summary(5).docx

Slovakia - Air Force

Summary            TOP

Assessment            TOP

The Slovak Air Force (Velitelstvo Vzdusnych Sil - Combat Air Force) has been - and continues to be - engaged in a deep reform of manning, training, doctrine, bases and equipment as part of the Force 2010 review. The main purpose is to ensure retention of an effective but affordable air arm organised according to NATO standards and procedures. About a dozen MiG-29 fighters will constitute the principal combat asset for several years to come, following an upgrade project concluded in mid-2007. A decision to purchase modern warplanes may be taken in the future, if finances allow.

Until recently, average annual flight time per combat pilot was only about 45 hours, but efforts to increase this figure have met with some success. In 2006, MiG-29 pilots expected to accumulate about 80 hours as part of a planned rise to around the 110-hour mark. Modernisation of the remaining L-39 Albatros jet trainers has helped maintain and enhance levels of pilot proficiency.

It was expected that the modest number of Soviet-built helicopters would be retained for the foreseeable future, especially as NATO viewed the Mi-24 'Hind' attack helicopter as a potentially valuable asset in counter-terrorist / counter-insurgency operations. However, in January 2005, Slovakia announced that it planned to retire the Mi-24s by the end of 2007, while subjecting remaining Mi-17 transport helicopters to limited modernisation so as to satisfy obligations as a full member of NATO. Despite this apparent intent, several examples of the Mi-24 were still in active service in mid-2010.

Deployments, tasks and operations            TOP

Role and Deployment            TOP

Slovak military aviation has two main tasks: tactical support of ground forces and defence of national airspace. Slovakia has no airborne early warning system, but a series of Soviet ground-based radars provides comprehensive coverage of national airspace. Surface-to-air missiles and interceptor aircraft are tasked from sector headquarters.

Recent and Current Operations            TOP

Transport aircraft from Malacky-Kuchyna flew in support of Slovakian Army forces in the former Yugoslavia during Implementation Force (IFOR) and successor missions. They have also deployed to Angola (MONUA). In 2002, two Mi-17 helicopters operated with the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovakia hopes to be able to furnish support to future UN missions with four Mi-17 helicopters.

Command and control            TOP

Organisation            TOP

At Sliac, the 1st Air Base is now the principal combat command, controlling activities of the small MiG-29 force, as well as a number of L-39 Albatros jet trainers. Combat and assault helicopter assets have been consolidated at Presov while transport resources are concentrated at Malacky-Kuchyna.

Air Transport Pool            TOP

Fourteen of the European Defence Agency's (EDA's) member nations agreed in November 2009 to pool their military air transport assets to boost Europe's airlift capabilities. A Letter of Intent (LoI) - signed by Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden - marks the beginning of an ambitious effort to boost airlift and push down the costs of maintaining separate national military fleets across Europe. The envisaged European Air Transport Fleet (EATF) aims to achieve initial operating capability by as early as 2014, EDA Chief Executive Alexander Weis told reporters in Brussels after the signing ceremonies.

The LoI covers Lockheed Martin's C-130 Hercules, Airbus Military A400M and other aircraft. The original idea of pooling transport flight hours between participating nations "has been widened to include everything from procurement to training to logistics and spare-parts management", an EDA official said just before the LoI's finalisation.

The next step requires working groups of national and EDA experts to map out the EATF's various aspects. These include the legal procedures to govern management, procurement goals, training, logistics and the mechanics of how flight hours will be pooled and allotted across the 14 countries. The working groups will also study how the EATF should liaise with other air transport organisations in Europe such as the Movement Co-ordination Centre Europe at Eindhoven, Netherlands, which matches military demand for airlift and sealift with available assets across EU and NATO countries.

Order of Battle            TOP