Croatia: During French President Emmanuel Macron's official visit to Croatia, the Croatian government approved the acquisition of 12 used French Rafale multi-role fighter planes. According to the cabinet session on Wednesday during which the purchase was approved, the 12 Rafale fighter jets, which include 10 single-seater and two two-seater fighter jets at a cost of 999 million euros, would be paid in five instalments from 2022 to 2026.

The agreement was reached during Macron's visit to Croatia, which began on Wednesday evening and is the first by a French head of state since Croatia's independence in 1991, according to news reports.

Croatian Defense Minister Mario Banozic and his French counterpart Florence Parly will sign an arms contract on Thursday morning as part of Macron's visit, which is expected to be the largest military purchase since Croatia's independence.

Banozic said on Wednesday that the 12 French Rafale fighter jets were NATO-compliant planes that would be "sufficient for Croatia for 30 years or more," according to Banozic. In addition to the 12 fighter jets, the armaments sale includes a sophisticated flight simulator that will give a full range of training and tactic validation, ground and test equipment, spare parts, and comprehensive manufacturer support, according to Banozic. Furthermore, the two countries will sign a strategic partnership agreement on Thursday morning in order to improve bilateral collaboration and connections.

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