Slovakia to Purchase Six Air Defense Systems from Israel

Slovakia's government has approved the purchase of six mobile air defense systems from Israel for €554.3 million ($616.88 million), as the NATO member state continues to bolster its airspace protection. This move is part of a broader strategy to strengthen national defense capabilities, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in neighboring Ukraine.

The Slovak government also announced plans to acquire over 1,300 heavy terrain vehicles in a joint procurement with the Czech Republic, at an expected cost of €708.3 million. These new 6x6 and 8x8 vehicles will replace the country’s aging fleet of military trucks.

Slovakia, which shares a border with Ukraine, has been actively enhancing its air defense systems as part of NATO's efforts to reinforce the alliance's eastern flank. Defense Minister Robert Kalinak has emphasized the importance of focusing on defense capabilities, particularly air defense, given the current regional security landscape.

Although the specific air defense system to be purchased from Israel has not been disclosed, Slovakia’s defense ministry highlighted that the new acquisition would replace the medium-range 2K12 KUB system, which is nearing the end of its operational life cycle. This follows Slovakia's earlier decision to donate its aging S-300 air defense system to Ukraine—a move that was criticized by the current government for diminishing the country’s defense capabilities.

In addition to the air defense systems, Slovakia recently received the first two of 14 new F-16 fighter jets, further demonstrating its commitment to modernizing its military assets.

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