[7] Following the retirement of the Mikoyan MiG-29 in 2022, 7 L-39 Albatros provide the fast-jet capability role to the air force, awaiting the delivery of American F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft in 2024.

Czechoslovak aircraft builders included Aero, Avia, Beneš-Mráz, Letov, Praga, Tatra and Zlín.

After the division of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany in 1939, Slovakia was left with a small air force composed primarily of Czechoslovak combat aircraft.

While engaged on the Eastern Front, Slovakia's obsolete biplanes were replaced with German combat aircraft, including the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

The air force was sent back to Slovakia after combat fatigue and desertion had reduced the pilots' effectiveness.

On March 1, 1995, the air force replaced the Soviet style aviation regiment organization with the western wing and squadron system.

[23] In 2004, the flight training academy and national aerobatic demonstration team Biele Albatrosy, both based at Košice, were disbanded.

In January 2014, Slovakia started discussions with the Swedish Government regarding leasing or purchasing JAS-39 Gripen aircraft to replace their MiG-29 fighters.

The deal worth US$261 million includes also full life-cycle support for the aircraft and training for aircrews and ground personnel.

[39] On September 6, 2023, Slovakia has started the acquisition of medium and short range air defence missile systems (SHORAD/MRAD) with budget of 200 million Euros.

[46] In August 2024, Slovak government approved plans to buy six mobile air defence systems Barak 8 from Israel.

[52] An agreement with fellow NATO members Poland and the Czech Republic was signed in order to establish joint patrols of airspace, until the delivery of American F-16s to the Slovak Air Force in 2024.

[53][54] In August 2022 the decision was yet to be made whether the retired MiGs would be donated to Ukrainian Air Force as military aid.

Germany and Netherlands and United States deployed its MIM-104 Patriot systems to cover countries air defense needs.

The US offered aid in the form of approximately 66% discount on a package including 12 unused AH-1Z, training, related equipment and 500 Hellfire II missiles.

The total value of the compensation from both the EU and US is approximately 900 million USD per statement from Ministry of Defence of Slovak Republic.

Problems with spare parts and maintenance, which was outsourced to Russia and resulted in four air frames being airworthy on average, while still plagued by a high failure rate occurring every 43 minutes on average, lack of munitions, no modernisation since 1996 and lack of pilots for the old fighter jets.

While police couldn't prove Russia did it on purpose, the findings were enough for the Slovak Army to lose their trust in Russian maintenance crews.

Anti-air defense systems it fields : Note: Five Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawks are available through the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) program based in Italy.

[92][93] The Air Force has several types of radars under its command, including 17 Israeli EL/M-2084[100] in various medium and short range variants.

Future F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft should wear a NATO standard compliant grey-on-grey (low-visibility) version of the Slovak Air Force insignia.