SVK Defence Development Plan under discussion in interdepartmental consultations
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- Date: 14.09.2017
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The MOD submitted its “Long-Term Defence Development Plan with Emphasis on Building and Developing the SVK Armed Forces with an Outlook to 2030” to be discussed in interdepartmental consultations. Until recently, this sort of a comprehensive strategic document, one which represents a defence investment plan up to 2030, has been non-existent for more than 25 years in Defence. It builds on the Security, Defence and Military Strategies of the Slovak Republic, which respond to changes of the security environment and set out strategic goals and enablers. Bearing this in mind, the MOD's priority is to continue building and developing the SVK Armed Forces systemically and systematically, so that they are modern, fully functional and operational, trustworthy, whilst offering adequate potential and being capable of delivering the defence of the SVK REP and participating in the collective defence of NATO and the EU.
The basic principle behind the plan is to achieve maximum efficiency with the tax payers' money. Another underlying principle is to involve the domestic defence industry in the modernisation of the SVK Armed Forces to the maximum extent possible, with the aim of boosting Slovakia's employment levels, economy, and GDP growth. The Long-Term Defence Development Plan sets out personnel, armaments, infrastructure and training priorities. At the core of the plan is a list of armaments, equipment, CIS and infrastructure modernisation projects, with implementation timelines linked to specific capabilities. The plan defines ways to implement projects in collaboration with the SVK defence industry and via European solutions, especially the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), as well as through bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The estimates in the document hinge on the premise that the government will live up to its pledge to commit 2 % of GDP on defence spending (1.6 % of GDP by 2020 and 2 % of GDP by 2024), of which a minimum of 20 % will go on modernisation. On 13 September, State Secretary Róbert Ondrejcsák introduced the new Defence Strategy of the Slovak Republic Proposal to representatives of NGOs and the Slovak Security and Defence Industry Association, and to independent experts.
The basic principle behind the plan is to achieve maximum efficiency with the tax payers' money. Another underlying principle is to involve the domestic defence industry in the modernisation of the SVK Armed Forces to the maximum extent possible, with the aim of boosting Slovakia's employment levels, economy, and GDP growth. The Long-Term Defence Development Plan sets out personnel, armaments, infrastructure and training priorities. At the core of the plan is a list of armaments, equipment, CIS and infrastructure modernisation projects, with implementation timelines linked to specific capabilities. The plan defines ways to implement projects in collaboration with the SVK defence industry and via European solutions, especially the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), as well as through bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The estimates in the document hinge on the premise that the government will live up to its pledge to commit 2 % of GDP on defence spending (1.6 % of GDP by 2020 and 2 % of GDP by 2024), of which a minimum of 20 % will go on modernisation. On 13 September, State Secretary Róbert Ondrejcsák introduced the new Defence Strategy of the Slovak Republic Proposal to representatives of NGOs and the Slovak Security and Defence Industry Association, and to independent experts.
