Military of Slovakia

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Military of Slovakia
Military Manpower
Military age	18 years of age
Availability	Males age 15-49: 1,484,567 (2000 est.)
Fit for military service	Males age 15-49: 1,134,751 (2000 est.)
Reaching military age annually	Males: 45,605 (2000 est.)
Active troops	22,000
Military Expenditures
Amount	$406 million (2002)
Percent of GDP	1.87% FY05 (2005)

The Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (1993 - 2002 called Army of the Slovak Republic) number about 27,000 uniformed personnel. Slovakia joined the NATO in March 2004.[1] and it spent 1.87% of the gross domestic product on defense in 2005.

Contents 1 Structure of the armed forces 2 Peacekeeping missions 3 Trivia 4 External links

[edit] Structure of the armed forces

• Ground Forces - largely made up of two mechanized infantry brigades.
• Air and Air defence Forces - comprising one wing of fighters, one wing of attack and utility helicopters, and two SAM brigades
• miscellaneous forces under the direct command of the General Staff - a special forces regiment, for example.

Slovakia's ambitious plan for defense reform is the well-regarded Force 2010 Long-Term Plan, which strikes a balance between requirements and resources and which envisions a professionalized, combat-capable force of 19,300 uniformed personnel by 2006.

[edit] Peacekeeping missions

Slovakia has about 750 personnel deployed worldwide on NATO- and United Nations-led peace support operations (PSOs) as well as an engineering unit in Afghanistan. Slovakia has markedly increased its commitment to KFOR and SFOR in Kosovo and Bosnia in 2002. Since the independence of Slovakia in 1993, there have been 53 uniformed personnel who died in service (by 2006).

[edit] Trivia

National opinion polls rate the armed forces as the most respected national institutions.

[edit] External links

• Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Slovak)