Croatia said Wednesday it will purchase upgraded Israeli fighter jets as it seeks to bolster its defenses amid Russia's arming of neighboring Serbia.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced in January that Israel inked a $500 million deal with Croatia to supply it with advanced F-16 fighter jets.
Once formally approved by the Zagreb government, it will be Croatia's largest single military deal since it split from Serb-led Yugoslavia in the bloody 1991-1995 war.
Croatia's Defense Council accepted an Israeli offer that will replace the country's aging MiG-21 fighters, of which only six are believed to be operational.
The military experts did not specify details of the deal, but previous reports have said it involves between 12 and 30 used F-16 aircraft that have been heavily modified with Israeli-made avionics.
Sweden's manufacturer Saab had offered a squadron of new Gripen fighters, but the package was reportedly estimated at some $700 million. Other bids came from the U.S., Greece and South Korea.
"If Croatia was a richer country, and if our economy was stronger, maybe we could have picked a more expensive offer," Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said. "But, based on the parameters presented to us by our expert team, we believe that we have made a responsible decision which will meet all the needs of the Croatian Air Force in the next 30 years."
NATO member Croatia faces a mini arms race with Russian ally Serbia, which recently received six used Russian MiG-29 fighter jets and will be armed with dozens of tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters and transport planes.
With the buildup of Serbia's military, Moscow is attempting to increase its influence in the Balkans.
