Polish F-16s and Czech and Hungarian Gripens had provided air cover following Slovakia’s withdrawal of the MiG-29 fleet on 1 September 2022. Slovakia subsequently transferred all 13 retired aircraft to Ukraine in 2023.
The transition to F-16s took longer than expected, with the capability gap initially forecast to last about two years. Slovakia had anticipated bringing the fighters into service by the end of 2024, despite deliveries already running roughly two years behind schedule.
The first aircraft arrived from the United States in July 2024, and Slovakia accepted the last of its 14 ordered fighters on 16 April 2026. The report cited a shortage of trained maintenance personnel as one of the main reasons for the delay in assigning them to air defence duties.
Ten aircraft are now in Slovakia, while four remain in the United States to support personnel training. Those four are expected to relocate to Slovakia in 2028.
The original order for 14 Block 70 fighters was placed in 2018. On 9 September 2026, the government decided to acquire four additional two-seat aircraft for approximately €390 million, with payments continuing through 2030.
