Slovakia's airspace will be protected by allies until the delivery of F-16 jet fighters, Interim Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď (OLaNO) declared on Wednesday. As for the S-300 air defence system that Slovakia gifted to Ukraine, Naď claimed that it was not fully functional but the Ukrainians have managed to repair it. At the moment, there are Patriot air defence batteries from Germany and the United States deployed in Slovakia and talks are being held on their replacements.
Naď added that the ministry is doing its utmost to station Italian soldiers, due to replace Americans, not at Kuchyňa Airport in western Slovakia but in the eastern Slovak town of Prešov - as close to the eastern border as possible. Regarding the Leopard tanks, two are supposed to be delivered to Slovakia each month as of March until the full number of 15. Naď added that they will be supplied gradually also because they are undergoing a general maintenance.
Source: TASR
