Slovakia is in discussions with the United States to purchase an additional four F-16V (Block 70/72) fighter jets, a potential follow-on buy that would expand Bratislava’s planned Viper fleet from 14 to 18 aircraft.
Prime Minister Robert Fico publicly raised the prospect after a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Bratislava on February 15, 2026, arguing that extra aircraft would help Slovakia move away from reliance on allied air policing.
Air policing and MiG-29 replacement
Slovakia ordered 14 F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft in 2018 to replace its Soviet-era MiG-29s, but the transition has taken longer than originally planned, forcing the country to rely on NATO allies for airspace protection in the interim.
As of late 2025, Slovakia had taken delivery of 10 of its 14 F-16C/D Block 70 fighters, with the remaining aircraft expected to arrive in 2026. Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kalinak has said he wants Slovakia to assume responsibility for protecting its national airspace by the end of summer 2026.
The proposed “top-up” of four jets is being framed domestically as a way to strengthen the Slovak Air Force’s capacity to sustain a standing quick-reaction alert posture and reduce dependence on partner nations for routine air policing.
The push for additional F-16s also comes against the backdrop of Slovakia’s earlier transfer of its MiG-29 fleet to Ukraine, a decision that Fico and Kalinak have criticized since returning to office, and which has remained politically contentious at home.
Any new aircraft would likely be pursued via the US Foreign Military Sales process, with timelines and final configuration dependent on negotiations and production capacity.
