The US State Department has approved the sale of 192 M1278A1/A2 Heavy Gun Carrier Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) to Slovakia.
The $250 million proposed sale includes M153 Common Remote Weapons Stations, M2 Quick Change Barrels .50 caliber machine guns, MK19 40mm grenade launchers, M2A1 machine guns, and related equipment.
The Oshkosh Defense vehicle will enhance the mobility and protection of Slovak ground forces, helping them replace Soviet-era personnel carriers.
“Procurement of the JLTV would represent a major milestone in Slovakia’s goal of developing a capable, twenty-first-century military which can meet its national defense needs and effectively contribute to NATO operations,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency wrote.
US Offers Slovakia Arms Worth $1 Billion
Slovakia earlier announced the delivery of 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine to help Kyiv repel the Russian invasion.
In response, the US offered to sell Bratislava arms worth $1 billion at a discounted rate, including 12 new Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopters and more than 500 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
“We were the first to receive this extremely advantageous offer. If we don’t take them, they will go to another country,” Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said on Facebook.
“The value of this material is slightly over $1 billion… Slovakia would pay around $340 million over a period of three to four years,” he added.
