Slovak Air Force

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Slovak Air Force
Active	1939-1945 1993-
Country	Slovakia
Size	64 aircraft
Commanders
Air Froce Commander	Brig.generál Juraj Baránek
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	L-39, Mi-24
Fighter	MiG-29
Trainer	L-39
Transport	An-26, L-410, Mi-17

The Slovak Air Force, known since 2002 as the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Slovak: Vzdušné sily armády Slovenskej republiky), is the aviation and air defense branch of the Slovak Armed Forces. Operating 46 aircraft from 3 major bases, the Slovak Air Force has been under the command of Brig.generál Juraj Baránek since November 2005.

1 The Slovak Air Force today
2 History
3 Bases and Commands
- 3.1 Current Equipment 1.6.2008
4 Gallery
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] The Slovak Air Force today

The Slovak Air Force is tasked with the defense of the sovereign Slovak state and the support of the nation's ground troops^[1]. Russian combat aircraft MiG-29 and transport aircraft An-26 dominate the inventory, with the exception of the Czech built Aero L-39 jet trainers and Let L-410 transport aircraft. The helicopter fleet is composed entirely of Russian types, including the Mi-24 Hind and Mi-17 Hip.

[edit] History

[edit] 1939-1945

Main article: Slovenské vzdušné zbrane

After the division of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany in 1939, Slovakia was left with a small air force composed primarily of Czechoslovakian combat aircraft. This force defended Slovakia against Hungry in 1939, and took part in the invasion of Poland in support of Germany. During the Second World War, the Slovak Air force was charged with the defense of Slovakian airspace, and, after the invasion of Russia, provided air cover for Slovak forces fighting against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front^[2]. While engaged on the Eastern Front, Slovakia’s obsolete biplanes were replaced with German combat aircraft, including the Messerschmitt Bf 109. The air force was sent back to Slovakia after combat fatigue and desertion had reduced the pilots' effectiveness. Slovak air units took part in the Slovak National Uprising against Germany from late August 1944.

[edit] 1945-1992

Main article: Czechoslovak Air Force

The end of the war brought about the reunification of Czechoslovakia, and the reunification of the armed forces. In 1948, Czechoslovakia became a Communist country with a centrally planned economy, and the air force adopted the aircraft and organization used by the Soviet Union.

[edit] 1993 - present

After the formal dissolution of Czechoslovakia on January 1, 1993, Czech and Slovak aircraft were divided according to each nation's population, in a ratio of nearly 2:1 in the Czech Republic's favor^[3]. The exceptions to this rule were the MiG-23's, which were given exclusively to the Czech Air force, and the MiG-29's, which were divided evenly between the two nations. Slovak bases were initially underequiped to handle the aircraft transferred from the Czech bases, and required considerable improvements in infrastructure to facilitate the new air force. On March 1, 1995, the airforce replaced the Soviet style Aviation Regiment organization with the western wing and squadron system^[4]. In the following years, Slovakia gradually retired many of the older aircraft, including the entire fleet of Su-22 attack bombers and MiG-21 interceptors. In 2004, the flight training academy and national aerobatic demonstration team Biele Albatrosy, both based at Košice, were disbanded^[5].

[edit] Bases and Commands

Surface to Air missiles fall under the command of Anti-aircraft Rocket Brigade Nitra, formerly the Czech 13th Anti-aircraft Rocket Regiment.

Aviation assets are divided between three major air bases throughout the country, at Malacky-Kuchyňa, Sliač, and Prešov.

Dopravné letecké krídlo (Air Transport Wing), based at Malacky-Kuchyňa^[6]

1 Dopravný roj (Air Transport Squadron): An-26

2 Dopravný roj (Air Transport Squadron): L-410

Stíhacie letecké krídlo (Fighter Air Wing), based at Sliač^[7]

1 Stíhacia letka (Fighter Squadron 1): MiG-29

2 Stíhacia letka (Fighter Squadron 2): L-39

3 Spojovacia letka (Support Squadron): L-410

Vyhľadávacia a záchranná služba (Combat Search and Rescue unit): Mi-17, Mi-8

Vrtuľníkové letecké krídlo (Mixed Helicopter Wing), based at Prešov^[8]

1 Bitevná vrtuľníková letka (Attack Helicopter Sqauadron): Mi-24

2 Dopravná vrtuľníková letka (Transport Helicopter Squadron): Mi-17

3 Výcviková vrtuľníková letka (Training Helicopter Squadron): Mi-2

[edit] Current Equipment 1.6.2008

Aircraft

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	Number^[9]:	Note
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum	Soviet Union	fighter training	MiG-29AS MiG-29UBS	10 2	8 MiG-29A and 1 MiG-29UB stored ^[10]
Aero L-39 Albatros	Czechoslovakia	attack training	L-39ZA L-39C	7 6
Antonov An-26 Curl	Soviet Union	transport	An-26	2
Let L-410 Turbolet	Czechoslovakia	transport	L-410FG L-410T L-410UVP	1 3 3	used for light transport, parachute training, photographic mapping and VIP transport^[11]
Mil Mi-24 Hind	Soviet Union	attack training	Mi-24V Mi-24DU	10 1
Mil Mi-17 Hip	Soviet Union	transport SIGINT	Mi-17	12 2
Mil Mi-8 Hip	Soviet Union	transport	Mi-8	1
Mil Mi-2 Hoplite	Poland	training	Mi-2	4

SA-6 Gainful - four battery
Almaz SA-10 Grumble - one battery

[edit] Gallery

Slovak MiG-29UB	Aero L-39-ZA of Slovak Air Force.	MiG-29UBS No.5304 of Slovak Air Force at Radom Air Show, 2007.
Slovak Aero L-39 Albatros, during Air Show in Radom, Poland.	Slovak Mi-24 and Mi-17 in background at Presov air base.	Slovak MiG-29