As part of planned joint activities, the Croatian Air Force conducted flight operations with members of the 31st Fighter Wing of the United States Air Forces in Europe, based at Aviano Air Base in Italy. The exercises took place over the past two days at the "Colonel Marko Živković" Barracks in Velika Gorica.

The Croatian Air Force participated in the exercise with Rafale aircraft, while the U.S. Air Force operated F-16 fighter jets, reports HRT

Colonel Vlado Pavlinec, Chief of the Operations Center of the Croatian Air Force and coordinator of the activities on behalf of the Croatian Air Force and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, emphasized the importance of such joint flight operations.

"Through these joint activities, we not only enhance interoperability and exchange experiences but also improve the training and readiness of flight crews in carrying out their missions. These exercises contribute to the mutual support and knowledge-sharing of ground technical personnel in aircraft reception, inspection, and preparation, as well as the joint analysis of completed missions and planning of future flight operations," said Pavlinec.

The Ministry of Defense (MORH) also highlighted that "in addition to improving the training level of Croatian Air Force pilots on Rafale aircraft, these joint flight activities enable pilots to gain valuable knowledge and skills in cooperation with experienced allied air forces."

Furthermore, these joint flight activities are conducted to facilitate experience exchange, interoperability, and standardized training procedures for mission planning and execution. They also aim to strengthen trust and partnerships within NATO while enhancing the overall readiness and capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces and the Croatian Air Force.