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Slovak Armed Forces

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Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic
Ozbrojené sily Slovenskej Republiky
The official emblem of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic
Motto"Česť a sláva" (Honor and Glory)
Founded1 January 1993
Service branches
HeadquartersMinistry of defense, Bratislava, Slovakia
WebsiteOfficial website
Leadership
Commander-in-chief Peter Pellegrini
Minister of defenseRobert Kaliňák
Chief of the General Staff General Daniel Zmeko
Personnel
Military age18
ConscriptionAbolished in 2006
Active personnel20,982[1]
Reserve personnel~300
Deployed personnel Iraq
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cyprus
Kosovo
Latvia
Expenditure
Budget€2,63 billion ($2.83 billion) (2024)[2]
Percent of GDP2.0% (2024)[3]
Industry
Domestic suppliers
Foreign suppliers United States
 Czech Republic[4]
 Bulgaria
 France
 Germany
 Poland
 Israel
 Finland
 Sweden
This article uses anatomical terminology.
Related articles
HistoryMilitary history of Slovakia
List of engagements
RanksMilitary ranks of Slovakia

The Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic were divided from the Czechoslovak Army after dissolution of Czechoslovakia on 1 January 1993. Slovakia joined NATO on 29 March 2004.[5] From 2006 the army transformed into a fully professional organization and compulsory military service was abolished.[6][7][8] Slovak armed forces numbered 20,982 uniformed personnel and 4,500 civilians in 2025.[9]

Slovak Armed Forces organization 2024 (click to enlarge)

Organization

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class=notpageimage|
Slovak Ground Forces locations 2018:
Brigade HQs Armored units Mechanized units Motorized units Artillery ISTAR
Engineer unit NBC-Defense Combat Service Support Brigade units Air bases

The Armed Forces consist of:

Joint Operational Command

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Joint Operational Command in Banská Bystrica[10] (Commander: 2 Star General)

Ground forces

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Main article: Ground Forces of the Slovak Republic

Air force

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Main article: Slovak Air Force

The Slovak Air Force, officially the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, has been defending Slovak airspace since independence in 1993. The Slovak Air Force currently comprises one wing of fighters, one wing of utility helicopters, one wing of transport aircraft, and one SAM brigade. It operates around 20 combat aircraft, as well as 10 helicopters from 3 air bases: Malacky/Kuchyňa Air Base, Sliač Air Base, Prešov Air Base. The Air Force is currently part of the NATO Integrated Air and Missiles Defense System – NATINADS.

Special Operations Forces

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82nd Joint Support Brigade [23]

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Military Medical Command

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Military Medical Command in Ružomberok[37]

  • HQ[38]
  • Department of Management and Medical Analysis[39]
  • Department of Planning and Training[40]
  • Department of Logistic[41]
  • Department of Military Healthcare Development[42]
  • Department of Veterinary Support[43]
  • Department of Field Medical Units[44]
    • Field Mobil Medical Unit ROLE 2E[44]
    • Field Mobil Medical Unit ROLE 2B[45]
  • Logistic Battalion of Military Medical Command[46]
    • HQ
    • Material Support Company
    • Technical Support Company

Personnel

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Fundamental changes in the development of the armed forces occurred on January 1, 1998, when Act No. 370/1997 Coll. on Military Service abolished the term professional soldier, replacing it with the new term professional soldier. While this Act was in force, the Slovak Republic joined the NATO military alliance on March 29, 2004. A historically unique phenomenon occurred on January 1, 2006, when basic military service was abolished. On this day, the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic became fully professionalized and began a new stage in their existence. Every soldier is obliged to take the Military Oath..

Education

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Military education in Slovakia is centered around the Armed Forces Academy of General Milan Rastislav Štefánik (AOS) in Liptovský Mikuláš. It is the country’s main institution for training future professional officers of the Slovak Armed Forces.

The academy offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in military and technical fields, focusing on leadership, defense strategy, engineering, and cybersecurity. It also provides specialized training for active-duty personnel and supports NATO-aligned education standards.[47]

National Defense Force

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The National Defense Froce Slovak: Národné Obranné Sily in short NOS. They function de facto as a reserve force. NOS membership is open to Slovak citizens aged 18 to 65, including both men and women. Prospective members must be physically and mentally fit, law‑abiding, reliable, and permanent residents of Slovakia with citizenship. NOS organizes three categories of voluntary reserves:[48]

  1. Operational Reserves (Operačné zálohy) Serve both military defense and crisis management roles.
  2. Readiness Reserves (Pohotovostné zálohy) Primarily focused on rapid crisis and emergency response.
  3. Defense (Training) Reserves (Branné zálohy) For civilians without prior military experience—entails a one-time basic training

Ranks

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Main article: Military ranks of Slovakia

Equipment

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Main article: List of equipment of the Slovak Army

Uniforms

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Missions

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As of 2025, Slovakia has 240 military personnel deployed in Cyprus for UNFICYP United Nations led peace support operations, 50 troops deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina for EUFOR Althea and 135 troops deployed in Latvia for NATO Enhanced Forward Presence.[53]

The country has been an active participant in US- and NATO-led military actions and involved in many United Nations peacekeeping military missions: UNPROFOR in the Yugoslavia (1992–1995), UNOMUR in Uganda and Rwanda (1993-1994), UNAMIR in Rwanda (1993-1996), UNTAES in Croatia (1996-1998), UNOMIL in Liberia (1993-1997), MONUA in Angola (1997-1999), SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1999-2003), OSCE mission in Moldova (1998-2002), OSCE mission in Albania (1999), KFOR in Kosovo (1999-2002), UNGCI in Iraq (2000-2003), UNMEE in Ethiopia and Eritrea (2000-2004), UNMISET in East Timor (2001), EUFOR Concordia in Macedonia (2003), UNAMSIL in Sierra Leone (1999-2005), EU supporting action to African Union in Darfur (2006), Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan (2002-2005), Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq (2003-2007), UNDOF at the borders of Israel and Syria (1998-2008) .[54]

Since the independence of Slovakia in 1993, there have been 60 uniformed personnel deaths in the line of service to the United Nations and NATO (as of 30 April 2018).[55][56][57]

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  • Armoured vehicle Tatrapan
    Armoured vehicle Tatrapan
  • Multiple rocket launcher RM-70 MODULAR
    Multiple rocket launcher RM-70 MODULAR
  • A Let L-410 Turbolet of the Slovak Air Force
    A Let L-410 Turbolet of the Slovak Air Force
  • Slovak 5th Special Forces Regiment operating in eastern Afghanistan
    Slovak 5th Special Forces Regiment operating in eastern Afghanistan
  • In eastern Afghanistan operation
    In eastern Afghanistan operation
  • Soldiers of the 12th Mechanized Battalion
    Soldiers of the 12th Mechanized Battalion
  • Slovak and U.S. Soldiers join forces during a live-fire exercise Sept. 16, 2015 near Bratislava in the Slovak Republic
    Slovak and U.S. Soldiers join forces during a live-fire exercise Sept. 16, 2015 near Bratislava in the Slovak Republic
  • Slovak Bozena vehicle is designed for clearance of all conventional antipersonnel and antitank land mines and for IED removal assistance
    Slovak Bozena vehicle is designed for clearance of all conventional antipersonnel and antitank land mines and for IED removal assistance
  • Slovak Air Force F-16 Block 70/72
    Slovak Air Force F-16 Block 70/72
  • Slovak soldiers on training excercise in Germany
    Slovak soldiers on training excercise in Germany

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Vláda schválila počty vojakov a zamestnancov OS SR i bojovej techniky". www.teraz.sk (in Slovak).
  2. ^ "Obranné výdavky by mali v roku 2024 dosiahnuť 2,63 miliardy eur". teraz.sk. 6 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Slovakia will continue spending 2 percent of GDP on defence". rtvs.sk. 6 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Work, Slovakian Defense Minister Review Bilateral Relationship". Defense.gov. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  5. ^ "NATO Update: Seven new members join NATO - 29 March 2004". Nato.int. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  6. ^ "kniha o obrane SR 2013"" (PDF). Lt.justice.gov.sk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Financial and Economic Data Relating to NATO Defence" (PDF). Nato.int. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Slovenská armáda je v kritickom stave, má to fatálne následky". Komentare.sme.sk. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  9. ^ Teraz.sk (2 April 2024). "Rezort obrany: V ozbrojených silách by mohlo byť 20.982 vojakov". TERAZ.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Funkcionári".
  11. ^ "Aktuality". 1mb.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Aktuality 2. mechanizovanej brigády". mbpo.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Aktuality". 5dp.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Aktuality". 91zpsd.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "Aktuality". 71prpv.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Aktuality". 103prrchbo.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Contracts for April 20, 2017". Defense.gov. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  19. ^ "Colt Capitalizes on Foreign Military Sales Program - The Firearm Blog". Thefirearmblog.com. 27 April 2017. Archived from the original on 1 June 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  20. ^ "Aktuality". 51vz.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  21. ^ "Kontakt". 52vpr.mil.sk. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  22. ^ "Aktuality". 57samo.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ "Aktuality". 4plog.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Aktuality". 41zz.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Aktuality". 42zz.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  27. ^ "43. Zásobovacia základňa Zemianske Kostoľany".
  28. ^ "Aktuality". 53prpsl.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Aktuality". 405oppr.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  30. ^ "Aktuality". 6spojp.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  31. ^ "61. Spojovací prápor Trenčín".
  32. ^ "62. Spojovací prápor Ružomberok".
  33. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  34. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. ^ "Topografický ústav plukovníka Jána Lipského".
  37. ^ "Aktuality". vevz.mil.sk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  38. ^ "Velenie".
  39. ^ "Odbor riadenia vojenského zdravotníctva a zdravotníckych analýz".
  40. ^ "Odbor plánovania a výcviku".
  41. ^ "Odbor logistiky".
  42. ^ "Odbor rozvoja vojenského zdravotníctva".
  43. ^ "Odbor veterinárneho zabezpečenia".
  44. ^ a b "Odbor Poľných Mobilných Zdravotníckych Jednotiek".
  45. ^ "Poľná mobilná zdravotnícka jednotka Role 2B".
  46. ^ "OP Práporu logistiky vojenského zdravotníctva".
  47. ^ Fabian, faby // Martin. "Akadémia ozbrojených síl generála Milana Rastislava Štefánika". Akadémia ozbrojených síl generála Milana Rastislava Štefánika (in Slovak). Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  48. ^ "NOS". www.noska.sk. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  49. ^ "Martinčania strieľali a hádzali ručné granáty na cvičisku v Sučanoch". mosr.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  50. ^ "Vytvorenie nových útvarov čestnej stráže nezvýšilo počet vojakov ASR". sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  51. ^ "Prezidentka Slovenskej republiky | Čestná stráž". Prezidentka Slovenskej republiky (in Slovak). Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  52. ^ "Uniforma Čestnej stráže prezidentky SR". prezident.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  53. ^ "Operácie – Európa a Blízky východ". Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic. 7 January 2025.
  54. ^ "History of military operations abroad :: Ministerstvo obrany SR".
  55. ^ "Two Slovakian Soldiers Killed in Kabul Suicide Car Bomb". Defense News. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  56. ^ "20 Years of U.S. - Slovak Diplomatic Relations". Usembassy.sk. Archived from the original on 5 August 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  57. ^ "Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel". defense.gov. Archived from the original on 20 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
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