The overhaul and procurement of 12 Croatian Air Force MiG-21 'Fishbed' fighters in Crimea is continuing "without problems", a spokesperson for the Croatian Ministry of Defence (MoD) told IHS Jane's on 13 February.

Seven MiG-21bis 'Fishbed-L' aircraft were sent to Ukrainian state-owned arms exporter Ukrspecexport for repair and overhaul in late 2013, with a further five refurbished platforms being procured from Ukroboronprom SE Odessa Aviation Plant in Crimea for delivery later in 2014.

"The overhaul is [being] carried out without problems, regardless of the political situation," the Croatian MoD said, adding that work on the first five aircraft has nearly been completed; with just the navigation systems waiting to be delivered from Czech company Ceska Letecka Servisni (CLS). Deliveries back to Croatia are set to run through to mid-2014.

The Croatian MoD's comments are in line with those of the general director of Ukroboronprom State Enterprise (SE), Sergiy Gromov, who on 3 March stated that the crisis with Russia would have no adverse effect on the ability of the Ukrainian defence industry to meet its international contractual obligations.
http://www.balkans.com/open-news.php...enumber=190774