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Slovak Air Force
Slovak Air Force
	;
Active	1939-1945 1993-
Country	Slovakia
Size	64 aircraft
Commanders
Air Force Commander	Generalmajor Juraj Baránek
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	Mi-24D/V, L-39ZAM
Fighter	MiG-29AS/UBS
Trainer	L-39CM, Mi-2
Transport	An-26, L-410, Mi-17M, Mi-8S

The Slovak Air Force, known since 2002 as the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Slovak: Vzdušné sily armády Slovenskej republiky), is the aviation and air defense branch of the Slovak Armed Forces. Operating 64 aircraft from 3 major bases - Kuchyňa, Sliač, Prešov. The Slovak Air Force has been under the command of Generalmajor Juraj Baránek since November 2005.

[edit] The Slovak Air Force today

The Slovak Air Force is tasked with the defense of the sovereign Slovak state and the support of the nation's ground troops^[1]. 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.

[edit] History

[edit] 1939-1945

Main article: Slovenské vzdušné zbrane

After the division of Czechoslovakia 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 defense of Slovakian airspace, and, after the invasion of Russia, provided air cover for Slovak forces fighting against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front^[2]. 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.

[edit] 1945-1992

Main article: Czechoslovak Air Force

The end of the war brought about the reunification of Czechoslovakia, and the reunification of the armed forces. In 1948, Czechoslovakia became a Communist country with a centrally planned economy, and the air force adopted the aircraft and organization used by the Soviet Union.

[edit] 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^[3]. 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.^[4]. 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.^[5]

In 2006 the Air Force lost an An-24 in a crash.

[edit] Bases and Commands

Aviation assets are divided between three major air bases throughout the country, at Malacky-Kuchyňa, Sliač, and Prešov.

Dopravné letecké krídlo (Air Transport Wing), based at Malacky-Kuchyňa^[6]

1 Dopravný roj (Air Transport Flight): An-26

2 Dopravný roj (Air Transport Flight): L-410

Zmiešané letecké krídlo (Mixed Air Wing), based at Sliač^[6] - Flying and maintenance personnel and all available assets have been redeployed to Malacky-Kuchyňa AFB due to RWY 36/18 reconstruction.

1. Letka ( 1st Squadron ): MiG-29AS, UBS

2. Letka (2nd Squadron ): L-39CM, ZAM

Vyhľadávacia a záchranná služba (Search and Rescue unit): Mi-17, Mi-8. SAR unit has been redeployed to the Presov AFB.

Vrtuľníkové letecké krídlo (Mixed Helicopter Wing), based at Prešov^[6]

1 Bitevná vrtuľníková letka (Attack Helicopter Sqauadron): Mi-24

2. Dopravná vrtuľníková letka (Transport Helicopter Squadron): Mi-17

3 Výcviková vrtuľníková letka (Training Helicopter Squadron): Mi-2

Protilietadlová raketová brigáda (Anti-aircraft rocket brigade), based at Nitra

1. Protilietadlová raketová skupina Nitra: S-300

2. Protilietadlová raketová skupina Nitra: 2K12 Kub

[edit] Current Equipment 1.1.2009

Aircraft

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	Number^[4]:	Notes
Fighter Aircraft
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29	Soviet Union	fighter training	MiG-29AS MiG-29UBS	10 2	8 MiG-29A and 1 MiG-29UB stored ^[7]
Trainer Aircraft
Aero L-39 Albatros	Czechoslovakia	basic and advanced training air to ground attack	L-39ZAM L-39CM	4 6
Transport Aircraft
Antonov An-26	Soviet Union	transport	An-26	2	used for flight personnel training
Let L-410 Turbolet	Czechoslovakia	transport	L-410FG L-410T L-410UVP L-410UVP-E20	1 3 3 2	used for light transport, parachute training, photographic mapping and VIP transport^[8]
Alenia C-27J Spartan	Italy	transport	C-27J Spartan	2 on order
Helicopters
Mil Mi-24	Soviet Union	attack training	Mi-24V Mi-24D	9 7	Not all in service
Mil Mi-17	Soviet Union	transport	Mi-17M	12
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	transport	Mi-8S	1
Mil Mi-2	Poland	training	Mi-2	2
UAV
Elbit Skylark	Israel	UAV		5	currently in possession of Ministry of Interior and 5th regiment of special assignment ^[9]
SAM systems
S-300	Soviet Union	Long range air defense system	S-300PMU	1 battery
2K12 Kub	Soviet Union	Low to medium range air defense system	2K12 Kub	4 batteries