Slovakia to Buy Four More F-16 Fighter Jets - Topical Issue - Rádio RSI English - STVR

Slovakia has approved a procurement plan to secure four additional F-16D Block 70 fighter jets, with Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák expecting to conclude the necessary contracts with the U.S. government by the end of the year. The purchase is framed as a response to shifting security conditions near Slovakia’s borders and to NATO needs. Slovakia says the extra aircraft will allow missions and training to be conducted on Slovak territory while supporting EU and NATO operations. Slovakia first bought 14 F-16s in 2018; ten were delivered by 2025 and four were allocated for training in the United States, expected to finish with aircraft arriving in 2028. The new jets will be delivered in the V4 configuration with updated avionics, while Slovakia also plans new air-to-ground munitions, targeting pods, and ammunition cleared or completed since the original contract to expand strike capabilities and training flexibility.