Defence Minister Ivan Anušić said his ministry and the Dassault Aviation company from France had prepared a draft agreement on the continuous maintenance of the Rafale jets and the accompanying equipment envisaging repair and overhaul services, replenishment of supplies as well as periodical checks for jet components and engines, to be in force for two years, until October 2026.

The Defence Ministry's financial obligations amount to €31.9 million, of which €7.3 million each will be paid in 2024 and 2025, 16.4 million in 2026, and €800,000 in 2027.

The government therefore gave its consent for the ministry to assume financial obligations to be settled with budget funds in the amount of €24.6 million in the next two years.

Procurement of Bayraktar unmanned combat aerial vehicles

After conducting a public procurement procedure for the period from 2024 to 2026, the Defence Ministry today also presented a decision on the procurement of Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles for US$95 million, that is €86,424,252. Of that amount, the ministry will have to pay €84.6 million – 20.2 million this year, 37.5 million in 2025 and 27 million in 2026.

A total of €64.4 million has been allocated in the state budget for that purpose in 2025 and 2026.

The total value of the contract is close to US$74 million without VAT, and in addition to the goods and services to be delivered under the agreement, also planned are additional deliveries of equipment in the amount of slightly more than US$2 million, which is a donation.

The Defence Ministry must pay VAT on the total value of the agreement and on the donation, amounting to US$19 million in total.

Anušić said that upon the army's announcement of a plan for the emergency purchase of the Bayraktar TB2 system, an indicative offer, based on six aerial vehicles, was submitted by the Baykar Makina San. Ve Tic. A.S. company.

Preparations for procurement of Leopard tanks

The government also made a decision on preparations for the procurement of Leopard 2A8 tanks for the Armed Forces and on the donation of M-84 tanks and M-80 combat vehicles, with spare parts and ammunition, to Ukraine, according to a list that is an integral part of the decision and is classified as confidential.