Narrative History:
Following the vote for independence from Yugoslavia in June 1991, tensions which had built-up between ethnic Serbs and Croats escalated into actual fighting. While Yugoslav Federal forces openly supported the Serbs, the Croats where left without any form of air cover. In response, the Croat government pressed into service many different light aircraft from civilian flying clubs and crop-spraying companies - including An-2s, Piper Cubs and UTVA-75s. There aircraft were used to form independent flying brigades under the command of local frontal sectors. Although operating mainly in the transport, observation and medevac roles, a few were equipped with improvised bombs or rockets to attack ground forces. Several aircraft were lost to hostile ground fire.

Meanwhile, the Yugoslav Air Force (JRV) had progressively removed or destroyed all the equipment and facilities it had control over within Croatia, completing its withdrawal in January 1992. A United Nations arms embargo on the warring sides severely restricted the purchase of weapons by Croats but had not affect on the already well-equipped Serbs.

In November 1991, the various independent air units were unified under the control of a Croatian Air Force (HRZ), although day to day operations remained under local control. In January 1992 a ceasefire came into effect. However, large areas of Croatia were now under Serbia control, in a region which declared itself the Republika Srpska Krajina (RSK).

Over the next two years, clandestine deliveries of aircraft were made, such as the MiG-21, Mi-8, Mi-24 and An-32. Sourced from many different places, this influx of aircraft allowed the HRZ to expand, reorganise and retire some of its light aircraft. The origins of some of this equipment has been the subject of debate ever since. The HRZ was thus transformed from a liaison and support force to a modern air defence force. Croats and Slovenes had provided 80% of the pilots in the JRV, so finding pilots to fly the new aircraft was not difficult. Actually, the first priority of the HRZ was not aircraft, but radars. The retreating JRV had taken all the existing radars with it, and so it was now vital to create a new radar network to monitor national airspace.

Exercise Posejdon '94, held in November 1994, was the first major Croatian exercise for air and ground forces, and it showed how far the HRZ had come in a few short years. This was even more clearly demonstrated when combat sorties were flown during operations to recapture western Slavonia in May 1995 - Operation Bljesak (Flash). A short while later, during August 1995, MiG-21s of the HRZ took part in the recapture of the Krajina enclave in eastern Slavonia under Operations Oluja (Storm). The MiGs were used in the ground attack role against Serbian forces, as well as for strikes against Udbina airfield and a communications centre in Gracac. Support was also provided by Mi-8s and Mi-24s of the HRZ. The successful conclusion of this fighting brought an end to the War of Independence and left Croatia secure within its historical borders.

Since the end of the Kosovo War in 1999, tensions in the region have eased considerably, and the former Yugoslav republics have been able to establish normal diplomatic relations. Croatia is very keen to join NATO and signed up for the Partnership for Peace programme in March 2000. On 1 January 2001, all the government operated VIP transports and aerial fire fighting water bombers were transferred from direct government control to the administration of the HRZ. From 2003 the MiG-21s, Mi-8MTVs and An-32 have been overhauled and upgraded to improve their NATO compatibility and operational effectiveness.