The armed forces of the Slovak Republic number about 27,000 uniformed personnel and comprise:

• Land Forces - largely made up of two mechanized infantry brigades, one artillery brigade, and an immediate reaction battalion
• Air and Air Defense Forces - comprising one wing of fighters, one wing of attack and utility helicopters, and two SAM brigades
• miscellaneous forces under the direct command of the General Staff - a special forces regiment, for example.

National opinion polls rate the armed forces as the most respected national institutions.

Slovakia's ambitious roadmap for defense reform is the well-regarded Force 2010 Long-Term Plan , which strikes a well-reasoned balance between requirements and resources and which envisions a professionalized, combat-capable force of 19,300 uniformed personnel by 2006. Slovakia has about 750 personnel deployed worldwide on NATO- and United Nations-led peace support operations (PSOs) as well as an engineering unit in Afghanistan. Slovakia has markedly increased its commitment to KFOR and SFOR in Kosovo and Bosnia in 2002.

Defense spending, which rose to 1.89% of GDP in calendar years 2001 and 2002, is slated to increase to 2% of GDP in 2003.

NATO membership remains Slovakia's preeminent foreign policy goal, and Slovakia has used the MAP process to good effect in its efforts to win an invitation at the Prague Summit in November 2002.

Military branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, Civil Defense Force

Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,484,567 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,134,751 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 45,605 (2000 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $332 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.7% (FY99)

References and Links

• Slovakia