The Slovak Air Force has taken delivery of the first of two Global 5000s as part of fleet modernisation plans, replacing five of the seven currently operated Let 410s, ch-aviation research reveals. The first aircraft is valued at USD23.2 million, the second unit at USD24.6 million. Both are supplied by United States-based United Wings International.
The 12.5-year-old Bombardier Business Aircraft, C-FDIL (msn 9513), was ferried from Montréal Trudeau to Bratislava on February 18, 2025. Previously operated by Aurora Jet Partners, the ultra-long-range jet was configured to seat up to 12 passengers. It was the last Global 5000 in Aurora Jet Partners’ fleet, though the Canadian operator continues to offer other Global variants for charter, including a Global 6000 and a Global 7500.
The second unit, 9H-AVA (msn 9633), is 10.8 years old and was last active on February 17, flying between Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev and Burgas, followed by a leg to London Biggin Hill. The 13-seat jet remains in the fleet of Hyperion Aviation (HYP, Malta International), which manages two additional Global 5000s. ch-aviation has reached out to the operator for details on the aircraft’s retirement timeline.
The acquisition of the two Global 5000s follows a proposal by the Ministry of Defence in late 2024 to enhance air transport capacity, military operations, crisis evacuations, and fleet modernisation. The government plans to sell five Let 410s to help finance the new investment, while the air force will retain two turboprops.
"Due to extended groundings affecting the Alenia C-27J aircraft and the severe obsolescence of the Let 410, we were forced to act quickly after the Beirut experience, where three aircraft were used when only one should have been needed. This led to the development of a project based on the Ministry of Defence's transport aviation requirements," said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kaliňák following a government meeting in late 2024.
Slovakia’s government flights are currently operated by the Ministry of Interior’s Slovak Government Flying Service, which operates two ACJ319-100s and two F100s, inducted between 2016 and 2017. The addition of the Global 5000s operated by the air force will enable long-range military evacuations, as the Ministry of Interior's aircraft are classified as civilian. There are also plans to transfer the Government Flight unit to the air force. Currently, the air force operates two Alenia C-27Js for military transport missions, which are set to be replaced by three KC-390s under a Letter of Intent (LOI) signed in January 2025.
ch-aviation has contacted Slovakia’s Ministry of Defence office for more details on the entry-into-service of the aircraft, as well as operational plans and other relevant developments.
