New Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď (OLaNO) plans to discontinue several military projects started under his predecessors, perceiving as his imminent top priority the need to obtain basic protective items for soldiers in the fight against the new coronavirus. In an interview for the TASR press agency, Naď praised the commitment of professional soldiers shown during measures to slow down the spread of COVID-19 illness. He added that the ministry is attempting to be forthcoming and show initiative during the time of crisis, for instance by providing training to new medical personnel and lending Black Hawk helicopters for the transport of materials.
The Defence Minister wants to open a discussion on modernisation projects soon. He pointed out that many high-profile projects have ended up without any results, and that he inherited from his predecessors various court disputes and fines over non-transparent projects. If the Slovak Armed Forces need a specific technology in the future, Naď wants to discuss concrete figures and specs, based on which he intends to launch a transparent international tender. One such project to be discontinued is the tender for the purchase of armoured military 8x8 transporters, which Naď called a "textbook case of non-transparency". The Public Procurement Office (UVO) has ordered the tender for 4x4 tactical vehicles to be scrapped. The ministry has appealed, and the office is currently deliberating on it.
