President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini firmly believes that The Ministry of Defense will soon provide the operational number of F-16 fighters and also ensure air defense (AGROP) and Slovak airspace will no longer have to protect the surrounding countries. This stems from his Monday’s statement for the media in Zvolen.
“There is a military conflict beyond our eastern borders. Today, the Slovak Republic, unfortunately, I have to say it, is unable to defend itself against any stray or mistakenly targeted rocket, which would, indeed, fly to Ukraine and head to the territory of the Slovak Republic,” He said Pellegrini. He stressed that the protection of the airspace should be one of the priorities and Slovakia must not gamble with its safety in the future. In this context, he mentioned the donation of the equipment of the previous government of Ukraine.
The president is on Monday on a working visit to Zvolen. The program also includes a visit to the 2nd Brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic. The Slovak Republic is currently waiting for the supply of other pieces of American F-16 fighters.
In December last year, the Defense Department informed that The third of them landed in Slovakia. The first battery of the Israeli Barak system should arrive at the end of 2025. It could be fully combatable at the beginning of next year. Slovakia ordered six.
