In the future, Poland and the Czech Republic will protect the airspace above the EU and NATO partner country Slovakia with combat aircraft. The three defense ministers signed an agreement on Saturday at the Slovak military airport in Malacky. Slovakia had ordered 14 US F-16 aircraft to replace the obsolete Soviet-designed MiG-29. However, delivery is expected to be delayed until 2024.
Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad described the agreement as evidence of a “strong friendship, even brotherhood” between the three countries.
Maintaining the MiG-29 fleet has also become increasingly difficult due to sanctions against Russia due to the war against Ukraine. The machines are now being taken out of service.
It would also be possible to make them available to Ukraine. A decision is still pending. In April, Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger promised that the machines could be delivered to Kiev. In mid-August, Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad denied reports that Slovak MiG-29s had already been handed over to Ukraine.
Source: Krone
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