Croatian Air Force and Air Defence are service of the Armed Forces. Their aim is securing sovereignty of the air space of the Republic of Croatia and providing air support to other services in implementation of their tasks in joint operations. It is a proponent and organizer of the Croatian air defence integrated system. This double role of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence is realized with the following main tasks:

• Inspection and control of the air space security
• Predominance in Croatian air space, over land and sea, with defence and attacks
• Providing help in natural, humanitarian and technological disasters
• Search and rescue operations
• Support to control of the proliferation of people and material goods

Croatian Air Force and Air Defence make part of the stand-by forces that are capable of providing a quick and efficient response to military threat and of taking part in implementation of non-traditional tasks. Such purpose requires an appropriate high technological level of weapons and materiel, quality manning, specialist and permanent education and training and an adjusted system of mobilization as well as a balanced and harmonious development of all components of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence. Air defence system is a proponent of its task to protect sovereignty of the air space of the Republic of Croatia. It is being built as a unique, entire and integrated, capable of securing a quality and efficient protection of territory, forces and material goods of the Republic of Croatia against different threats.

Priorities for further equipping and development of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence are determined in line with a variety of combat and peacetime duties, obligations assumed by accession of the Republic of Croatia into Euro-Atlantic alliances, in conformity with material and financial capabilities.