Slovakia spends EUR1.2 billion on Israeli air-defence systems and new trucks

A Barak MRAD interceptor being fired from the Barak MX launcher. (Israel Aerospace Industries)

The Slovakian government is to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Israel by the end of October for six ground-based air-defence (GBAD) systems, Slovakia's government TASR news agency has reported.

The EUR554 million (USD614 million) deal for launchers, radars, missiles, and related equipment follows government approval, with deliveries of the systems expected to start in 2025 and be complete by 2029.

After looking at options from several manufacturers, the the Slovak Ministry of Defence (SVK MoD) justified the acquisition in documents submitted to parliament that the offer for air-defence systems from Israel was the most advantageous in economic, technical, and timeframe terms.

Replacement need

Minister of Defence Robert Kalinak said in the parliamentary documents that the Slovak Armed Forces' current old Soviet 2K12 KUB air-defence systems are now so obsolete that only 33% of the systems are available for use.

Kalinak added that should Slovakia fail to replace the KUBs, the country would lose the remaining fire capability of its medium-range GBADs by 2027, with the ability to shoot down tactical ballistic missiles and certain classes of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) over Slovakia lost even sooner.

In April 2022 Slovakia became the first country to donate its old Soviet S-300PMU air-defence system, including up to 48 5V55R surface-to-air missiles, four launchers, and radars to Ukraine. The decision was criticised by some Slovak politicians for lowering the country's air-defence capabilities.

New trucks

The Slovak government also approved the acquisition of 1,300 N3G (offroad heavy, as classified by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association) military trucks in a joint procurement with the Czech Republic, in a deal expected to cost EUR703 million.