Hungary to hitch neighbours in defending Slovak skies

(Reuters) – Hungary will be a part of the Czech Republic and Poland in patrolling Slovakia’s skies after it grounded its Soviet-made MiG-29s from service final yr, Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad stated on Friday.

Slovakia has relied on its neighbours for airspace safety since final September whereas it waits for brand new, U.S.-made F-16 fighters due in 2024.

“We confirmed the curiosity of the Hungarian aspect, and Slovakia’s gratitude, that it’s going to take part defending Slovakia’s airspace,” Nad stated in a information convention together with his Hungarian counterpart Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky, proven on his Fb web page.

Slovakia grounded the ageing MiGs because it launched into a modernisation programme. It has thought-about sending them to Ukraine because it battles Russia’s invasion however has not decided.

(Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague; Modifying by Angus MacSwan)