P. Gajdoš: Progress made in the modernisation of the SVK Air Force is also felt by our citizens as part of domestic crisis management

Today (4 February 2020), Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš visited the Annual Meeting of Slovak Air Force Commanders in Zvolen. On this occasion, he appreciated the progress made in the modernisation of air platforms and said “Thank You” to SVK Air Force airmen and women for maintaining high standards of performance last year.

Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš said: “The progress achieved in the modernisation of the Slovak Air Force results from our efforts to improve the quality of work of our service personnel. I’m pleased to say that our efforts have come to fruition, because also thanks to the new air assets they can undertake missions more effectively, be that as part of domestic or international crisis management operations.” He added that over the past four years the current MOD leadership has made the highest investments in rearmament.

Minister Gajdoš highlighted the completion of deliveries of Spartan C-27J airlifters and UH-60M Black Hawk multirole helicopters, which are now in service with the Slovak Air Force. “Thanks to the new transport aircraft, we have not lost the air transport capability and our airmen can transport material to troops deployed on missions and operations abroad on their own,” he said. He went on to add that nine UH-60M Black Hawk multirole helicopters are now operational and based at the Helicopter Wing Prešov. “These new advanced air assets are already utilised on international and domestic crisis management operations. For example, take forest fire assistance and then there are different exceptional emergencies,” he said, while giving high credit to the Air Search and Rescue Service, SVK Armed Forces.

As part of his visit to the region, Minister Gajdoš paid an afternoon visit to the Topographic Institute, SVK Armed Forces.