Cabinet adopts a historic decision, Slovak skies will be protected by US F-16 fighter jets
Protection and sovereignty of Slovak airspace and close air support to land forces will be delivered by US F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets. This follows from todayʼs decision by the Slovak Security Council and the Cabinet. From a modernization perspective, this is the most extensive modernization programme in the history of the SVK Armed Forces.
From the perspective of all parameters of the bids, the US bid was more advantageous for Slovakia. In this connection, the MOD has refused the speculation that the reason for selecting the US F-16 Block 70/72 are later deliveries, which will allow the MOD to prolong the SVK military’s dependence on Russian equipment. “While the Contract with the US Government is ready to be signed, the Swedish Government insisted on negotiating details only once the SVK Government has made the decision, whereas in both cases the date of delivery depends on the date of Contract signature,” explained Head of the Defence Department. Moreover, if the Swedish bid had been accepted, some material would have had to be delivered by a third party, thus delaying the delivery.
Reflecting on the proposed solution to the replacement of the Slovak Air Force’s fighter jet fleet, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Kažimír said: “For me it is absolutely essential that it is a Government-to-Government relationship. This means it is between the Slovak Government and the US Government, no intermediaries are involved. For me, this is crucial.”
Director of the Value for Money Unit (SVK Ministry of Finance) Štefan Kišš confirmed that the bids were compared and evaluated by the Value for Money Unit, he said: “Our task along with the Minister of Defence was to put the bids on the same scales and the outcome is that if we compare the comparable, the entire life cycle of the American F16s is 8% cheaper [than the Gripens’].”
On behalf of the Slovak Armed Forces, Commander SVK Air Force Maj Gen Ľubomír Svoboda expressed his satisfaction with the Cabinet’s decision: “In analysing the bids we did not work with the marketing data supplied by the manufacturer, but we worked with facts and communicated with the countries that operate both types of aircraft. The facts were put on the table and used in the subsequent analysis.”
From the perspective of all parameters of the bids, the US bid was more advantageous for Slovakia. In this connection, the MOD has refused the speculation that the reason for selecting the US F-16 Block 70/72 are later deliveries, which will allow the MOD to prolong the SVK military’s dependence on Russian equipment. “While the Contract with the US Government is ready to be signed, the Swedish Government insisted on negotiating details only once the SVK Government has made the decision, whereas in both cases the date of delivery depends on the date of Contract signature,” explained Head of the Defence Department.
In considering all parameters of the bids, the US bid was evaluated more advantageous in terms of money. The MOD compared the package of 14 F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets, ammunition, training for pilots and ground personnel, logistics, airfield infrastructure development, dates of deliveries, and other operational costs beyond 2040 with the Gripen package.
http://www.mosr.sk/42280-en/vlada-prija ... lami-f-16/
http://www.mosr.sk/42280-sk/vlada-prija ... lami-f-16/
Konzept:
- 14 Flugzeuge F-16 Block 70/72
- Verfügbarkeit: 70 % (10 Flugzeuge)
- 4-5 für Pilotenausbildung
Die Flugzeuge dürften mit
AIM-9X/II (AIM-9X Sidewinder) und
AIM-120 C-7 (AIM-120 AMRAAM) bewaffnet werden. Für diese Waffen und die dazugehörige Ausbildung hat die Slowakei seitens der USA drei Letters of Offer and Acceptance (
LO-D-SAA;
LO-D-TAA;
LO-P-LAH) erhalten, die bis zum 27. Juli 2018, 30 Juni 2018 und 24. Juli 2018 gültig sind bzw. waren. Bestellt werden außerdem GBU-12 (
Raytheon Paveway II), GBU-49 (
Raytheon Enhanced Paveway II), GBU-54 (
Boeing Laser JDAM), GBU-38 (
Boeing MK-82 JDAM) und Zielbehälter AN/AAQ-33 (
SNIPER ATP).
Der AN/AAQ-33 kann außerdem als IRST genutzt werden, wie PIRATE am Eurofighter:
Lockheed Martin SNIPER ADVANCED TARGETING POD hat geschrieben:FEATURES
- High-definition, forward-looking infrared (FLIR)
- High-definition television
- Diode-pumped laser with cockpit-selectable tactical and eye-safe wavelengths
- Precision, long-range geo-coordinate generation
- Two-color laser spot tracker for acquiring laser designations for air and ground sources
- Passive detection, tracking and ranging for air-to-air and air-to-ground targets
- Datalink with full-motion video and metadata
- Combat-proven moving target tracker algorithms enabling automatic reacquisition after obscuration
- Laser marker illumination for night vision goggles and target coordination
Slovakia picks U.S. fighter planes to replace Russian-made jets
Slovakia has agreed a $1.9 billion deal to buy 14 U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to replace its ageing Russian-made MiG-29s, its defense ministry said on Wednesday.
Slovakia may also ask one of its neighboring countries, which are also its NATO allies, to help protect its airspace, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini said.
“Slovakia will pay 1.589 billion euros for 14 fighter jets, pilot training, ammunition and two-year logistical support,” Pellegrini told reporters.
The contract with Lockheed Martin will be signed by the end of this year, Finance Minister Peter Kazimir said.
Slovakia had been in talks with Gripen maker Saab for years, before Gajdos stalled discussions and invited other bidders.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-slov ... SKBN1K11JQ
Kroatien rüstet Luftstreitkräfte mit F-16 "Barak" auf
Slowakei:
- 14 Flugzeuge F-16 Block 70/72
- Verfügbarkeit: 70 % (10 Flugzeuge)
- 4-5 für Pilotenausbildung
Kroatien:
- 12 Flugzeuge F-16 C/D Block 30 Barak (Lebensdauer: 3000 Restflugstunden pro Flugzeug; nach SLEP: 10.800 Flugstunden)