Slovak Republic - Ground Forces Modernisation
The Defence Ministry will continue the army modernisation projects that were launched by the former defence minister, said current Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš (a Slovak National Party nominee) during the opening ceremony of the Defence Technology Exhibition (IDEB) in Bratislava on 10 May 2016. Negotiations concerning fighter aircraft and armored personnel carriers are in progress. An international tender for military radar equipment is also under way, Gajdoš continued. He wants to proceed in an organised way in terms of replacing military equipment. “We’d like to draft a new security strategy in cooperation with other security organisations and especially with the Foreign Affairs Ministry,” Gajdoš said.
The MOD submitted its “Long-Term Defence Development Plan with Emphasis on Building and Developing the SVK Armed Forces with an Outlook to 2030” on 14 September 2017 to be discussed in interdepartmental consultations. Until recently, this sort of a comprehensive strategic document, one which represents a defence investment plan up to 2030, has been non-existent for more than 25 years in Defence. It builds on the Security, Defence and Military Strategies of the Slovak Republic, which respond to changes of the security environment and set out strategic goals and enablers. Bearing this in mind, the MOD's priority is to continue building and developing the SVK Armed Forces systemically and systematically, so that they are modern, fully functional and operational, trustworthy, whilst offering adequate potential and being capable of delivering the defence of the SVK REP and participating in the collective defence of NATO and the EU.
The SVK MOD recently presented to the public the Defence and Military Strategies of the Slovak Republic and the Long-Term Defence Development Plan with Emphasis on Building and Developing the SVK Armed Forces with an Outlook to 2030, where the MOD clearly set out the priorities for the upcoming period. This sort of plan had been non-existent in Slovakia for almost 25 years. The document has been available to the public and this principle has been observed ever since work started on the document. Moreover, at a recent press conference all questions were answered and ambiguities cleared. It was explained that the plan covers investments in military assets and that some information is subject to classification. Despite this, as a reaction to the statements by some politicians, some media outlets published information that the investments being made under the Long-Term Defence Development Plan are non-transparent and that the MOD keeps the processes secret, citing the case of the 4x4 and 8x8 vehicles procurement as an example.
In light of the Long-Term Defence Development Plan, the project is considered to be a priority and of strategic importance for the generation of SVK Land Forces capabilities in delivery of national security and defence tasks. “We approached the solutions to the said project in a complex manner, whilst taking account of all factors that had an impact on the adoption of a binding decision. These mainly included qualitative, military specialist, economic and industrial considerations, ”stressed Ján Holko, General Secretary of the Service Office (MOD) / Chairman of the Commission and Coordinator for Development and Assessment of Strategic Documents.
The basic principle behind the plan is to achieve maximum efficiency with the taxpayers' money. Another underlying principle is to involve the domestic defence industry in the modernisation of the SVK Armed Forces to the maximum extent possible, with the aim of boosting Slovakia's employment levels, economy, and GDP growth. The Long-Term Defence Development Plan sets out personnel, armaments, infrastructure and training priorities. At the core of the plan is a list of armaments, equipment, CIS and infrastructure modernisation projects, with implementation timelines linked to specific capabilities. The plan defines ways to implement projects in collaboration with the SVK defence industry and via European solutions, especially the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), as well as through bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
The estimates in the document hinge on the premise that the government will live up to its pledge to commit 2 % of GDP on defence spending (1.6 % of GDP by 2020 and 2 % of GDP by 2024), of which a minimum of 20 % will go on modernisation. On 13 September, State Secretary Róbert Ondrejcsák introduced the new Defence Strategy of the Slovak Republic Proposal to representatives of NGOs and the Slovak Security and Defence Industry Association, and to independent experts.
4x4 tactical vehicles
Trials of 4x4 combat armoured and multi-role tactical vehicles for the SVK Army were completed in October 2018 by the Military Technical and Testing Institute (VTSÚ) Záhorie. The results of the trials were analysed by experts in the following weeks. Once processed, they would be incorporated into a document which along with the proposed 4x4 platform solution would be submitted to the Security Council and the Cabinet for approval by the end of 2018.
The VTSÚ Institute trialled a total of 7 vehicles, i.e. ALIGATOR MASTER 2, COBRA 2, EAGLE, EJDER YALCIN, GERLACH, PATRIOT and SHERPA Light APC. In addition, trials of the PERUN vehicle were undertaken by the Army of the Czech Republic. On agreement with the manufacturer, the SVK MOD will accept the results of the trials from the CZE MOD.
The procurement of 4x4 combat armoured/multi-role tactical vehicles is aligned to the 2030 Long-Term Defence Development Plan. Overall, the MOD wanted to procure 404 vehicles for a maximum of €782.7 million, VAT included. The vehicle would come into service in stages until 2024. As with the 8x8 platform, the MOD seeks the maximum possible involvement of the SVK defence industry in the program.
The SVK Government on 27 May 2020 endorsed the Defence Minister's proposal to cancel the 4x4 Multirole Tactical Vehicle procurement program. Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad was appreciative of the Government's decision to scrap the 4x4 vehicle procurement programme for the SVK Armed Forces. He warned against a lack of transparency with respect to the procurement process in the past. "The vehicles, as they were configured, do not meet the requirements of the Armed Forces. Moreover, nor was the process in terms of preparation brought to an end," he emphasised. According to his words, there is no doubt soldiers need new equipment. Nevertheless, it must be procured transparently, systemically and purposefully.
Artillery
The modernisation of heavy artillery was recommended to Slovakia by NATO with respect to its commitment to building a heavy mechanised brigade. The Slovak army will purchase 25 new self-propelled howitzers, called Zuzana 2, after the government approved the purchase at its 23 May 2018 session. It expected to spend some €175 million, including spare parts and training. The improved Zuzana howitzers will replace the older Zuzana 2000 howitzers purchased in late 1990s. The howitzers will be supplied to the military by the state-run company KONSTRUKTA-Defence, a.s.,, with the government opting for a direct commission without a tender or the potential procurement of foreign military equipment. The bid for the French Caesar howitzers stood at €5.5 million per piece, whereas the Zuzana 2 will be purchased by the state for €6.064 million each. The Zuzana 2 howitzers are slated to be delivered by 2022.
The planned purchase will be the first case of replacing the weaponry purchased after the 1989 revolution.
The SVK Armed Forces'historically largest modernization is delivering its tangible results. Under the new conditions, gunners are exercising in a way they have not done for years due to unavailability of military equipment. A case in point is the latest live firing of the Zuzana 2000 Self-propelled Gun Howitzers (SpGH) with the targets identified and the coordinates passed on from a helicopter, which has not been practised for over 20 years, as in October 2018 a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter provided guidance to artillery fire at the Training Centre Lešt.
Commenting on the artillery training, Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “It is almost unbelievable that we are now conducting this type of training after 20 years, which means that some service personnel have never had the opportunity to undergo such training over the course of their career in the Armed Forces. Thanks to our modernization programmes and defence investments, I believe this will change and joint Army and Air Force exercises will become a matter of routine. Because both Services depend on each other as they cooperate and support each other in every situation, not just in crisis situations.”
As of March 2021 the ministry wanted to complete the project of a 155 millimeter self-propelled cannon howitzer ZUZANA 2 by 2022.
Armor
The increase in the threat to Slovakia from the Russian aggression, although it saved tanks in the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, did not give a clear answer to their future in Slovak armed forces. By 2021 the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic had 30 T-72M1 tanks. Of these, 24 were in the armament of the Trebišov tank battalion. All these tanks that were manufactured in the years 1986 to 1990 are after the lifetime (Lifetime of key armaments and equipment, OS SR, 2019).
The replacement of T-72M1 tanks was to be solved by 3 projects within the long-term plan of 2030. Project P4-10 Change of tank technology, which was to provide in addition to the battle tank and the command tank. Project P4-9 Heavy engineering equipment which, in addition to other types of engineering vehicles, was to lead to the acquisition of a new bridge tank. Finally, the P4-8 Release Engineering Technology project, which was to provide a new release tank. The expected number of procured vehicles of individual categories is not known. According to the plan of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, the construction of the Heavy Mechanized Brigade requires 49 tanks in four versions (GŠ OS SR 2018, OS SR 2019).
The purchase of these vehicles should be carried out in the years 2024 to 2030. The long-term plan assumed that 258 million will be allocated for these 3 projects. EUR for the purchase of combat vehicles and unknown parts of the budget of 277 for the purchase of engineering equipment and 163 mil. intended for the purchase of relief equipment. The method of replacing the T-72M1 was to be implemented either by purchasing new tanks where it would have the greatest chance, as in the case of Hungary, the purchase of Leopard 2A7 + or by modernizing the existing T-72M1.
In 2020 the Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic commissioned the Military Technical and Testing Institute of Záhorie to create a feasibility study for the modernization of the T-72M1. It is not clear what led to the abandonment of the alternative of buying new tanks. As of March 2021, it was planned that between 2022 and 2027, the ministry should also begin replacing the T-72 medium tanks with a new main battle tank. Deliveries of new tanks should begin in 2023. Depending on the project of the new main battle tank, the Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic wanted to continue the project of extending the technical life of T-72 tanks.
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