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Slovakia Moves Ahead with US F-16 Fleet After Transferring All MiG-29s to Ukraine
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![Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko]( "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
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Slovakia is moving to strengthen its national air defense system following the transfer of its Soviet-era fighter jets to Ukraine. The government is looking to purchase additional modern American aircraft, though there are significant questions regarding when these planes might actually arrive.
Slovakia is specifically considering the purchase of four more F-16V Block 70/72 Viper fighter jets. This decision follows the transfer of its entire fleet of MiG-29s to the Ukrainian Air Force, a move that left gaps in Slovakia’s own defense capabilities. Prime Minister Robert Fico announced the plan to expand the aviation fleet after a visit to the United States, according to RBC-Ukraine on February 17.
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Slovakia has requested between four and eight aircraft. The government hopes to receive these planes as quickly as possible. Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak previously stated that the US State Department had approved the sale, though official public records of this approval have not yet appeared on standard government tracking sites. Experts believe this move is intended to improve cooperation with Washington as the security situation in Central Europe changes.
Military analysts have pointed out several risks regarding the delivery timeline. Under a previous contract signed in 2018, Slovakia waited more than five years for 14 aircraft instead of the four years originally planned. Furthermore, the Lockheed Martin production lines are currently busy with many orders from other countries, including Taiwan.
Some experts suggest that recent claims about fast deliveries might actually refer to the completion of the old order rather than the production of entirely new planes. This creates uncertainty about when Slovakia will have its full air defense capacity restored.
Earlier, Ukrainian military intelligence operatives conducted precision drone strikes on several Russian air defense assets. These operations successfully targeted and destroyed high-value equipment, including a rare Arctic-configured surface-to-air missile system. These strikes were part of a broader effort to weaken the aerial defense capabilities of the opposing forces.
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