As is traditionally the case, the end of the year is always a time for taking stock and evaluating the past twelve months. This is no different for the Slovak Ministry of Defense. At a recent press conference, Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák assessed the defense industry's contributions to the state treasury to date and briefly outlined the possible development of the domestic defense industry in the coming year.

According to Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák, the Slovak defense industry contributed around €2 billion to the country's gross domestic product in 2025. The defense minister added that this traditional manufacturing sector should continue to grow next year. This will be aided by projects being prepared with partners within and outside the North Atlantic Alliance. As an example, Robert Kaliňák cited a planned contract with Azerbaijan worth €100 million. Under this agreement, the state-owned joint-stock company ZTS - Špeciál will market its products on the local market. Other projects will include expanding ammunition production capacity. According to the Minister of Defense, this increase is a response to the interest of several countries in Europe to start negotiations with Slovakia on the purchase of ammunition.

The Minister of Defense also pointed out that defense industry companies are major employers in the Považie region, Upper Nitra, and eastern Slovakia. The arms industry has historically been a strong industrial sector in these regions, as heavy military equipment, ammunition, and military trucks were manufactured there in the past. Many products are still manufactured in these regions today, and there is even an expansion or renovation of the production facilities of former arms companies. One such example is the renovation of the Chemko Strážske site in eastern Slovakia, where the MSM Group is investing €350 million in renovations with the aim of building a modern production infrastructure for the manufacture of bimodular powder charges for large-caliber ammunition.

Returning to what the Slovak Minister of Defense said at the press conference, the current security situation in Europe underscores the importance and significance of the defense industry for protecting the interests and populations of the entire continent. However, the current security environment also places the defense industry in the role of an economic driver. As Robert Kaliňák said, at a time of stagnating European economy, the defense industry is a sector that can support the growth of the Slovak economy, which is dependent on economic developments in Western Europe. It should be noted here that in recent years, the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (OS SR) have undergone extensive modernization, and the Slovak defense industry has played a significant role in this. Slovak arms manufacturers are involved in the production of CV9035 infantry fighting vehicles, Patria AMV XP wheeled armored vehicles, and cargo and logistics vehicles.

However, domestic orders are not the only source of income for Slovak defense industry companies. Slovakia generally benefits from its strong manufacturing base in terms of large-caliber and medium-caliber ammunition production, as evidenced by the framework agreement between ZVS holding and the Slovak Ministry of Defense worth €58 billion. Under this contract, ZVS Holding is prepared to manufacture the aforementioned types of ammunition for EU member states that join the agreement over the next seven years.

This project would be financed through the European SAFE program. If European countries show interest, such a large contract would mean a truly significant contribution from the defense industry to the state budget. Also worth mentioning is the recent success of Tatra Defence Slovakia, which will produce up to 4,000 T-810 military vehicles for a customer in Southeast Asia in Moldava nad Bodvou in eastern Slovakia. This order will significantly boost employment in the region, as Tatra Defence Slovakia plans to hire more than 300 new employees.

These projects are clear evidence that the Slovak defense industry has the potential to be one of the driving forces of the Slovak economy in the coming years. However, it is necessary for political representatives to continue to support the sector and use the Slovak arms industry as a tool of economic diplomacy.