Old UAZ vehicles replaced by 140 new off-roads

In this electoral term, the SVK MOD has launched the most extensive modernization in the history of our armed forces, which started with the publication of the White Paper on Defence of the Slovak Republic. Since 2012, the Defence Department has managed to purchase 140 Land Rovers, which have gradually replaced old Russian UAZ vehicles. The new off-roads are used in military units all over Slovakia for domestic crisis management, such as floods or disasters of various origin. When compared to the old UAZ vehicles, the new vehicles have better utility and performance characteristics, as well as half fuel consumption.

“Within four years, we have spent more than 10 million EUR for the vehicles and we have managed to replace more than a half of the older Russian UAZ vehicles. The purchase made via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has been the biggest one in our armed forces, as well as exceptionally transparent,” said SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč.

Land Rovers are also used by other Allied armed forces, which means achieving absolute compatibility. During the past four years, the SVK MOD has increased spending on modernization almost up to 20 per cent of its budget. Similarly, the Ministry plans to meet Slovakia’s commitment to increase defence expenditure up to 1.6 per cent of GDP until 2020.