BRATISLAVA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Slovakia is set to procure four additional fighter jets from the United States by the end of this year, under a draft deal approved by the government on Wednesday.
According to the News Agency of the Slovak Republic, the country has decided to buy the jets due to the changing security situation on Slovakia's borders. Defense Minister Robert Kalinak is due to conclude the agreement acquiring the F-16 Block 70 jets with the United States by the end of this year.
"After assessing the risks, requirements and NATO demands, there's a need to expand the F-16 C/D Block 70 fleet with additional aircraft so that the Slovak Armed Forces can carry out missions and training on their own territory while also providing support as part of EU and NATO operations," the Defense Ministry said.
In 2018, Slovakia procured its first 14 F-16 fighter jets. This is the minimum number required to carry out air-to-air and air-to-ground missions on Slovak territory under the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defense System, and potentially also to participate in operations outside Slovakia.
Ten aircraft were delivered to Slovakia in stages by 2025, while four are being used to train aircrew in the United States.
Last year, Slovakia sent a request to Washington to prepare an agreement for four additional F-16 fighter jets. The extra jets have the V4 configuration, which differs from the V3 configuration in avionics and certain other systems. ■