Three additional F-16 fighter jets have landed at the military airbase in Kuchyňa Air Base, bringing Slovakia’s total to ten out of fourteen ordered aircraft. The jets, delayed by bad weather, will now undergo technical and administrative checks before being used for training and later integrated into Slovakia’s airspace defense system. The remaining four aircraft are expected after Slovak personnel complete training in the United States.
Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák said Slovakia could take over protection of its airspace by mid-2026, although this depends mainly on training enough technical staff, as the country currently lacks mechanics despite having sufficient pilots. The F-16 Block 70 aircraft were ordered in 2018, deliveries were delayed by the pandemic, and manufacturer Lockheed Martin has now confirmed that all jets for Slovakia have been completed.
Source: TASR
