At the “Colonel Marko Živković” barracks in Velika Gorica, on 12 and 13 March 2025, joint flight activities were conducted between the Croatian Air Force (HRZ) and members of the 31st Fighter Wing of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, who arrived in Croatia from Aviano Air Base in Italy.
During the two-day exercise, Croatian pilots participated with Rafale fighter jets, while their American counterparts flew F-16 aircraft. The goal of this collaboration was to enhance operational capability, exchange experiences, and improve the training of flight crews.
The head of the HRZ Operations Center and exercise coordinator, Colonel Vlado Pavlinec, emphasized the importance of such activities for military capability development: “In addition to increasing interoperability and exchanging experiences, these activities significantly contribute to the training and readiness of pilots in executing flight missions. They also enable cooperation among technical personnel in the preparation and maintenance of aircraft, as well as the execution of joint analyses of completed flights, which enhances the quality of future mission planning.”
Besides improving the training of Croatian pilots on Rafale aircraft, this exercise provides an opportunity to work with experienced partners within the NATO alliance. This further strengthens trust and cooperation among allies while simultaneously increasing the readiness and capability of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.
Such exercises are crucial for maintaining a high level of training for pilots and technical personnel and ensuring quality preparation for future challenges in international air operations.
Foto © AvioRadar
