FILE - In this Nov. 25, 2013 file photo, Israeli air force technicians check an Israeli air force plane F-16 of the Red Dragon squadron at Ovda airbase near Eilat, southern Israel. Croatia's defense minister says Israel has failed to overcome U.S. objections to a plan to sell 12 used fighter jets to Croatia and the $500 million deal will likely be canceled. Damir Krsticevic spoke after a meeting with Israeli defense officials in Zagreb on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, file)
January 14, 2019 - 5:19 AM
ZAGREB, Croatia - Croatia's government has formally cancelled a $500 million deal to buy 12 used fighter jets from Israel after it collapsed over U.S. objections.
State TV says the government made the decision at Monday's session.
Israel and Croatia reached a tentative deal in March for the sale of the upgraded F-16 Barak fighter planes, pending U.S. approval to allow the American-made technology to be purchased by a third party.
The deal ran into trouble after Washington said Israel needed to strip off upgrades that were added after Israel took delivery of the aircraft from the United States some 30 years ago.
The sophisticated electronics and radar systems were crucial in Croatia's decision to buy the F-16s from Israel instead from the U.S. or Greece, which also bid for the contract.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019