He explained that by adopting the said material the Government had responded to the critical situation inside the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic. The critical situation requires that timely, systemic and long-term solutions be adopted, according to the minister. The Government has therefore today acknowledged the Bases for the Strategic Evaluation of Slovakia’s Defence Sector, a material in which the Defence Ministry comprehensively describes the existing situation in the Slovak Armed Forces and presents proposals on which the future model of its further functioning should be built. Detailed plans for the system changes to be implemented in the defence sector will be included in a so-called White Book which the Ministry is tasked to prepare by the end of 2011.

Galko understands the Government’s acknowledgement of the material as a mandate to guide, and elaborate on the future development of the defence sector. “This is an excellent starting point to bring the Armed Forces to the next level, and that’s what we are all after,” he added.

One of the main points of the Defence Ministry’s strategy for the upcoming years should be an extensive modernisation of individual components of the Slovak Armed Forces, with EUR 3.3 billion expected to be gradually spent on rearmament over the next ten years, on top of the Ministry’s budgetary chapter. Most of these funds should be spent on the modernisation of armoured vehicles, while some EUR 800 million is to be invested in the Slovak Air Force. This amount does not cover, however, the possible replacement of MiG-29 fighters whose service life extends beyond the planned framework of the future model.

The Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic informed the NATO Secretary General that the Slovak Republic is prepared to adopt the strategy of reorganization and modernization of its armed forces. She stressed the need to react to modernization trends of the 21st century, but also the need to use resources as efficiently as possible.

The Slovakia’s priorities in NATO relate to three fields. Namely our participation in the missions in Afghanistan and Cyprus, modernization and increasing efficiency of defensive units and more intense participation of the country in the Alliance’s international projects and programmes, where joint efforts would allow a more beneficial use of the resources by a larger number of countries.

Modernisation of soldiers’ outfits and individual combat systems
– further modernization of soldiers’ individual combat systems
– handheld weapons and ammunition

Modernization of land-based systems and logistics
– introduction of new 4×4 wheeled armoured vehicles for artillery, chemical, reconnaissance and medical units
– procurement of light all-terrain vehicles
– procurement of logistic and medical supplies
– modernisation of the BVP-2 infantry fighting vehicle
– introduction of 8×8 armoured fighting vehicles in the years 2011-2014
– replenishing units with a new type of all-terrain medium and heavy trucks
– containerisation and logistics
– specialized airport-based engineering equipment

Aviation equipment and air defence systems
– introduction of new close-, short- and medium-range radars
– completing the integration of the IFF identification system into air defence systems
– modernization of helicopters
– modernization of training and light transport aircraft
– procurement of transport aircraft
– modernization of fighter aircraft

Reconnaissance and communications technology
– installation of VHF radio stations in a variety of military vehicles
– land-based radars for detection of ground targets
– procurement of reconnaissance devices and soldiers’ equipment
– encrypted data transfer devices
– optical-electronic devices and systems
– introduction of unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicles and replenishment of the ISTAR unit

Chemical, biological and radiological defence (CBR-D)
– individual and collective CBR-D equipment
– point detection systems and personal detectors
– detection and identification of biological and chemical substances and protection against them

Missions and operations
– devices for location, collection, transport, sorting, and disposal of explosives, munitions and improvised explosive systems
– logistics, containerisation

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Il 18 novembre, gli organizzatori della IDEB 2010, Ing. Kopecky e Ing. Mésároš, hanno presentato ufficialmente l’iniziativa alle Autorit? Italiane in Slovacchia. All’incontro di presentazione hanno partecipato il Generale Landi, Addetto per la Difesa presso l´Ambasciata d´Italia, il Dottor Quattrocchi, Direttore dell´Istituto nazionale per il Commercio estero – ICE, il Dottor Belligotti, Adetto Commerciale dell´Ambasciata d´Italia. Al termine della presentazione, il Generale Landi ha ringraziato per la presentazione dell’iniziativa, ha formulato i migliori auguri per la riuscita della mostra e ha confermato che le informazioni ricevute saranno valutate dalle competenti Autorit? Italiane.

Negotiations of the informal meeting of Defence Ministers of NATO member countries ended on Friday 23rd of October, 2009. For the first time in history taking place in Slovakia, the meeting was attended by about 800 representatives and 300 accredited journalists from all over the world. In this year of important events, Slovakia catches the attention of the foreign countries – not only because of the fifth anniversary of our country as a NATO member and 60 anniversary of the very North Atlantic Treaty Organization foundation, but because of Slovakia being a host country for such a significant event.
The meeting was preceeded by a difficult and challenging long lasting preparations and choice of the most suitable place for the event. The Incheba Expo Bratislava area met the strait measures given by NATO and Ministry of the Defence SR. There was almost 40 000 m² of an interior office premises, negotiating rooms, catering and general public rooms available on the informal meeting of defence ministers, together with well-founded premises for press and press conferences. External area of 60 000 m² was used on parking cars and special technique and also for the maximum security of the attendants.

While organizing the informal meeting of Defence Ministers, Incheba has picked up again the previous experience with securing an international events. The Conference of UNO Contracting Parties on Biodiversition agreement took place in Incheba in 1998, later on Incheba was covering the Bush-Putin Summit in 2005 and following years has repeatedly cooperated with the White House on preparations of foreign travels of G.W. Bush to Budapest and Prague.