Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković announced plans during a recent City Council session to place a retired MIG fighter jet atop Srđ Hill, cementing it as a landmark of historical significance. “The MIG is a symbol of the city and liberation,” Franković remarked, referencing the jet’s role during Croatia’s Homeland War and its symbolic flyover of Srđ Hill as the city faced aggression in the early 1990s.
With Croatia now acquiring new Rafale jets, the MiG-21s that have long served the Croatian Air Force (HRZ) are being phased out. To preserve the legacy of these historic aircraft, a number will be retired from active service and donated as museum pieces. Franković submitted an official request for one such jet to be displayed at Dubrovnik’s Imperial Fortress, with government support already secured.
“This monument will have great symbolic value,” the mayor explained, adding that design and positioning for the aircraft will soon be underway. The placement on Srđ Hill, overlooking Dubrovnik, will be a fitting tribute, bringing the story of the city’s resilience and liberation into focus for visitors and locals alike.
Across Croatia, retired MiG-21s have already found homes in various public spaces. A total of 11 such jets have been displayed in parks, memorials, and even universities. The Aero Park in Vrsar holds an aircraft with an open cockpit, while another, known as “Zubo,” sits at Pribislavec Airport near Čakovec. In Zagreb, one MiG has been placed outside the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and another stands in the Memorial Park of the 153rd Croatian Army Brigade in Velika Buna.
In a nod to its legacy, the ‘Avenger of Dubrovnik’ MIG, famously piloted by Ivan Selak in his daring 1992 defection from the Yugoslav National Army (JNA) to Croatia, is now displayed at the Aviation Technical Centre in Pleso.
Franković’s vision for a MIG on Srđ Hill aims to make it a “monumental landmark,” honoring both Croatia’s wartime history and Dubrovnik’s spirit of resilience, as the city continues to blend its historical narrative with symbols of enduring strength.