Since 28 October 2026 the Slovak armed forces have been able to protect Slovakia's airspace with their own forces. President Peter Pellegrini announced it. “I congratulate the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, which from today are ready to defend our airspace with their own forces,” he said. The statement came on the day when Slovakia and Czechia mark the proclamation of Czechoslovakia in 1918.[1][2]
After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Slovakia withdrew its obsolete Soviet MiG-29 fighters from service and handed them over to Ukraine. Allies, including Czechia, have helped secure Slovak airspace since then.[1]
In 2018 Slovakia ordered fourteen new F-16 Block 70 fighters, and according to ČT24 most of them are in the country. The US manufacturer has delivered ten aircraft, while the remaining four stay in the United States, where Slovak personnel are being trained on them. The Slovak Ministry of Defence expects them to be moved to Slovakia by the end of 2028, after training ends. In September 2026 the Slovak government approved the purchase of four more F-16 aircraft.[1][2]
“I congratulate the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, which from today are ready to defend our airspace with their own forces”
Czechia uses Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighters. The government of Petr Fiala approved the acquisition of 24 F-35A Lightning II aircraft in the Block IV version.[2]
Chronology
- — Slovakia announced that from 28 October 2026 its armed forces are able to protect the country's airspace on their own; until then allies, including Czechia, had been helping. ČT24 Deník.cz