Slovakia to acquire Israeli-made 3D Air Defense Radar Systems

Defense News March 2021 Global Security army industry
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On March 25, 2021, the Slovak Minister of Defense has signed an agreement for the purchase of Israeli 3D Air Defense (AD) Radar Systems for the Slovak Armed Forces, for a total amount of €148.2 million.
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Slovak Minister of Defense Peter Gajdos presents the acquisition of Israeli 3D Radar during the official signature of the agreement. (Picture source Slovak MoD)

The contract of €148.2 million includes the acquisition of 17 units of 3D Medium (M), Short (S), Very Short (VS) Range Air Defence Radar Systems, including all radar assemblies and subassemblies. The agreement was signed by the Slovak Ministry of Defence (SMOD) and the Israel Ministry of Defence (IMOD) in Bratislava.

The new 3D radar systems will be delivered in stages from April 2023 to 2025, while the payment of the total agreement amount will be made in four installments from 2021 to 2024.

For this project, Israeli companies Elta Systems LTD, Israel Aerospace Industries will cooperate with the Slovak company Letecké opravovne Trenčín a.s. (LOTN), Slovak MOD-owned Aircraft Repair Joint Stock Company. In this way, the Ministry of Defence wants to emphasize its support for the Slovak defense industry.

This will take on a role in the production of antenna elements, power generators, leveling jacks and pedestal rotation platforms for the 3D RL radar systems, as well as integrating them into the Command and Control (C2) systems of the Slovak Armed Forces. With the Agreement thus construed, this will mean not only generating financial profit for SVK companies, coupled with employment support but also securing the acquisition of new capabilities.

The procurement of the new radar systems is seen as both inevitable and instrumental to securing the inviolability of SVK airspace and the collective defense of NATO Member States within the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS), which is tasked with protecting the North Atlantic area, its populations and armed forces against any air or missile threats or attacks. The Slovak Air Force will operate the new 3D radar systems at least for the next 20 years.