The Czech Republic will also participate in the protection of Slovak airspace in 2026. On Thursday, the Czech Ministry of Defense reported on the X social network, saying that the signing of the declaration took place during a phone call between the new Czech Minister of Defense Jaromír Zůna and the Minister of Defense of the Slovak Republic Robert Kaliňák (Smer-SD), writes the TASR reporter.
- The Czech Republic will also protect Slovak airspace in 2026.
- The agreement was signed during a phone call between the Czech and Slovak defense ministers.
- Slovakia expects delivery of all 14 ordered F-16 fighters.
- Currently, the airspace of the Slovak Republic is protected by Poles, Hungarians and Czechs.
- Deliveries of F-16 fighters were delayed due to pandemic complications.
“During the conversation, they discussed both the cooperation between the two countries in defense and defense-industrial cooperation, as well as the possibility of development in these areas. As part of the negotiations, a declaration on the protection of Slovakia’s airspace was also signed. Based on it, the Czech Republic will also participate in the air defense of Slovakia in 2026“, the Czech Ministry of Defense said.
Protection of the Slovak sky was taken over by the Allies after the grounding of the MiG-29 fighters. The airspace of the Slovak Republic is currently protected by Poles, Hungarians and Czechs. According to the spokesman of the Slovak Armed Forces Štefan Zemanovič, Slovakia could take over protection in the middle of 2026. Currently, all 14 ordered F-16 fighter jets are awaiting delivery, while the manufacturer has delivered seven. The other three were supposed to arrive this Thursday, but their arrival will be delayed due to bad weather. Slovakia ordered F-16 fighters at the end of 2018. Their delivery was delayed due to the pandemic.
