZ’s 125th Reconnaissance and Combat Squadron. Defence Minister Ivan Anušić drew attention to their performance, saying: “Today we had the opportunity to observe the impressive operational capability of the Bayraktars, which our members, who were training in Turkey, were able to demonstrate. The Bayraktars have numerous operational capabilities and can be used not only in combat operations, but also for civil search and rescue purposes”.
Croatia’s Chief of the General Staff, General Tihomir Kundid, also stressed their growing importance: “Unmanned aerial systems are no longer just support, but have become a key element of the combat power of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. The Croatian Army has begun equipping and developing new capabilities in order to be able to operate with strategic systems such as the Bayraktar and systems such as FPV drones.”
Integration and training for the 125th Squadron
The commander of the 125th Squadron, Colonel Andrej Tijan, highlighted how quickly the capability has been brought into service: “In a very short time, the Croatian Army and Air Force have mastered the task perfectly and have once again demonstrated that they can successfully implement even the most complex projects”.
He added that each aircraft is flown by two highly trained pilots, and noted that instruction took place in Turkey from April to August 2025, with results described as outstanding.
Features and equipment
The Bayraktar TB2 system is built for reconnaissance missions, electronic warfare, surveillance, and strikes using guided munitions, in both daytime and night-time conditions. It is currently in service in 37 countries, including several NATO members.
Croatia’s procurement package consists of six drones, a command-and-control centre, a training simulator, ground stations for control and data transmission, spare parts and maintenance tools, associated weapons, a two-year warranty, and the in-country presence of technicians from Baykar. It also includes further training in Turkey and envisages employing the systems for civil roles such as border control, fire monitoring, and support to search-and-rescue operations.
Background to the purchase
In November 2024, Croatia officially confirmed the purchase of Bayraktar TB2 systems from Baykar as part of a wider modernisation programme for its Armed Forces. The same programme also covers the acquisition of Leopard 2A8 tanks from Germany-replacing the M-84 Sniper vehicles sent to Ukraine-and Rafale fighters from France.
At the time, Minister Anušić stated: “The development of technologies and the transmission of large volumes of data wirelessly in real time allow an increasingly dominant use of remotely controlled unmanned aerial systems, equipped with a wide range of sensors and smart weapons. For this reason, they are used increasingly for reconnaissance tasks, data collection and combat operations”.
Those attending the presentation event in Pleso included Minister Anušić, General Kundid, Turkey’s Ambassador to Croatia, Hayriye Nurdan Erpulat Altuntaş, and Croatian Air Force personnel.
Images sourced from the Croatian Air Force.
We’re hiring: The editorial team is looking to add a correspondent in Mexico
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a Comment