An attractive flight program performed by the Croatian Air Force and allied air forces was the central part of the celebration of Croatian Armed Forces Day, Croatian Army Day, the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian Armed Forces and Statehood Day of the Republic of Croatia, held at Zagreb’s Jarun Lake. Thousands of citizens followed a display of the Croatian Armed Forces’ capabilities on land, water and in the air, with the greatest attention drawn by flyovers and performances of military aircraft, helicopters and aerobatic formations.
The flight segment of the program featured the Croatian Air Force, joined by participants from the armed forces of partner countries: Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, the United States and France. The program included performances by military and aerobatic aircraft, as well as flyovers by helicopter and combat formations, presenting part of the capabilities of both Croatian and allied air forces to the public.
A particular highlight was the performance by the “Wings of Storm” aerobatic team, as well as flyovers by the Croatian Air Force’s Rafale multirole fighter aircraft. Considerable interest was also generated by the joint flyover of Croatian and French Rafales together with Italian Eurofighter Typhoons, which also carried a symbolic message of partnership, interoperability and cooperation among allied air forces.
The flight program formed part of a broader dynamic display of the Croatian Armed Forces’ capabilities, covering activities on water, land and in the air. Visitors were also able to see parachute activities, amphibious operations and elements of special operations supported by the Croatian Air Force and the Croatian Navy. During the event, a live feed was also shown from a Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle conducting aerial surveillance.
Defence Minister Ivan Anušić said the Croatian Armed Forces had once again demonstrated, through a “military spectacle” at Jarun, the growth of their capabilities driven by modernization and equipment upgrades, particularly highlighting the attractiveness of the flight program involving partner countries. After the program concluded, Croatian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Krešimir Ražov expressed satisfaction with the large turnout, saying the Croatian Air Force had congratulated citizens on Statehood Day in a special way.
The all-day event at Jarun also included a tactical and technical display, with Croatian Armed Forces weapons, combat and non-combat vehicles and equipment on show, but the flight program was the highlight of the celebration. Rafale flyovers, the “Wings of Storm” display, allied Eurofighters and the presentation of air capabilities before a large audience further underscored the role of the Croatian Air Force in the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.
