Defence Ministry Wants to Keep MiG-29 until Delivery of US F-16 Fighters

13. novembra 2018 21:16
Bratislava, November 13 (TASR) - The Defence Ministry is to recommend that the Slovak Government should continue to operate MiG-29 aircraft until the delivery of the US F-16 fighter jets, the ministry's spokesperson Danka Capakova said on Tuesday, adding that this conclusion has been made following a detailed analysis of alternatives dealing with the protection of Slovakia's airspace. The Defence Ministry-sponsored document to this effect is set to be submitted to a Government session. Capakova also said that air force and modernisation experts identified two possible alternatives with regards to airspace protection, the first being co-operation with NATO-member countries, which would mean a temporary loss of Slovakia's capability to protect its own airspace, while the second alternative involved a prolonged operation of MiG-29 fighters by co-operating with either Poland or a Russian company called RSK MiG. "Based on the assessment of these options, and taking into account the current state of the MiG-29 aircraft, the legislation in force, the need to ensure and maintain the training level of pilots and personnel of the Slovak Armed Forces, the most effective economic solution is to sign a new additional agreement with RSK MiG valid between November 16, 2019 and December 31, 2023 with the possibility to extend it by one year," said Capakova. The Slovak Government in July approved the purchase of the 14 F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets, with the cost of the whole project, including the production, training, ammunition and logistics, amounting to €1.589 billion. tz/mcs
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