Tanks, Howitzers and Beyond: Croatia Greenlights €1.95 Billion Defense Projects
Croatia has approved its largest defense procurement package to date under its “Long-Term Development Plan,” which was launched to meet the obligations that came with joining NATO in 2009 and the European Union in 2013, and to build an armed force capable of handling current and future threats.
According to the Croatian Parliament’s Defense Committee, the package, valued at around €1.95 billion, includes 44 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks, 18 Caesar 6×6 Mk2 self-propelled howitzers, 420 Tatra T-815-7 heavy all-terrain vehicles, and an anti-drone defense system. The projects involving the Leopard 2A8 tanks, Caesar howitzers, and Tatra trucks will be financed through loans from the EU’s SAFE financial instrument. The anti-drone system will be funded directly from the Croatian Ministry of Defense budget.
The Leopard 2A8 procurement, worth approximately €1.3 billion, is the largest part of this new program. Its approval follows a letter of intent signed with Germany in October 2024, after Croatia committed to transferring 30 aging M-84A4 Sniper tanks and 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles (including spare parts and ammunition) to Ukraine. Under Germany’s so-called “ring exchange” arrangement, Zagreb’s purchase process for the Leopard 2A8 tanks was simplified, and the overall cost was reduced. Germany also provided Leopard 2A4HRV tanks temporarily to fill the capability gap left by the older M-84A4 tanks.
According to the Ministry of Defense, a contract for the advanced Leopard 2A8 tanks, which represent the latest version of the Leopard 2 family, will be signed by the end of this year. The first tanks are expected to be delivered in 2028, with all 44 tanks in place by 2030. The contract also includes three simulators, spare parts, and logistical support.
The second major component of the four-phase program is the French-made Caesar 6×6 Mk2 self-propelled howitzers. This procurement, carried out through a partnership led by the French Armaments Directorate (DGA), is valued at roughly €320 million and is split into two packages. The main package includes 18 Caesar howitzers, while the second package covers vehicles for target tracking and detection, fire control systems, communication and data equipment, armored vehicles, and cargo-terrain vehicles for transporting ammunition. Contracts for both packages are expected to be signed by the end of the year, with deliveries scheduled through 2029.
The third part of the program, valued at around €200 million, is the joint procurement of 420 Tatra T-815-7 heavy off-road trucks in 6×6 and 8×8 configurations, together with the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Unlike the other two orders, this project involves Croatian companies. The trucks, planned for delivery between 2026 and 2030, meet NATO standards for ballistic and mine protection and are already in use by 21 alliance members.
The fourth and final component of the program covers the procurement of two fixed and two mobile anti-drone defense systems for the protection of strategic infrastructure. A €125 million (excluding VAT) framework contract will soon be signed between the Croatian Ministry of Defense and the Zagreb-based KONČAR Group. The project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, scheduled for mid-2027, envisions equipping the system with UAV tracking, jamming, and neutralization capabilities, integrated into a single command-and-control network. The system will be resilient to cyber threats and supported by artificial intelligence. The second phase focuses on developing mobile anti-drone units equipped with a 30mm cannon, connected to the same network, and is expected to be operational by 2029.
The procurement programme represents only one part of Croatia’s military modernisation. The country has already approved the purchase of HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems) from the United States for its Land Forces and begun acquiring 89 Bradley M2A2 infantry fighting vehicles. Its air force has been strengthened with Dassault Rafale multirole fighters from France to replace the older MiG-21 fleet, as well as UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the U.S. Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles from Türkiye have been introduced for reconnaissance and strike capabilities, and Mistral 3 missiles have been ordered to enhance air defense. The Navy continues to be reinforced with locally built Omiš-class coastal patrol vessels, such as the Umag OOB-32, and plans are in place to acquire a larger multi-purpose ship in the future.
As part of the Long-Term Development Plan, once all platforms are in service, Croatia’s armed forces will be significantly stronger and achieve much higher standards of interoperability with NATO.