Slovak F-16s Complete Their First Mid-Air Refueling Over Slovak Territory

The Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic announced on Facebook that Slovak F-16 fighter jets have carried out their first-ever mid-air refueling over Slovak territory. According to the military, this marked a crucial milestone in pilot training — the maneuver was practiced together with a tanker aircraft from one of Slovakia's allies.

Aerial refueling is considered one of the most demanding operations for pilots and is essential for the full combat readiness of F-16 fighters. Slovakia has purchased a total of 14 F-16 Block 70 aircraft. Four of them are currently still in the United States, where Slovak personnel are undergoing training on the jets.

Where the Fighters Are Currently Based

Ten more F-16s are presently stationed at the Kuchyňa military airbase in western Slovakia. Meanwhile, in the eastern part of central Slovakia, reconstruction has begun at the Sliač airbase, which will eventually become the permanent home for the new fighters.

As a reminder, in 2023 Slovakia handed over its fleet of MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine, leaving itself temporarily without its own fighter aviation. Since then, Czech, Polish and Hungarian fighters have been covering Slovak airspace. Control over Slovak skies is set to gradually pass to the new F-16s.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz