Slovakia is planning to purchase from the United States not only four additional F-16 fighter jets but also long-range missiles and HIMARS rocket systems, following requests from the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák said, noting that negotiations have just begun and more details may be available by summer. “In this case, the U.S. government requested Congressional approval for these talks, which was granted; these negotiations will now proceed through the State Department and, of course, Lockheed Martin. I estimate that within four to five months the discussions will become more serious,” Kaliňák explained.
He added that Slovakia should be able to finance the purchases despite the current economic situation, with a projected payment horizon of six to ten years. The potential acquisition of additional F-16 jets was also discussed by Robert Fico with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during Rubio’s visit to Slovakia on February 15.
Source: TASR
