On July 27, 2022 the government of the Czech Republic has approved the Slovak request with help over guarding the Slovakian air space. The request was official after meeting between the Slovak Minister of Defense Jaroslav Naď and his Czech counterpart Jana Černochová. The Czechs will provide so-called Air Policing with JAS-39 Gripen aircraft from September of this year until the end of 2023, with the possibility of further extension. Poland is also supposed to participate in the protection of Slovak airspace. 

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The draft declaration states that airspace surveillance will begin on September 1 of this year and will last until the end of 2023, with the possibility of further extension (Picture source: Czech MoD)

"The conflict in Ukraine showed us how important the unity of NATO and the mutual help of allies is. I am therefore happy that I can negotiate on behalf of the Czechia to help our Slovak neighbors in ensuring the protection of their airspace," said Minister of Defense Jana Černochová.

Slovakia has so far guarded its skies with Russian MiG-29 fighters. However, due to the conflict in Ukraine, Bratislava began to prepare for the early termination of their operation. The Slovaks have already ordered new F-16 fighter jets from the USA, but they will probably not be able to deploy them until 2025.

There is already a draft joint declaration between the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, which will be signed soon. "The draft declaration states that airspace surveillance will begin on September 1 of this year and will last until the end of 2023, with the possibility of further extension," specified the Minister of Defense.

Czech fighters have experience protecting the airspace of NATO members since 2009. They operated three times in the Baltics, three times patrolling the skies over Iceland.