Czech army to help with protection of Slovak airspace

From September until at least the end of next year, the Czech Armed Forces will help protect Slovakia's airspace. The Czech government decided on this at its meeting on Wednesday, according to TASR news agency. Czech Minister of Defense Jana Černochová presented the proposal for assistance to Slovakia by Czech fighter jets. Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Naď (OĽANO) had asked the Czech Republic for help with the protection of Slovak airspace in June. Poland will also join in the protection of Slovakia with its fighters. Slovakia ordered 14 F-16 fighter jets from the US four years ago, but with delays in delivery, due to the covid pandemic and a global shortage of computer chips, they will not arrive until 2024. The new fighters are to replace the older Russian MiG-29s.