Slovakia received first Barak MX surface-to-air missile system battery from Israeli company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). As country’s defense department head Robert Kaliňák reported, battery is already deployed and ready for full operational commissioning. First system arrived in Slovakia approximately 10 days ago with several month delay due to iran war — delivery was initially expected late last year-early this year.
info.sk reports this. It is noted that new surface-to-air missile system integration into country’s armed forces structure will continue several weeks with Israeli specialist participation.
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Barak MX / Photo credit: IAI
For Slovakia, first Barak MX delivery is important stage of country’s air defense forces development, as this SAM system has declared capability to shoot down ballistic missiles at ranges up to 150 km using Extended Range (ER) interceptors.
Barak MX surface-to-air missile system will primarily have task of protecting country’s critical infrastructure. Slovakia’s defense minister stated first battery is currently located at the intersection of our nuclear power plants.
Barak MX / Photo credit: IAI
Given today Slovakia operates two nuclear power plants total — Jaslovské Bohunice NPP and Mochovce NPP, both located in country’s west, the area where Barak MX SAM system is located can be approximately calculated if needed. Especially as Slovak nuclear power plants are located approximately 60 km apart.
Despite Barak MX SAM system delivery delay to Slovakia being effectively only several months, country’s defense department head admitted there were significant delays during these systems’ production.
Recall Slovakia concluded contract for supplying six Barak MX SAM system batteries late 2024, so IAI needed slightly more than one year to deliver the first, with all six batteries to be delivered overall by 2030.
Final deal price was €560 million, which is quite pleasant price tag given other air defense system costs.