The Slovak Air Force, known since 2002 as the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (), is the aviation and air defence branch of the Slovak Armed Forces. Operating 22 aircraft and 15 helicopters from three air bases, in Malacky, Sliač, Prešov. It succeeded the Czechoslovak Air Force together with the Czech Air Force in 1993. The Slovak Air Force is part of NATO Integrated Air Defence System – NATINADS."Na obranu pôjde v roku 2014 jedno percento HDP" 10 October 2013
The Slovak Air Force is tasked with the defence of the sovereignty of Slovakia and the support of the nation's ground troops."The Military Balance 2014"., February 05, 2014. Following the retirement of the Mikoyan MiG-29s in 2022, 10 F-16 Block 70 and two L-39 Albatros provide the fast-jet capability role to the air force, awaiting the arrival of the final four F-16s in 2027. Six Let L-410 Turbolet aircraft provide surveillance and transport capabilities, while two C-27J Spartan transport aircraft provide a light tactical airlift capability. The helicopter fleet consists of four Mil Mi-17s which are accompanied by 11 much newer UH-60M Black Hawks.
The Slovak Air Force has been under the command of Brigade General Adolf Daubner since August 2025.
History 1914–1918 Many Slovak pilots served in Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops or in Entente air forces. Some Slovak pilots as part of Czechoslovak Legionnaires served even in the French Air Force or the Imperial Russian Air Service.
Jozef Kiss and Fritz Wowy were two of the best Slovak pilots in World War I.
1918–1939
Much of Austria-Hungary's manufacturing companies were Czech, therefore Czechoslovakia could quickly develop an aircraft industry. As the industry developed, it designed more aircraft and engines of its own. Czechoslovak aircraft builders included Aero, Avia, Beneš-Mráz, Letov, Praga, Tatra and Zlín. Engine makers included ČKD, Walter and Škoda.
1939–1945
After the division of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany in 1939, Slovakia was left with a small air force composed primarily of Czechoslovak combat aircraft. This force defended Slovakia against Hungary in 1939, and took part in the invasion of Poland in support of Germany. During World War II, the Slovak Air force was tasked with the defence of Slovak airspace, and, after the invasion of Russia, provided air cover for Slovak forces fighting against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front. While engaged on the Eastern Front, Slovakia's obsolete biplanes were replaced with German combat aircraft, like the Messerschmitt Bf 109. The air force was sent back to Slovakia after combat fatigue and desertion had reduced the pilots' effectiveness. The Slovak Resistance Air Force took part in the Slovak National Uprising against Germany from late August 1944.List of World War II aces from Slovakia
1945–1992
During this time Czechoslovakia was a member of the Eastern Bloc, allied with the Soviet Union, and from 1955 a member of the Warsaw Pact. As a result of this, the Czechoslovak Air Force used Soviet aircraft, doctrines, and tactics. The types of aircraft used were mostly MiGs. MiG-15, MiG-19, and MiG-21F fighters were produced in license; in the 1970s, MiG-23MFs were bought, accompanied by MiG-23MLs and MiG-29s in the 1980s.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, the Czechoslovak Air Force consisted of the 7th Air Army, which had air defence duties, and the 10th Air Army, responsible for ground forces support.ed David Oliver, Eastern European Air Power, No 3 in the AFM Airpower Series, Key Publishing Ltd, Stamford, Lincs, 1990–91, p.38-41 The 7th Air Army had two air divisions and three fighter regiments, and the 10th Air Army had two air divisions and a total of six regiments of fighters and attack aircraft. There were also two reconnaissance regiments, two transport regiments, three training regiments, and two helicopter regiments.
1993–present
After the formal dissolution of Czechoslovakia on 31 December 1992, Czechoslovak aircraft were divided according to each nation's population, or in a ratio of nearly 2:1 in the Czech Republic's favor. The exceptions to this rule were the MiG-23s, which were given exclusively to the Czech Air Force, and the MiG-29s, which were divided evenly between the two nations. Slovak air bases were initially under-equipped to handle the aircraft transferred from the Czech air bases, and required considerable improvements in infrastructure to facilitate the new air force.
Following the division of aircraft, on 1 March 1995, the air force replaced the Soviet style aviation regiment organization with the western wing and squadron system. Then around 2000–2002, Slovakia started to gradually retire many of the older aircraft, including their entire fleet of Su-22, Su-25, and MiG-21. This was followed by the disbanding of the national aerobatic demonstration team, the Biele Albatrosy, and the merge of the Military aviation academy with the Faculty of Aeronautics at the Technical University of Košice. A tragic crash involving a Slovak Air Force An-24 in 2006 became the country's worst military aviation accident in history, with only one out of the 43 people on board surviving. As a part of its gradual retirement of Soviet aircraft, all of the remaining Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters were retired on 20 September 2011."Nie je obrana už dávno v kríze?!" 24 April 2011 Modernization efforts began in October 2014, when the government approved the purchase of two tactical transport aircraft, the Alenia C-27J Spartan. Slovakia was one of the few countries in Eastern Europe that decided to keep its MiG-29's in service, but in January 2014, Slovakia started discussions with the Swedish Government regarding leasing or purchasing JAS-39 Gripen aircraft to replace their MiG-29 fighters. However, these negotiations didn't lead anywhere and Slovakia decided to keep their MiG-29s in service until 2022. In April 2015, the Slovak government announced it would buy nine UH-60M utility helicopters to replace its aging fleet of Mi-17 helicopters. The deal worth $261 million also included full life-cycle support for the aircraft and training for aircrews and ground personnel.
One of the most significant milestones in the modernization of the Air Force was achieved on 12 December 2018, when Slovakia signed a contract to acquire 14 F-16V/Block 70 with additional equipment. Originally, all were to be delivered by 2025, but due to delays and the COVID-19 pandemic deliveries began years later. The first completed jet was unveiled by the manufacturer on 7 September 2023, and first two aircraft were delivered to Slovakia on 22 July 2024. The last aircraft was handed over to Slovak pilots in the United States in April 2026 and it along with the other three aircraft still in the U.S. are expected to arrive once their training is complete in 2027.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Slovakia donated its S-300PMU air defence system alongside one Mil Mi-2 and four Mil Mi-17 helicopters to Ukraine as aid. Then in April, Slovakia began negotiating with Baykar about the procurement of Bayraktar TB2. These negotiations been never formally ended. Modernization of the country's air defence began on October 13, 2022, when Slovakia joined European Sky Shield Initiative to strengthen future air defence procurement. In September of the following year, Slovakia started the acquisition of medium and short range air defence missile systems (SHORAD/MRAD) with budget of 200 million Euros. The acquisition of these systems was part of the first out of three stages. Among the medium-range systems, Slovakia was choosing from the Barak 8, SPYDER, IRIS-T and MICA. From short-range systems Slovakia was choosing between Piorun, RBS 70, Mistral 3 and KP-SAM Chiron. On February 7, 2024, Slovakia was comparing NASAMS, IRIS-T, KM-SAM with the winners of the past tender Barak 8. A few months later in August, the Slovak government approved plans to buy six Barak MX batteries from Israel. There are speculations that two additional batteries could be ordered as well.
Talks and negotiations with the United States surrounding the purchase of four more F-16s began in February 2026. Two of these would be F-16C and the other two would be F-16D. In the transport department, the Slovak Air Force already has six Czech-made L-410 light aircraft, with four of them being the relatively new L-410UVP-E20 version, in addition to two twin-engine turboprop C-27J Spartan transport aircraft. These aircraft will be retired or offered either for sale or exchange. The Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic proposes the procurement of two new twin-engine jets to replace the L-410, and the purchase of four Brazilian Embraer C-390 Millennium is also expected. Slovakia decided to procure two more UH-60 Black Hawks for its special forces. Those two Black Hawks were delivered on 25 August 2026 at Malacky Air Base, and they were later transferred to 51st wing in Prešov. This added to the fleet of nine UH-60M helicopters that the Air Force was already operating.
Slovak aid to Ukraine Following a request for military aid by Ukraine, the Slovak Air Force provided a number of aircraft and equipment as aid. In April 2022, this included the donation of a Soviet era S-300PMU air defence battery, in addition to one Mil Mi-2 and four Mil Mi-17 helicopters, through the European Peace Facility. On 31 August 2022, all MiG-29s operated by the Slovak Air Force were retired. An agreement with fellow NATO members Poland and the Czech Republic was signed in order to establish joint patrols of airspace, until the delivery of American F-16s to the Slovak Air Force in 2024.
Slovak Air Defence aid to Ukraine
On 17 March 2023, the Slovak government approved sending 13 Mikoyan MiG-29 jet fighters to Ukraine and one MiG-29UBS to Military History Museum Piešťany. Nine MiG-29AS, one MiG-29UBS, two MiG-29A and one MiG-29UB were sent to Ukraine. Three of them were missing engines and were intended to serve as a source of spare parts. Ukrainian pilots flew four MiG-29 jet fighters from Slovakia to Ukraine on 23 March 2023, with the remaining nine sent at a later date. Additionally, two 2K12 Kub launchers, radar, spare parts, 52 3M9ME missiles and 148 3M9M3E missiles were donated.
After Slovakia gifted its S-300 missile system, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States deployed their MIM-104 Patriot systems to cover country's air defence needs.
Foreign aid for the Slovak air force
As compensation for the aid provided, Slovakia received €200 million for the MiG-29 package and €50 million for the KUB package, both from the European Peace Facility fund. The US offered aid in the form of an approximately 66% discount on a package including 12 unused AH-1Z attack helicopters, training, related equipment and 500 Hellfire II missiles. The total value of the package was estimated at US$1 billion, with $660 million to be paid by the FMF. Had the Slovak government accepted the offer, the remaining value of the package, in the amount of $340 million, was to be paid by the Slovak government in three to four years. The total value of the compensation from both the EU and US is approximately $900 million per statement from Ministry of Defence of Slovak Republic. The AH-1Z offer was also provided as a compensation in the context of the delays to Slovak F-16C/D delivery. The Slovak government was expected to make a decision on the AH-1Z offer early into 2024. The signing of the deal was threatened due to the change in government after the elections.
Investigation into Russian sabotage of Slovak MiG-29