New future for Aircraft Repair Company Trenčín (LOTN) as F-16 maintainer
Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic
09.04.2025
In the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kaliňák, Slovakia's Aircraft Repair Company Trenčín (LOTN) and Norway's Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services (KAMS-KONGSBERG) signed a teaming agreement to work towards establishing a joint venture or another appropriate business model to deliver an F-16 Fighting Falcon Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capability at LOTN in a signature ceremony in Trenčín today (9 April 2025).
Speaking at a press conference at LOTN, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kaliňák said: "The signing of the agreement marks a significant step for the arms industry in Slovakia. Since taking office as Minister of Defence, I have stated that we will support the domestic defence industry in order to increase GDP and the standard of living for the people of Slovakia."
At the core of LOTN-KAMS cooperation is the delivery of MRO, logistics, and support services to sustain F-16s over their service life cycle.
Speaking at the press conference, Juraj Lauš, Chairman and CEO of LOTN, who signed the teaming agreement on behalf of LOTN, said: "This initiative is a direct result of negotiations that began less than a year ago. While LOTN is part of the service life cycle support for the Slovak Air Force's new generation F-16 Block 70s, it will now also deliver MRO services for other F-16 variants, from Block 15 to Block 52." He went on to say: "KAMS is a very highly respected actor in this industry and partnering with them will allow us to expand our range of services and skillset, which will benefit the Slovak Air Force and other NATO and Allied operators."
Speaking at the event, André Jægtvik, President of Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services, said: "The Norwegian Air Force's transition from F-16s to F-35s has allowed KAMS to apply our 40 years of F-16 MRO experience to opportunities outside of Norway. KAMS, as a Lockheed Martin-licensed F-16 Falcon Service Centre for F-16s from Block 15 up to Block 52, combined with LOTN's experienced labour force, modern infrastructure and certified F-16 Block 70 capability from Lockheed Martin, will provide a legitimate and strategically located option for in-service support to other F-16 operators."
Both companies have immediately engaged in planning and preparations for LOTN to achieve initial operational capability (IOC) in the fourth quarter of this year.
Aircraft Repair Company Trenčín (LOTN) is a 100% SVK Ministry of Defence (MOD)-owned company with a 75-year history of aviation services. LOTN, headquartered in Trenčín, owns and operates more than 14,000 sq m of hangars, workshops, offices, and logistics facilities, and has an airport with a 2,000m-long and 30m-wide concrete runway. In addition to delivering future F-16 sustainment services to the Slovak Air Force's F-16 Block 70 fleet, the company has extensive experience in repairing both fixed wing and rotary platforms such as the Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainers, Let L-410 Turbolet twin-turboprop transport aircraft, and Mil Mi-8 series helicopters.
Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services (KAMS), based in Oslo, supplies depot-level maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services to aircraft and helicopters. It is a vital contributor to the Royal Norwegian Air Forces (RNoAF)'s ability to patrol and protect Norwegian airspace. As well as being a Lockheed Martin-licensed F-16 Falcon Service Centre, KAMS provides comprehensive maintenance and logistics support to the RNoAF's F-35A fleet. KAMS is owned by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (50.1%) and by Finland's Patria (49.9%).
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