Slovak Air Force

The Slovak Air Force, known since 2002 as the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Slovak: Vzdušné sily Ozbrojených síl Slovenskej republiky), is the aviation and air defense branch of the Slovak Armed Forces. Operating 23 aircraft and 10 helicopters from three air bases : Malacky–Kuchyňa, Sliač, Prešov. It succeeded the Czechoslovak Air Force together with the Czech Air Force in 1993. The Slovak Air Force is part of NATO Integrated Air Defense System – NATINADS.[2][3][4][5][6]

Slovak Air Force
Vzdušné sily Ozbrojených síl Slovenskej republiky
Emblem of the Slovak Air Force
Founded1 January 1993 (1993-01-01)
Country Slovak Republic
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size
  • Approx 3,200 personnel
  • 15 aircraft
  • 18 helicopters
Part ofSlovak Armed Forces
Garrison/HQZvolen
Commanders
Air Force CommanderMajor General Róbert Tóth[1]
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
AttackL-39ZAM
HelicopterMi-17M/LPZS
Utility helicopterUH-60M
ReconnaissanceL-410FG
TrainerL-39CM
TransportC-27J, L-410UVP-E14/20

The Slovak Air Force is tasked with the defense of the sovereign Slovak state and the support of the nation's ground troops.[7] Following the retirement of the Mikoyan MiG-29 in 2022, 7 L-39 Albatros provide the fast-jet capability role to the air force, awaiting the delivery of American F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft in 2024. 6 Let-410 Turbolet aircraft provide surveillance and transport capabilities, while 2 C-27 Spartan transports provide a light tactical airlift capability. The helicopter fleet consists of 9 Mil Mi-17, gradually being replaced by the UH-60 Black Hawk.

The Slovak Air Force has been under the command of Major General Róbert Tóth since January 1, 2021.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

History

1939–1945
Main article: Slovak Air Force (1939-1945)

After the division of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany in 1939, Slovakia was left with a small air force composed primarily of Czechoslovak combat aircraft. This force defended Slovakia against Hungary in 1939, and took part in the invasion of Poland in support of Germany. During the World War II, the Slovak Air force was charged with the defense of Slovak airspace, and, after the invasion of Russia, provided air cover for Slovak forces fighting against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front. While engaged on the Eastern Front, Slovakia's obsolete biplanes were replaced with German combat aircraft, including the Messerschmitt Bf 109. The air force was sent back to Slovakia after combat fatigue and desertion had reduced the pilots' effectiveness. Slovak air units took part in the Slovak National Uprising against Germany from late August 1944.[14][15][16]

1946–1992
Main article: Czechoslovak Air Force

During this time Czechoslovakia was a member of the Eastern Bloc, allied with the Soviet Union, and from 1955 a member of the Warsaw Pact. Because of this, the Czechoslovak Air Force used Soviet aircraft, doctrines, and tactics. The types of aircraft were mostly MiGs. MiG-15, MiG-19, and MiG-21F fighters was produced in license; in the 1970s, MiG-23MF were bought, accompanied by MiG-23ML and MiG-29s in the 1980s.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, the Czechoslovak Air Force consisted of the 7th Air Army, which had air defense duties, and the 10th Air Army, responsible for ground forces support.[17] The 7th Air Army had two air divisions and three fighter regiments, and the 10th Air Army had two air divisions and a total of six regiments of fighters and attack aircraft. There were also two reconnaissance regiments, two transport regiments, three training regiments, and two helicopter regiments.

In November 1989 Communism fell across Czechoslovakia. The two parliaments of the two new states from 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, decided how to split the assets of the former air force. The assets were divided 2:1 in the Czechs' favor, and thus the Slovak Air Force was (re)formed. However the 20 MiG 29s were shared equally between the two countries. [18]

1993–2018

After the formal dissolution of Czechoslovakia on January 1, 1993, Czech and Slovak aircraft were divided according to each nation's population, in a ratio of nearly 2:1 in the Czech Republic's favor.[19] The exceptions to this rule were the MiG-23's, which were given exclusively to the Czech Air force, and the MiG-29's, which were divided evenly between the two nations. Slovak bases were initially under-equipped to handle the aircraft transferred from the Czech bases, and required considerable improvements in infrastructure to facilitate the new air force. On March 1, 1995, the air force replaced the Soviet style aviation regiment organization with the western wing and squadron system.[20] Around 2000–2002, Slovakia gradually retired many of the older aircraft, including the entire fleet of Su-22, Su-25, and MiG-21.[21] In 2004, the flight training academy and national aerobatic demonstration team Biele Albatrosy, both based at Košice, were disbanded.[22][23]

On January 19, 2006, the Slovak Air Force lost an Antonov An-24 in a crash.

On September 20, 2011, all of the remaining Mil Mi-24 gunships were retired.[24][25][26][27]

In January 2014, Slovakia started discussions with the Swedish Government regarding leasing or purchasing JAS-39 Gripen aircraft to replace their MiG-29 fighters.[28][29]

In April 2015, the Slovak government announced it would buy nine UH-60 utility helicopters to replace its fleet of Mi-17 helicopters. The deal worth US$261 million includes also full life-cycle support for the aircraft and training for aircrews and ground personnel.[30]

On December 12, 2018, Slovakia signed a contract to acquire 14 F-16C/D Block 70. All are to be delivered by 2025.[31]

2022

Following a request for military aid by Ukraine, the Slovak Air Force provided a number of aircraft and equipment as aid. In April, this included the donation of a Soviet era S-300PMU (NATO designation: SA-10F Grumble) air defence battery, in addition to 4 Mil Mi-17 and one Mil Mi-2 helicopters, through the European Peace Facility.[32][33][34] On 31 August 2022, the Soviet origin MiG-29s operated by the Slovak Air Force were retired.[35] An agreement with fellow NATO members Poland and the Czech Republic was signed in order to establish joint patrols of airspace, until the delivery of American F-16s to the Slovak Air Force in 2024.[36][37] In August 2022 the decision was yet to be made whether the retired MiGs would be donated to Ukrainian Air Force as military aid.[38]

Slovak air defence aid to Ukraine

On 17 March 2023, after officially retiring the MiG-29 fighters from active service, the Slovak government approved sending 13 MiG-29 jet fighters to Ukraine and one MiG-29UBS to Military History Museum Piešťany.[39] [40] 9 MiG-29AS, 1 MiG-29UBS, 2 MiG-29A and 1 MiG-29UB were sent to Ukraine. 3 of those fighters were missing engines and were intended to serve as a source of spare parts. Ukrainian pilots flew four MiG-29 jet fighters from Slovakia to Ukraine on 23rd of March in 2023, with the remaining 9 sent at a later date.[41] The military aid included 2 KUB missile launchers, radar, spare parts, 52 pieces of 3M9ME missiles and 148 pieces of 3M9M3E missiles. [42]

Foreign aid for the Slovak air force

As a compensation for the aid provided, Slovakia received 200 million EUR for the MiG-29 package and 50 million EUR for the KUB package, both from the European Peace Facility fund. The US offered aid in the form of approximately 66% discount on a package including 12 unused AH-1Z, training, related equipment and 500 Hellfire II missiles. The total value of the package is estimated at 1 billion USD, with 660 USD paid by the US FMF. Should Slovak government accept the offer, the remaining value of the package, in the amount of 340 million USD, is to be paid by the Slovak government in 3-4 years. The helicopters can be delivered in 2 years, after the training of the personnel is completed. The total value of the compensation from both the EU and US is approximately 900 million USD per statement from Ministry of Defense of The Slovak Republic. The AH-1Z offer is also provided as a compensation in the context of the delays to Slovak F-16V delivery. The Slovak government was expected to make a decision on the AH-1Z offer early into the year 2024. The signing of the deal was threatened due to the change in government after the elections. During the election campaign, parties forming the new government were opposed to receiving the US military aid. [43][44][45]

Investigation into Russian sabotage of Slovak MiG-29

Chief of the general staff of the Slovak armed forces gen. Daniel Zmeko was critical of the Slovak MiG-29 jet fighters in the last years. Problems with spare parts and maintenance, which was outsourced to Russia and resulted in 4 air frames being airworthy on average, while still plagued by a high failure rate occurring every 43 minutes on average, lack of munitions, no modernisation since 1996 and lack of pilots for the old fighter jets. [42][46]

Russian technicians were suspected of sabotage, as per statement from the Minister of Defense Jaroslav Naď. Due to unusual failures occurring on parts serviced only by Russian personnel, as well as other issues with spare parts. A criminal investigation was launched. While police couldn't prove Russia did it on purpose, the findings were enough for the Slovak army to lose their trust in the Russian maintenance crews. [47] The deal with Russia for servicing the jet fighters resulted in a cost of 70 000 EUR per flight hour, higher than the cost of the state of the art 5th generation F-35 jet fighter. [48]

Structure
Slovak Air Force locations 2018:
Fighter jets Helicopters Transports planes
Air Defense Missile unit Air Operations Centre
Organization of the Slovak Air Force in 2021
  • Air Force Command, in Zvolen[49]
    • 46th Wing, at Malacky Air Base
    • 81st Wing, at Sliač Air Base
      • 1st Tactical Squadron, awaiting 12× F-16C Block 70, 2× F-16D Block 70
      • 2nd Tactical Squadron, with 4× L-39CM, 2× L-39ZAM[50]
      • Support Battalion
      • Air Traffic Provisions Battalion
      • Air Traffic Control Squadron
      • Maintenance Squadron
      • Medical Point
    • 51st Wing, at Prešov Air Base
      • 1st Helicopter Squadron, with 3× Mi-17M, 9× UH-60M[51]
      • 2nd Helicopter Squadron, with 2× Mi-17LPZS[52]
      • Air Traffic Provisions Battalion
      • Air Traffic Control Squadron
      • Maintenance Squadron
      • Medical Point
    • 11th Air Force Brigade, in Nitra
      • 1st Anti-aircraft Missile Group
      • 2nd Anti-aircraft Missile Group, with 5× 2K12M2 Kub-M2 (SA-6 Gainful)
      • "Igla" Anti-aircraft Division, with 72× 9K38 Igla2 (SA-18 Grouse)
      • Technical Division
      • Support Battalion
      • Operating Unit
      • Medical Point
    • 2nd Air Force Brigade, in Zvolen
      • Radar Surtem CAOC Uedem in Germany
      • Air Force Command Support Company
      • Medical Point

Aircraft
A Mi-17 performing the SAR mission
A C-27J on take off

Current inventory
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
F-16 Fighting Falcon United States multirole F-16C/D 14 on order[53]
Transport
Alenia C-27J Italy transport 2[54]
L-410 Turbolet Czech Republic transport L-410UVP-E 6[54] one used for reconnaissance
Helicopters
Mil Mi-17 Russia utility / SAR M/LPZS 9[54] 4 donated to Ukraine
Sikorsky UH-60 United States utility UH-60M 9[54] 2 on order[55]
Trainer Aircraft
Aero L-39 Czech Republic jet trainer L-39CM/ZAM 7[54]
UAV
Elbit Skylark Israel UAV I-LEX 5[56] assigned to 5th Regiment.

Retired aircraft
A retired upgraded multirole fighter aircraft MiG-29AS

Previous aircraft operated include the MiG-21, MiG-29, Sukhoi Su-22, Sukhoi Su-25, Yakovlev Yak-40, Tupolev Tu-154, Aero L-29, Antonov An-12, Antonov An-24/An-26, Mil Mi-2, and the Mil Mi-24 helicopter.[57][58]

Air defense

As of 2022, Slovakia has donated its S-300, and 2K12 Kub missile systems to Ukraine to aid in the Russian invasion. Since then, NATO has provided MIM-104 Patriot, and SAMP/T missiles to cover the countries' air defense needs, until the MANTIS system arrives from Germany.[59][60][61]

Name Origin Type In service Notes
SAM
9K38 Igla2[62] Soviet Union MANPADS Portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile system. To be replaced by Piorun.
Piorun[62] Poland MANPADS 0/36 Portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile system. Total value for 36 systems at 65.8 million EUR. [63]
MANTIS Air Defence System Germany Anti-air artillery 2[64] 2 donated by Germany[65]. Equipment delivered on 24 October 2023 to the 11th Air Force Brigade stationed in Nitra. The system will be supported by over 100 soldiers. To be deployed in the Eastern Slovakia to protect high value assets.

Each system is made of 6 firing turrets that can be strengthened by 2 more, 2 sensor towers and a command unit. The German donation included 5 radar stations with a stated range of 100 km and the training of the personnel. [66]

2K12 Kub 2M Soviet Union SAM system 5 batteries Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system.[62] Two launchers, one radar station, spare parts, 52 pieces of 3M9ME missiles and 148 pieces of 3M9M3E missiles were donated to Ukraine in 2022.[42] The Kub is to be replaced by Barak-MX.
Barak-MX Israel MR-SAM 0/1 1 battery on order for 128.1 million EUR.[67]

Radars

On March 25, 2021 a contract was signed between Slovakia and Israel to procure 17 EL/M-2084 3D radar's for EUR 123,500,000. The new systems will replace 24 radars, that have reached the end of their life cycle.[68]

See also

References
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