Slovakia signed an agreement today under which its neighbors and NATO allies, the Czech Republic and Poland, will monitor its airspace as Bratislava retires its Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets, likely to send them to Ukraine.
Slovakia has said it is ready to send the 11 aircraft to Ukraine, whose armed forces rely on Soviet-era equipment and have appealed to NATO countries for help against Russian forces.
Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad told reporters today that Bratislava is willing to send the aircraft to Ukraine, but no agreement has yet been reached. “There is political will and it makes sense to help those who need help. That possibility is on the table and once there is an agreement we will let you know,” he said.
The Slovak government has already donated an S-300 anti-aircraft system, military helicopters, rocket launchers and other weapons to Ukraine.
Nant, who estimates the value of the MiGs at around 300 million euros, has said Slovakia will seek to receive some financial or material return for the donations in order to modernize its military.
Under today’s agreement, the Czech Republic and Poland will monitor Slovakia’s airspace from September until the country receives 14 new US F-16s. The contract for the purchase of these fighters was signed in 2018 and they are expected to be delivered in 2024.
Source: News Beast
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