Israel Finalizes €560 Million Barak MX Export Deal With Slovakia
Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced Monday that it had finalized the agreement for the sale of Israel Aerospace Industries’ Barak MX air defense systems to Slovakia, with the 560 million euro (approximately $582.8 million) deal the largest defense contract yet between the two nations.
The deal was signed at the Ministry’s headquarters in Tel Aviv, with the Director General of the Israeli Defense Ministry, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir and the Director General of the Modernization Division in Slovakia’s Ministry of Defence, Martin Čatloš.
The ministry did not provide additional details on the number of batteries, interceptor missiles, other supporting hardware to be purchased, or a timeline for deliveries. However, the Slovakian government stated in August that it planned to purchase six batteries, with deliveries to begin by the end of 2025.
The Barak MX will replace the Soviet-era 2K12 Kub surface to air missile system as Slovakia’s medium range SAM system, with Bratislava saying in August that its inventory of Kub missiles had already exceeded their original service lives by over four times.
In a press release announcing the deal, the ministry said:
“The BARAK MX is designed to counter current and future aerial threats, including ballistic threats. Its operational success in Israel and globally underscores its reliability and effectiveness, making it a valuable addition to Slovakia’s defense infrastructure.
The system is known for its flexible capability to counter threats from various sources, including fighter jets, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles.
With three interceptors for operational ranges of 35, 70, and 150 km, each equipped with an active radar seeker, dual-pulse engine, and powerful warhead, the system delivers unparalleled interception performance against a wide range of threats.”
The ministry said the Israeli negotiation team was led by the head of the ministry’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT), Brig. Gen. (Res.) Yair Kulas, CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Boaz Levy, and Executive VP of Systems, Missiles, and Space Group at IAI, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Guy Barlev.
“We look forward to a strong and growing partnership with the Slovak government in the years ahead,” Levy said. “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in IAI’s relations with the Slovak government, and reflects the trust international partners place in IAI’s holistic defense solutions and cutting-edge technology.”