While the Slovak Air Force moves forward with the incorporation of its new fleet of F-16 Block 70 fighters, the Slovak government has expressed the country’s intention to proceed with the purchase of a batch of four (4) additional Vipers from the United States. The development put forward by senior officials took place in the context of the recent visit to the European country by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which the U.S. official held meetings with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini.
Seeking to renew its combat aviation, which had consisted of aging MiG-29 fighters in service for decades, Slovakia confirmed in 2018 the purchase of fourteen (14) new F-16 Block 70 fighters — also referred to as Vipers — from the United States, through an agreement valued at US$1.6 billion.
In July 2024, and following their official presentation at the end of 2023, the country received its first F-16 Block 70s, of which, based on the latest deliveries in 2025, it would already have a total of five (5) aircraft in service.
The presentation and delivery of the first F-16s to Slovakia took place after the country completed in April 2023 the transfer of thirteen (13) of its MiG-29s to Ukraine, of which nine were transported by land, while the remaining four were transferred via ferry flight.
Returning to the current status of the Slovak F-16 fleet, at the end of 2025 Lockheed Martin confirmed that it had completed the production of the ordered aircraft, encompassing the orders also placed by Bulgaria. In detail, the U.S. company stated that: “The aircraft were produced at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Greenville, South Carolina, and completed final DD250 acceptance through the United States government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.”
Against this backdrop, and within the framework of the Secretary of State’s visit to Slovakia, it was Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák himself who announced in press conferences the Slovak government’s intention to expand the fleet of new F-16 Block 70s with the purchase of at least four additional fighters.
Although no further details were provided regarding the status of the order and negotiations, should the purchase of the four additional Vipers materialize, the total F-16 fleet of the Slovak Air Force would reach eighteen units, constituting a significant reinforcement of the country’s combat capabilities.
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