13 Jul 2023
Slovakia invests $190 Million in 160 Oshkosh JLTVs to strengthen Armed Forces
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Ministry of Defence Slovakia
After years of various proposed solutions to the Slovak Armed Forces' 4x4 Multi-Purpose Combat Vehicle Programme, the most advantageous project – the procurement of one hundred sixty (160) Oshkosh 4x4 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) for nearly $190m in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) – is now on the table as a pathway to modernisation.
With this Foreign Military Sale (FMS), the Slovak Armed Forces will gain a new capability without having to pay for it at all. This represents the most advantageous of all procurement procedures. Therefore, the SVK Government has approved it today.
Defence Minister Martin Sklenár made clear that the U.S. Government's FMS proposal fully meets the requirements of the Slovak Armed Forces, saying: “These 4x4 vehicles are a platform with exceptional mobility and ballistic protection for lighter combat and support units. No vehicles currently in service with the Slovak Armed Forces provide such a combination of features. So, the new JLTVs will enable our forces to take on a new range of tasks. The importance of this capability for modern warfare is being demonstrated daily on the Ukrainian battlefield.”
In addition to two Heavy Gun Carrier variants of the Oshkosh JLTV – one equipped with the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) and the other with the Manned Top Gunner Turret, the U.S. offer includes the logistic package in the form of various spare parts, special tools, and technical manuals as well as the principal contractor's programme support covering training, technical integration of systems onto the platform, and field services. Deliveries of the Oshkosh JLTVs to the Slovak Armed Forces are due to take place throughout 2025.
Importantly, Oshkosh has announced its intent to collaborate on the operation of the vehicles with Slovak firms to speed up the deliveries of spares and to undertake repairs to the vehicles throughout their entire life cycle.
The USA has made $200m in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) available to Slovakia. While most of the FMF package for Slovakia will be spent on the JLTVs, the remaining funds will go towards purchasing assault rifles and anti-drone systems.
With this Foreign Military Sale (FMS), the Slovak Armed Forces will gain a new capability without having to pay for it at all. This represents the most advantageous of all procurement procedures. Therefore, the SVK Government has approved it today.
Defence Minister Martin Sklenár made clear that the U.S. Government's FMS proposal fully meets the requirements of the Slovak Armed Forces, saying: “These 4x4 vehicles are a platform with exceptional mobility and ballistic protection for lighter combat and support units. No vehicles currently in service with the Slovak Armed Forces provide such a combination of features. So, the new JLTVs will enable our forces to take on a new range of tasks. The importance of this capability for modern warfare is being demonstrated daily on the Ukrainian battlefield.”
In addition to two Heavy Gun Carrier variants of the Oshkosh JLTV – one equipped with the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) and the other with the Manned Top Gunner Turret, the U.S. offer includes the logistic package in the form of various spare parts, special tools, and technical manuals as well as the principal contractor's programme support covering training, technical integration of systems onto the platform, and field services. Deliveries of the Oshkosh JLTVs to the Slovak Armed Forces are due to take place throughout 2025.
Importantly, Oshkosh has announced its intent to collaborate on the operation of the vehicles with Slovak firms to speed up the deliveries of spares and to undertake repairs to the vehicles throughout their entire life cycle.
The USA has made $200m in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) available to Slovakia. While most of the FMF package for Slovakia will be spent on the JLTVs, the remaining funds will go towards purchasing assault rifles and anti-drone systems.