Slovakia has begun negotiations with the United States for the purchase of four additional F-16 fighter jets, expanding its existing contract for 14 aircraft.
The information was confirmed by Prime Minister Robert Fico following a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on February 15, according to Defense News.
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The new order is expected to be incorporated into the original agreement signed with Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer responsible for the F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft destined for the Slovak Air Force.
Seeking air sovereignty
According to Fico, expanding the fleet aims to ensure full sovereignty in protecting national airspace. Currently, air policing missions over Slovak territory are carried out by aircraft from the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland under NATO’s regional cooperation framework.
The prime minister emphasized that reliance on neighboring countries for this strategic function is not an ideal scenario for the Slovak state. He added that additional mechanisms are being discussed to strengthen the country’s independent operational capabilities.
Political context and MiG-29 transfer
The current government leadership links the situation of military aviation to decisions made by the previous administration. Between 2022 and 2023, Slovakia transferred 13 MiG-29 fighter jets considered obsolete, along with other military equipment, to Ukraine.
Fico and Defense Minister Robert Kalinyak publicly criticized their predecessors’ decision. At the initiative of the current government, the Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation to assess the legality of the transfer. However, in early February 2026, the Bratislava Regional Prosecutor’s Office closed the case without identifying any legal violations.
Modernization launched in 2018
The modernization process of Slovakia’s combat aviation began in 2018, when Bratislava signed a contract for the acquisition of 14 F-16 Block 70/72 fighters. The agreement included 12 single-seat combat aircraft and two two-seat training versions.
Lockheed Martin completed production of the final units of that batch in December 2025, marking an important milestone in Slovakia’s transition to a fully NATO-compatible fleet.
If ongoing negotiations move forward, Slovakia could consolidate a fleet of 18 F-16s, strengthening its operational autonomy and reducing dependence on regional partners for airspace defense.
Source and images: Defense News | United States Air Force. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
