Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence

The Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence is an integral part of the Slovenian Armed Forces, rather than an independent branch. Its structure is centered on the 15th Wing at Cerklje ob Krki Air Base, which encompasses the 151st Rotary Wing Squadron, the 152nd Fixed Wing Squadron, the 153rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, a Flight School, and the 107th Air Base. This organization provides aviation and air defense support to the armed forces. Airspace surveillance and control is the responsibility of the 16th Command and Reporting Centre at Brnik, which is integrated into the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS).

Slovenia's strategic doctrine relies on collective defense within the NATO framework for air sovereignty. Lacking its own combat jet aircraft to police its airspace, this mission is performed on a rotational basis by the Italian Air Force and the Hungarian Air Force. Slovenian air assets are focused on tactical transport, close air support, training, and rotary-wing operations. The fixed-wing 152nd Squadron operates light attack/trainer aircraft and transport planes, while the 151st Helicopter Squadron handles tactical transport, medical evacuation, and disaster relief. This structure underscores a doctrine centered on force support, tactical mobility, and contributing to national civil defense, rather than independent air power projection.

A significant recent acquisition is the Leonardo C-27J Spartan tactical airlifter, the first of two was delivered in December 2023. The second is expected by the end of 2024. These aircraft fill a critical gap in tactical transport for both military and civil emergency response missions, including firefighting, for which they will be equipped with a water tank module. This procurement is part of a broader push to modernize the armed forces, supported by a plan to gradually increase defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2030.