Slovenian Armed Forces

Slovenia is marking 20 years since the helicopter emergency medical service was first introduced. The service began in 2003 as a pilot project and is now an indispensable tool in the search and rescue toolbox.

The unit, dubbed the HEMS Brnik, was located at Ljubljana Airport and used Slovenian Armed Forces helicopters.

Defence Minister Marjan Šarec announced major investments in the air force fleet as he addressed a ceremony marking Slovenian Military Aviation Day at the Cerklje ob Krki air base on 12 January. The air base is undergoing renovation, which will create new jobs.

The Defence Ministry has proposed a more ambitious development plan for the Slovenian Armed Forces under which the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defence would be reached by 2030, five years sooner than currently planned.

Ljubljana – The Defence Ministry said that the 45 Boxer armoured vehicles Slovenia is buying through OCCAR satisfy all technical demands as it responded Friday to a report alleging that equipment had been pared down to hit a low enough price point.

Only “less important technical requirements” were dropped in negotiations for the purchase of the vehicles, the ministry said.

Ljubljana – The government has set aside EUR 174,000 for the purchase of digital technology and equipment intended for Ukrainian civilians. It also confirmed Slovenia’s participation in NATO’s enhanced forward presence in Slovakia.

Ljubno ob Savinji – The Defence Ministry plans to renovate several military barracks. The costs of renovation of the Edvard Peperko Barracks in Ljubljana and the General Rudolf Maister Barracks in Maribor have been estimated at EUR 130 million.

The renovation is to improve energy efficiency of the buildings, its functionality and the working conditions.

Ljubljana – Fifteen Italian military health professionals will come to Slovenia on Sunday to join the medical teams of the Slovenian Armed Forces helping in Covid-19 hospitals. The Italian team will be greeted by Defence Minister Matej Tonin and Health Minister Janez Poklukar in Kranj, the Defence Ministry said in a press release.

Ljubljana – An initiative by the opposition Left to call a consultative referendum on a long-term programme for the development of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) was voted down by eight votes to one on the Defence Committee on Tuesday. The vote is not binding on the plenary.

Rome – Defence Minister Matej Tonin signed an agreement on the purchase of a Spartan C-27J transport aircraft with his Italian counterpart Lorenzo Guerini in Rome on Wednesday.

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Defence Committee approved the draft resolution on the general long-term programme for the development and equipping of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) until 2035. The resolution is strongly opposed by the Left party, which plans to propose a consultative referendum.