Slovak and British Military Pilots Holding Joint Exercise at Sliac Airbase

Sliac, August 18 (TASR) – Three BAE Hawk aircraft of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) are currently taking part in a joint exercise with Slovak pilots at the airbase in Sliac (Banska Bystrica region), TASR learnt on Thursday.

The exercise will last until August 25, with one of the British aircraft then set to remain at the airbase in order to take part in the Slovak International Air Fest 2016 that is due to be held between August 27-28.

“This is now the third joint exercise of the Slovak and British air forces since 2007, with the participants drawing on each other’s experience. In addition, there’s also an opportunity for our [personnel] to improve their English language proficiency,” said Defence Minister Peter Gajdos (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) at a briefing.

According to Slovak Armed Forces Air Force Commander Miroslav Korba, apart from the aircraft, 28 pilots and service personnel from Britain and 50 of their counterparts from Slovakia are taking part in the exercise.