Croatia bolsters defence with Bradley vehicles arrival
The first Bradley infantry fighting vehicles have arrived in Croatia. Croatian authorities emphasise that this is only one of the stages related to the significant modernisation of their army.
The entire contract covering 89 vehicles reached a value of $196.4 (£160.6) million, of which $51.2 (£41.9) million is a donation from the USA. The remaining $145.2 (£118.8) million Croatia has to pay by 2027.
The advantages of Bradley noticed in another country
The vehicle that arrived in Croatia weighs 30 tonnes and is capable of reaching speeds up to 56 kph. Its crew consists of a commander, gunner, and driver, and it can additionally carry six fully equipped soldiers on board. The main armament is an automatic cannon of 25 mm calibre capable of firing 200 rounds per minute. The vehicle is also equipped with a TOW anti-tank missile system with a range of almost 4 km and a 7.62 mm machine gun.
Bradley infantry fighting vehicles are proven designs in the conditions of real armed conflicts. They participated in Operation "Desert Storm" and are currently used by the Ukrainians in the war with Russia, where they participate in the toughest battles and repeatedly save Ukrainian lives.
- These vehicles can operate in any weather conditions, and for this reason, they have an advantage over some Soviet vehicles - said Colonel Josip Granat, commander of the Croatian 1st Armoured Mechanised Battalion.
Croatia is arming itself to a great extent
Defence Minister Ivan Anuszić reminded that thanks to the purchase of this weaponry, Croatia reached the level of two percent of GDP allocated for defence, of which 29 percent of this amount is invested in the modernisation of the armed forces.
In April 2024, Croatia received the first of the ordered multi-role Dassault Rafale fighters from France. The latest defence contracts concluded by Zagreb also concerned Black Hawk helicopters, Mistral anti-aircraft systems, or HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) artillery systems. Croatia also decided to reinstate mandatory military service at the beginning of 2025.
Reaching for newer Western equipment allowed Croatia to move away from old Soviet-era weaponry, which benefited Ukraine. In recent months, the front line has seen, among others, Mi-8 helicopters. A similar fate may be shared by old Croatian tanks.
