Slovak Air Force | |
---|---|
Vzdušné sily Ozbrojených síl Slovenskej republiky | |
Founded | 1 January 1993 |
Country | Slovak Republic |
Type | Air force |
Role | Aerial warfare |
Size |
|
Part of | Slovak Armed Forces |
Garrison/HQ | Zvolen |
Commanders | |
Air Force Commander | Major General Róbert Tóth[1] |
Insignia | |
Roundel | |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack | L-39ZAM |
Fighter | MiG-29AS |
Helicopter | Mi-17M/LPZS |
Utility helicopter | UH-60M |
Reconnaissance | L-410FG |
Trainer | L-39CM |
Transport | C-27J, L-410UVP-E14/20 |
The Slovak Air Force, known since 2002 as the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Slovak: Vzdušné sily Ozbrojených síl Slovenskej republiky), is the aviation and air defense branch of the Slovak Armed Forces. Operating 23 aircraft and 10 helicopters from 3 air bases : Malacky–Kuchyňa, 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 Defense System – NATINADS.[2][3][4][5][6]
The Slovak Air Force is tasked with the defense of the sovereign Slovak state and the support of the nation's ground troops.[7] Eight Russian upgraded fighter aircraft MiG-29[8][9][10][11][12] together with seven modernized basic and light advanced trainers Aero L-39 dominate the inventory, followed by the seven Let L-410 and one Antonov An-26 transport aircraft.[13] The helicopter fleet consists of the ten Mil Mi-17.[14] Eight Mil Mi-24 were withdrawn from service on September 20, 2011. The Slovak Air Force has been under the command of Major General Róbert Tóth since January 1, 2021.[15][16][17][18][19][20]
History
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 the World War II, the Slovak Air force was charged with the defense 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, including the Messerschmitt Bf 109. The air force was sent back to Slovakia after combat fatigue and desertion had reduced the pilots' effectiveness. Slovak air units took part in the Slovak National Uprising against Germany from late August 1944.[21][22][23]
1946–1992
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. Because of this, the Czechoslovak Air Force used Soviet aircraft, doctrines, and tactics. The types of aircraft were mostly MiGs. MiG-15, MiG-19, and MiG-21F fighters was produced in license; in the 1970s, MiG-23MF were bought, accompanied by MiG-23ML 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 defense duties, and the 10th Air Army, responsible for ground forces support.[24] 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.
In November 1989 Communism fell across Czechoslovakia. The two parliaments of the two new states from 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, decided how to split the assets of the former air force. The assets were divided 2:1 in the Czechs' favor, and thus the Slovak Air Force was (re)formed. However the 20 MiG 29s were shared equally between the two countries. [25]
1993–2018
After the formal dissolution of Czechoslovakia on January 1, 1993, Czech and Slovak aircraft were divided according to each nation's population, in a ratio of nearly 2:1 in the Czech Republic's favor.[26] The exceptions to this rule were the MiG-23's, which were given exclusively to the Czech Air force, and the MiG-29's, which were divided evenly between the two nations. Slovak bases were initially under-equipped to handle the aircraft transferred from the Czech bases, and required considerable improvements in infrastructure to facilitate the new air force. On March 1, 1995, the air force replaced the Soviet style aviation regiment organization with the western wing and squadron system.[27] Around 2000–2002, Slovakia gradually retired many of the older aircraft, including the entire fleet of Su-22, Su-25, and MiG-21.[28] In 2004, the flight training academy and national aerobatic demonstration team Biele Albatrosy, both based at Košice, were disbanded.[29][30]
On January 19, 2006, the Slovak Air Force lost an Antonov An-24 in a crash.
On September 20, 2011, all of the remaining Mil Mi-24 gunships were retired.[31][32][33][34]
In January 2014, Slovakia started discussions with the Swedish Government regarding leasing or purchasing JAS-39 Gripen aircraft to replace their MiG-29 fighters.[35][36]
On April 21, 2014 Slovakia and RAC MiG signed a contract for a three years long modernization programme for the air force's MiG-29 fighters.[37][38][39][40]
On December 12, 2018, Slovakia signed a contract to acquire 14 F-16C/D Block 70. All are to be delivered by 2025.[41]
2022
In April 2022, during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Slovakia donated its S-300PMU (SA-10F Grumble) battery to Ukraine.[42]
Structure
- Air Force Command, in Zvolen[43]
- 46th Wing, at Malacky Air Base
- Transport Squadron, with 2× C-27J Spartan, 1× L-410FG, 1× L-410UVP-E14, 4× L-410UVP-E20
- Air Traffic Provisions Battalion
- Air Traffic Control Squadron
- Maintenance Squadron
- Medical Point
- Air Range
- 81st Wing, at Sliač Air Base
- 51st Wing, at Prešov Air Base
- 11th Air Force Brigade, in Nitra
- 1st Anti-aircraft Missile Group
- 2nd Anti-aircraft Missile Group, with 5× 2K12M2 Kub-M2 (SA-6 Gainful)
- "Igla" Anti-aircraft Division, with 72× 9K38 Igla2 (SA-18 Grouse)
- Technical Division
- Support Battalion
- Operating Unit
- Medical Point
- 2nd Air Force Brigade, in Zvolen
- Radar Surveillance Battalion
- Air Operations Centre, reports to NATO's Integrated Air Defense System CAOC Uedem in Germany
- Air Force Command Support Company
- Medical Point
- 46th Wing, at Malacky Air Base
Aircraft
Current inventory
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat Aircraft | ||||||
MiG-29 | Soviet Union | multirole | MiG-29AS/UBS | 12[47] | 1 used for conversion training | |
F-16 Fighting Falcon | United States | multirole | F-16V | 14 on order[48] | ||
Reconnaissance | ||||||
L-410 Turbolet | Czechoslovakia | surveillance | 1[48] | |||
Transport | ||||||
Alenia C-27J | Italy | transport | 2[48] | |||
L-410 Turbolet | Czech Republic | transport | 5[48] | |||
Helicopters | ||||||
Mil Mi-17 | Soviet Union | transport / utility | 13[48] | |||
Sikorsky UH-60 | United States | utility | UH-60M | 9[48] | ||
Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
Aero L-39 | Czechoslovakia | jet trainer | 7[48] |
Retired aircraft
Previous aircraft operated by the Air Force include the MiG-21, Sukhoi Su-22, Sukhoi Su-25, Yakovlev Yak-40, Tupolev Tu-154, Aero L-29, Antonov An-12, Antonov An-24/An-26, Mil Mi-2 and the Mil Mi-24 helicopter.[49]
Air Defense
Name | Origin | Type | In service | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAM | ||||||
2K12 Kub 2M | Soviet Union | SAM system | 5 batteries | Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system.[50] | ||
9K38 Igla2 | Soviet Union | MANPADS | 72 | Man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile system.[50] |
See also
- International Fighter Pilots Academy
- Military of Slovakia
- Ground Forces of the Slovak Republic
- Slovak National Uprising
- 2006 Slovak Air Force Antonov An-24 crash
References
- ^ "Bio" (PDF). www.parlamentnykurier.sk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
- ^ "The ambitions of the Slovak armed forces. Theory and reality."
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- ^ "Východiská strategického hodnotenia obrany Slovenskej republiky 2011"
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
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- ^ " Abonentná zmluva na prevádzku lietadiel MiG-29 na roky 2011–2016" December 3, 2011
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- ^ SME – Petit Press, a.s. "SME.sk – Stihacky MiG-29 su vyrabovane, Smer zvazuje prenajom". www.sme.sk. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
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- ^ Slovak Insurgent Air Force
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- ^ ed David Oliver, Eastern European Air Power, No 3 in the AFM Airpower Series, Key Publishing Ltd, Stamford, Lincs, 1990–91, p.38-41
- ^ John Pike. "Slovak Republic Air Force – Equipment". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ Ed. David Donald.The Pocket Guide to Military Aircraft and the World's Air Forces. Ed. David Donald. London:Hamlyn. 2001 ISBN 0-600-60302-4
- ^ "Slovak Air Arms".
- ^ White October Ltd. "The Conventional Imbalance and Debate on Russian Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ "Scramble". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ "Situácia na Ukrajine 2013" 12 December 2013
- ^ SME – Petit Press, a.s. "Vrtuľníky Mi-24 vzlietli v Prešove naposledy – Spravodajstvo – presov.korzar.sme.sk". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ Azet.sk. "Vojakov je menej. Za desať rokov klesol ich počet o 8000". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ "Nie je obrana už dávno v kríze?!" 24 April 2011
- ^ "Obrana po slovensky alebo Armáda, kam ťa to dovedú..." Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ "Slovakia Plans To Acquire Fighter Jets". Defense News. Archived from the original on January 20, 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ Stockholm TT (16 January 2014). "Slovakien intresserat av Gripen". SvD.se. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
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- ^ "Minister Glváč odpísal sovietske Migy, opravy by stáli veľa". Webnoviny.sk. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
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- ^ P E R E X , a. s. (22 April 2014). "Nové stíhačky si armáda prenajme". Pravda.sk. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ "Obrana podpísala zmluvy na stíhačky za 1,59 miliardy eur - Domáce - Správy - Pravda". Spravy.pravda.sk. 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ "Slovakia sends its air defence system to Ukraine". Reuters. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ https://www.scramble.nl/orbats/slovakia[bare URL]
- ^ "L-39 Albatros". 2sqn.sk. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a.s., Petit Press (27 June 2017). "The first two Black Hawks land in Slovakia". Archived from the original on 2017-09-04. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
- ^ Dubois, Gaston (2022-04-22). "Under NATO shield, Slovakia may donate it´s MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine". Aviacionline. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
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- ^ "World Air Forces 1994 pg. 55". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
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External links
- Official Homepage of the Slovak Air Force Archived 2013-06-14 at the Wayback Machine
- Slovak Ministry of Defence page on the Slovak Air Force(en, sk)
- Home page of Slovakia's 1 Fighter Squadron(en, sk)
- Home page of 2nd Training Squadron, AFB Sliac(en, sk)
- Website of the former Slovak Flight demonstration team (en, sk)
- Website of the disbanded Slovak Military Flight Academy(sk)
- Scramble on the Web page for the Slovak Air Force(en)
- Aeroflight World Airforces on Slovakia(en)
- Eagles of the Tatras: The Slovak Airforce 1939 – 1945(en)