Czechia and Poland to safeguard Slovak airspace from 1 September 2022
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- Date: 27.08.2022
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Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď, Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová and Polish National Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak have signed the Joint Declaration by the Czech Republic, the Republic of Poland and the Slovak Republic on Shared Commitment to Protect Slovak Airspace at Malacky - Kuchyňa Air Base during the Slovak International Air Fest (SIAF) 2022 today (27 August 2022). Under the agreement, the Czech and Polish Air Force will safeguard Slovak airspace from 1 September 2022 to 31 December 2023.
Speaking in appreciation of Slovakia’s close alliance with Poland and Czechia, Jaroslav Naď said: “As the countries in the immediate neighbourhood, we have always been bound together by history, as have our shared values of the struggle for freedom and democracy. For Slovakia, this gesture of support by our Czech and Polish allies and friends is clear proof of our close generational alliance and commitment to help each other protect the Central European region, the citizens of which have reasonable concerns over their security following Russiaʼs aggression against Ukraine.”
Minister Naď extended the warmest of thanks to his Czech and Polish counterparts for backfilling the capability Slovakia will regain once U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets are delivered into operational service with the Slovak Air Force.
As well as signing the Joint Declaration, Slovakia has entered into Technical Arrangements with the Czech Republic and Poland on the general and practical aspects of cooperation in securing and policing Slovak skies. Accordingly, Czechia and Poland will provide air assets and crews in the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) role to quickly respond in the case of violations of Slovakia’s airspace, while Slovakia will provide Host Nation Support (HNS), including refuelling, air navigation services, and assets protection, if needed.
Consistent with the political declaration and technical arrangements, the Czech Republic and Poland will protect Slovak skies for the next 16 months. This period may be extended by mutual agreement of the signatories. Under the agreement, Slovakia will gain this QRA capability for free from its neighbours and will pay only for the fuel the interceptors will burn on an interception mission, should any of the jets be really scrambled to intercept any unexpected intruder into SVK airspace.
Speaking in appreciation of Slovakia’s close alliance with Poland and Czechia, Jaroslav Naď said: “As the countries in the immediate neighbourhood, we have always been bound together by history, as have our shared values of the struggle for freedom and democracy. For Slovakia, this gesture of support by our Czech and Polish allies and friends is clear proof of our close generational alliance and commitment to help each other protect the Central European region, the citizens of which have reasonable concerns over their security following Russiaʼs aggression against Ukraine.”
Minister Naď extended the warmest of thanks to his Czech and Polish counterparts for backfilling the capability Slovakia will regain once U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets are delivered into operational service with the Slovak Air Force.
As well as signing the Joint Declaration, Slovakia has entered into Technical Arrangements with the Czech Republic and Poland on the general and practical aspects of cooperation in securing and policing Slovak skies. Accordingly, Czechia and Poland will provide air assets and crews in the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) role to quickly respond in the case of violations of Slovakia’s airspace, while Slovakia will provide Host Nation Support (HNS), including refuelling, air navigation services, and assets protection, if needed.
Consistent with the political declaration and technical arrangements, the Czech Republic and Poland will protect Slovak skies for the next 16 months. This period may be extended by mutual agreement of the signatories. Under the agreement, Slovakia will gain this QRA capability for free from its neighbours and will pay only for the fuel the interceptors will burn on an interception mission, should any of the jets be really scrambled to intercept any unexpected intruder into SVK airspace.
