Drones are a core part of the Croatian border surveillance arsenal, both at its sea and land borders. Surveillance aeroplanes under the Multipurpose Aerial Surveillance (MAS) initiative by Frontex have been monitoring the Croatian-Bosnian border since 2018, with data directly transmitted to Frontex headquarters in Warsaw. The Croatian authorities also have access to Agusta helicopters for search and land surveillance since at least 2015, acquired through Schengen Facility funding. Drones are deployed for border surveillance, with additional short-distance drones tendered in 2020. In 2024, the Croatian authorities issued two tender procedures for the procurement of drones, worth 1,056,000.00 EUR and 1,152,000.00 EUR, both financed by BMVI.
At the northern maritime border in close proximity to Slovenia, a drone by the EU Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to support maritime surveillance and monitoring operations has been stationed since 2019. Under the control of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of Rijeka, the drone (a Camcopter S-100 model) has an integrated infrared camera and night vision, as well as an automated surface sensor table to detect “targets” at sea. It is also able to link to the Automatic Identification System and therefore able to detect vessels identity, position, speed and course. People subjected to violent pushbacks at Croatian land borders often mention being followed by drones before being apprehended by Croatian Border Police and forced back across the border without consideration of their international protection needs.