Slovak Air Force
Encyclopedia
The Slovak Air Force, known since 2002 as the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic
, is the aviation
and air defense branch of the Slovak Armed Forces
. Operating 70 aircraft
from 3 major bases - Kuchyňa, Sliač, Prešov. It succeeded the Czechoslovak Air Force
together with the Czech Air Force
in 1993.
The Slovak Air Force is tasked with the defence of the sovereign Slovak state and the support of the nation's ground troops. 12 Russian upgraded combat aircraft MiG-29 together with 10 modernised basic and light advanced trainers L-39 CM, ZAM dominate the inventory, followed by the Czech built Let L-410
transport aircraft and decreasing number of AN-26 platforms. The helicopter
fleet is composed entirely of Russian types, including the Mil Mi-24
, Mil Mi-17
and Mil Mi-2
. The Slovak Air Force has been under the command of Generalmajor Martin Babiak since May 2010.
by Nazi Germany
in 1939, Slovakia was left with a small air force composed primarily of Czechoslovakian combat aircraft. This force defended Slovakia against Hungary in 1939, and took part in the invasion of Poland in support of Germany. During the Second World War, the Slovak Air force was charged 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, 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.
, 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 MiG
s. Fighters MiG-15, MiG-19 and MiG-21F was produced in licence; in 1970s, MiG-23MF were bought, accompanied by -23MLs and MiG-29s in 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. 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 the communist leaders and guidelines fell across Czechoslovakia. The two parliaments of the two new states the Czech republic and Slovakia
, dissolved their union on the 1st of January 1993. The assets of the former airforce were divided 2:1 in the Czech favour, and thus the Slovak Air Force was (re)formed. However the 20 MiG 29s were shared equally between the two countries.
In 2006 the Air Force lost an An-24 in a crash
.
Air Transport Wing (Dopravné letecké krídlo), based at
Malacky-Kuchyňa
Mixed Air Wing (Zmiešané letecké krídlo), based at Sliač -
Mixed Helicopter Wing (Vrtuľníkové letecké krídlo), based at Prešov
Anti-aircraft rocket brigade (Protilietadlová raketová brigáda), based at Nitra
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Photo
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Number:
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-
|-----
! style="align: center; background: #E6E6E6;" colspan="7" | Fighter Aircraft
|-----
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29
|
|
| fighter
training
| MiG-29AS
MiG-29UBS
| 10
2
| 8 MiG-29A and 1 MiG-29UB stored
|-
|-----
! style="align: center; background: #E6E6E6;" colspan="7" | Trainer Aircraft
|-----
| Aero L-39 Albatros
|,_static_display,_radom_airshow_2005,_poland.jpg)
|
Czechoslovakia
| light attack
basic and advanced training
| L-39ZAM
L-39CM
| 4
4
|-
|-----
! style="align: center; background: #E6E6E6;" colspan="7" | Transport Aircraft
|-----
| Antonov An-26
|
|
| transport
| An-26
| 1
| used for flight personnel training
|-----
| Let L-410 Turbolet
|
| Czechoslovakia
| transport
| L-410FG
L-410UVP-T
L-410UVP-E
L-410UVP-E20
L-410UVP-S
| 1
1
2
2
1
| used for light transport, parachute training, photographic mapping and VIP transport
|-----
|-----
! style="align: center; background: #E6E6E6;" colspan="7" | Helicopters
|-----
| Mil Mi-17
|
|
| transport
| Mi-17M
| 11
|
|-----
|-----
|-
|-----
! style="align: center; background: #E6E6E6;" colspan="7" | UAV
|-----
| Elbit Skylark
|
|
| UAV
| Skylark
| 5
| currently in possession of Ministry of Interior and 5th regiment of special assignment
|-
|-----
! style="align: center; background: #E6E6E6;" colspan="7" | SAM systems
|-----
| S-300
|
|
| Long range air defense system
| S-300PMU
| 1 battery
|
|-----
| 2K12 Kub
|
|
| Low to medium range air defense system
| 2K12 Kub
| 4 batteries
|
|-----
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, is the aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
and air defense branch of the Slovak Armed Forces
Military of Slovakia
The Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic number 14,000 uniformed personnel. Slovakia joined NATO in March 2004. From 2006 the army transformed into a fully professional organization and compulsory military service was abolished.-Structure of the Armed Forces:...
. Operating 70 aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
from 3 major bases - Kuchyňa, Sliač, Prešov. It succeeded the Czechoslovak Air Force
Czechoslovak Air Force
The Czechoslovak Air Force was the air force branch of the military of Czechoslovakia. It was known as the Czechoslovak Army Air Force from 1918–1939...
together with the Czech Air Force
Czech Air Force
The Czech Air Force is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. The Air Force, with the Land Forces, comprises the Joint Forces, the main combat power of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic...
in 1993.
The Slovak Air Force is tasked with the defence of the sovereign Slovak state and the support of the nation's ground troops. 12 Russian upgraded combat aircraft MiG-29 together with 10 modernised basic and light advanced trainers L-39 CM, ZAM dominate the inventory, followed by the Czech built Let L-410
L-410
The Let L-410 Turbolet is a twin-engined short-range transport aircraft, manufactured by the Czech aircraft manufacturer LET, mostly used for passenger transport. Since 1969 more than 1100 airframes have been produced.-Development:...
transport aircraft and decreasing number of AN-26 platforms. The helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
fleet is composed entirely of Russian types, including the Mil Mi-24
Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
, Mil Mi-17
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
and Mil Mi-2
Mil Mi-2
The Mil Mi-2 is a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon.-Design and development:...
. The Slovak Air Force has been under the command of Generalmajor Martin Babiak since May 2010.
1939-1945
After the division of CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in 1939, Slovakia was left with a small air force composed primarily of Czechoslovakian combat aircraft. This force defended Slovakia against Hungary in 1939, and took part in the invasion of Poland in support of Germany. During the Second World War, the Slovak Air force was charged with the defence of Slovak airspace, and, after the invasion of Russia, provided air cover for Slovak forces fighting against the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. While engaged on the Eastern Front, Slovakia’s obsolete biplanes were replaced with German combat aircraft, including the Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
. 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.
1946-1992
During this time Czechoslovakia was member of the Eastern BlocEastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
, allied with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, and from 1955 a member of the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
. Because of this, the Czechoslovak Air Force used Soviet aircraft, doctrines and tactics. The types of aircraft were mostly MiG
Mig
-Industry:*MiG, now Mikoyan, a Russian aircraft corporation, formerly the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau*Metal inert gas welding or MIG welding, a type of welding using an electric arc and a shielding gas-Business and finance:...
s. Fighters MiG-15, MiG-19 and MiG-21F was produced in licence; in 1970s, MiG-23MF were bought, accompanied by -23MLs and MiG-29s in 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. 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 the communist leaders and guidelines fell across Czechoslovakia. The two parliaments of the two new states the Czech republic and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, dissolved their union on the 1st of January 1993. The assets of the former airforce were divided 2:1 in the Czech favour, and thus the Slovak Air Force was (re)formed. However the 20 MiG 29s were shared equally between the two countries.
1993-present
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. 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. In the following years, Slovakia gradually retired many of the older aircraft, including the entire fleet of Su-22 attack bombers and MiG-21 interceptors. In 2004, the flight training academy and national aerobatic demonstration team Biele Albatrosy, both based at Košice, were disbanded.In 2006 the Air Force lost an An-24 in a crash
2006 Slovak Air Force Antonov An-24 crash
On 19 January 2006 an Antonov An-24 aircraft operated by the Slovak Air Force crashed in northern Hungary, near the village of Hejce and town of Telkibánya. The airplane was carrying Slovak peacekeepers from Kosovo. Of the 43 people on board, there was only one survivor...
.
Bases and Commands
Aviation assets are divided between three major air bases throughout the country, at Malacky-Kuchyňa, Sliač, and Prešov.Air Transport Wing (Dopravné letecké krídlo), based atMalacky-Kuchyňa
- 1st Air Transport Flight (Dopravný roj): An-26
- 2nd Air Transport Flight (Dopravný roj): L-410
Mixed Air Wing (Zmiešané letecké krídlo), based at Sliač -
1st Squadron (1. Letka): MiG-29AS, UBS
2nd Squadron (2. Letka): L-39CM, ZAM
- Search and Rescue unit (Vyhľadávacia a záchranná služba): Mi-17, Mi-8. SAR unit has been redeployed to the Presov AFB.
Mixed Helicopter Wing (Vrtuľníkové letecké krídlo), based at Prešov
- 1st Attack Helicopter Squadron (Bitevná vrtuľníková letka): Mi-24 - were withdrawn from service on 20.09.2011
2nd Transport Helicopter Squadron (Dopravná vrtuľníková letka): Mi-17
- 3rd Training Helicopter Squadron (Výcviková vrtuľníková letka): Mi-2
Anti-aircraft rocket brigade (Protilietadlová raketová brigáda), based at Nitra
- 1st Anti-aircraft rocket group (1. Protilietadlová raketová skupina, Nitra): S-300PMU
- 2nd Anti-aircraft rocket group. (2.Protilietadlová raketová skupina, Nitra): 2K12 Kub
Current Equipment 11.11.2011
Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Photo
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Number:
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-
|-----
! style="align: center; background: #E6E6E6;" colspan="7" | Fighter Aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
|-----
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29
|
|
| fighter
training
| MiG-29AS
MiG-29UBS
| 10
2
| 8 MiG-29A and 1 MiG-29UB stored
|-
|-----
! style="align: center; background: #E6E6E6;" colspan="7" | Trainer Aircraft
Trainer (aircraft)
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
|-----
| Aero L-39 Albatros
Aero L-39
The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer aircraft developed in Czechoslovakia to meet requirements for a "C-39" during the 1960s to replace the L-29 Delfín...
|
|
CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
| light attack
basic and advanced training
| L-39ZAM
L-39CM
| 4
4
|-
|-----
! style="align: center; background: #E6E6E6;" colspan="7" | Transport Aircraft
Military transport aircraft
Military transport aircraft are typically fixed and rotary wing cargo aircraft which are used to deliver troops, weapons and other military equipment by a variety of methods to any area of military operations around the surface of the planet, usually outside of the commercial flight routes in...
|-----
| Antonov An-26
Antonov An-26
The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:...
|
| transport
| An-26
| 1
| used for flight personnel training
|-----
| Let L-410 Turbolet
|
|
CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
| transport
| L-410FG
L-410UVP-T
L-410UVP-E
L-410UVP-E20
L-410UVP-S
| 1
1
2
2
1
| used for light transport, parachute training, photographic mapping and VIP transport
|-----
|-----
! style="align: center; background: #E6E6E6;" colspan="7" | Helicopters
|-----
| Mil Mi-17
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
|
|
| transport
| Mi-17M
| 11
|
|-----
|-----
|-
|-----
! style="align: center; background: #E6E6E6;" colspan="7" | UAV
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
|-----
| Elbit Skylark
Elbit Skylark
Elbit Systems Skylark I and Skylark II are small unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Elbit Systems.-Skylark I:Skylark I is a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle. It is designed as a manpacked system for tactical surveillance and reconnaissance. Skylark is launched by hand. The payload consists of...
|
| UAV
| Skylark
| 5
| currently in possession of Ministry of Interior and 5th regiment of special assignment
|-
|-----
! style="align: center; background: #E6E6E6;" colspan="7" | SAM systems
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
|-----
| S-300
|
| Long range air defense system
| S-300PMU
| 1 battery
|
|-----
| 2K12 Kub
|
| Low to medium range air defense system
| 2K12 Kub
| 4 batteries
|
|-----
See also
- Military of SlovakiaMilitary of SlovakiaThe Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic number 14,000 uniformed personnel. Slovakia joined NATO in March 2004. From 2006 the army transformed into a fully professional organization and compulsory military service was abolished.-Structure of the Armed Forces:...
- Ground Forces of the Slovak RepublicGround Forces of the Slovak RepublicThe following is a summary of the Ground Forces of the Slovak Republic, which are part of the Military of Slovakia.-Ground Forces HQ:In Trenčín...
- Slovak National UprisingSlovak National UprisingThe Slovak National Uprising or 1944 Uprising was an armed insurrection organized by the Slovak resistance movement during World War II. It was launched on August 29 1944 from Banská Bystrica in an attempt to overthrow the collaborationist Slovak State of Jozef Tiso...
- 2006 Slovak Air Force Antonov An-24 crash2006 Slovak Air Force Antonov An-24 crashOn 19 January 2006 an Antonov An-24 aircraft operated by the Slovak Air Force crashed in northern Hungary, near the village of Hejce and town of Telkibánya. The airplane was carrying Slovak peacekeepers from Kosovo. Of the 43 people on board, there was only one survivor...
External links
- Slovak Ministry of Defence page on the Slovak Air Force(en, sk)
- Home page of Slovakia's 1 Fighter Squadron(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)