TSAMTO, August 8. According to information published on September 19, 2022 by the Slovenian news agency Slovenian Press Agency, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob reached an agreement on the transfer of 28 MBT M-55S from the Slovenian Armed Forces to Ukraine.
As compensation, the Slovenian Armed Forces will receive military equipment from the German Armed Forces. Germany is to supply 40 military trucks, including 35 equipped with heavy hook loaders, and five water tankers. In April 2022, Slovenia has already approved the supply of 35 tracked M-80A infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine in exchange for tracked Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Fuchs armored vehicles with a 6x6 wheel formula.
The Slovenian Armed Forces began implementing a program to modernize the outdated T-55 MBT to the new M-55S standard in the mid-1990s. The first M-55 tank was assembled in 1997, and the last deliveries took place in 1999.
The layout of the M-55S is similar to the Soviet-made T-55, but has a number of improvements in terms of booking, driving performance and firepower. The 100 mm gun of the T-55 tank was replaced by a 105 mm rifled tank gun of the L7/M68 series, which can fire various types of ammunition, including armor-piercing cumulative tracer (HEAT-T), armor-piercing sub-caliber feathered with a detachable pallet (APFSDS-T) and armor-piercing high-explosive with a crumpled head (HESH-T).
As for protection, the M-55S hull and turret are equipped with dynamic protection installed on the frontal projection of the turret, the frontal plate and the sides of the hull. The upper part of the suspension is protected by a rubber skirt. A new computerized fire control system has been installed on the MBT, which allows firing at stationary and moving targets from a place or in motion. The gunner received a Slovenian two-axis stabilized Fontana SGS-55 sight with a laser rangefinder transmitting data to the fire control system. The commander's workplace is equipped with a COMTOS-55 commander's sight, which allows you to direct the actions of the gunner, accompany targets, determine the range to them, select targets, fire from the main gun / twin machine gun.
The MBT M-55S is equipped with a new diesel engine with a capacity of 600 hp, which replaced the V-12 diesel engine with a capacity of 580 hp, with a new suspension. The undercarriage includes five support rollers on board with a rear-mounted drive wheel, a tension wheel in front. The new 580 mm wide track is equipped with replaceable rubber pads.
Later it became known about the supply of another type of armored vehicles to the Armed Forces of Slovenia. According to the information published on April 26, 2023 by the Slovenian news resource 24UR.com, the Slovenian government has confidentially handed over to Ukraine 20 armored personnel carriers "Valuk" (Valuk 6x6).
The Valuk armored personnel carrier, which is in service with the Slovenian Armed Forces, is a version of the Pandur armored personnel carrier with a 6x6 wheel formula and is manufactured by the Slovenian company Sistemska Tehnika Armas under a license agreement with the Austrian company Steyr Daimler Puch Spezialfahrzeug (now part of General Dynamics Land Systems - Europe). Before the transfer of the APU, there were a total of 85 Valuk 6x6 BBM in various modifications in the presence of the Slovenian Armed Forces.
According to the portal 24UR.com, there is no official confirmation from the Slovenian government regarding the sending of armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. However 24UR.com claims that the delivery was completed at the end of April 2023 under conditions of complete secrecy.
The operation lasted several months. The BBMs underwent maintenance and were then transferred by a C-17A "Globemaster-3" military transport aircraft to a transport and logistics center either in Slovakia or in Poland. The publication also notes that the operation was postponed because the plane was involved in the evacuation of EU citizens from Sudan. Eventually, the last cars were transferred to Kiev at the end of April 2023.
The Valuk BBM is designed in four variants: an armored personnel carrier, an ambulance, a self-propelled mortar and a reconnaissance vehicle. The crew of the APC consists of three people, including the driver, the commander and the shooter. The aft section can accommodate up to six infantrymen.
As a reminder Armyrecognition.com Since the beginning of hostilities, Slovenia has transferred to Ukraine 28 M-55S MBT, 35 M80A tracked infantry fighting vehicles, 16 units of 105 mm M-101 howitzers, 20 light tactical HUMVEE armored vehicles, other weapons and military equipment. In mid-April 2023, Slovenia announced joint purchases of ammunition within NATO for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Slovenian military spending
Slovenia intends to increase defense spending
On October 15, 2021, the Defense Committee of the Slovenian Parliament discussed an increase in defense spending over the next two years.
During the discussion, a heated discussion unfolded between representatives of the parties that formed the coalition government and the opposition, which doubts the availability of opportunities to increase defense funding.
As it became known, the total volume of capital expenditures of the Ministry of Defense of Slovenia in the next two years will amount to 432 million euros.
Defense spending in 2022 is planned at 792 million euros, which is 105 million euros more than in 2021. They will make up 5.7% of the expenditure item of the state budget. In 2023, defense funding will be increased by another 103 million euros – up to 896 million euros (6.7% of government spending). It is planned that defense spending in 2023 will amount to 1.41% of GDP, which will bring Slovenia closer to the goal set by NATO (2% of GDP).
The expenses for the Ground Forces in the budget of 2022 are provided in the amount of 173 million euros, and in 2023 – 259 million euros. Among the priority programs are the creation of a medium infantry battalion, the improvement of the airlift capabilities of units, the modernization of the Edvard Munch base in Ljubljana, the modernization of helicopters and landfills.
The Slovenian military department plans to increase the defense budget in 2024 to 1.44% of GDP
Slovenian Defense Minister Marjan Sharets expressed confidence that the National Assembly of the country will approve an increase in the defense budget in 2024 to 1.44% of GDP.
As stated in the press release of the Slovenian Defense Ministry dated October 13, 2022, in the draft budgets for 2023 and 2024, the Ministry of Defense has maintained an increase in spending on both subsystems of the functions of the Armed Forces: defense and disaster response activities.
According to the proposal, defense spending in 2023 will increase to 976.6 million euros, which means an increase to 1.36% of GDP. In 2024, defense spending is planned at the level of 1.064 billion. euro, which is 1.44% of GDP.
M. Sharets expects that the National Assembly will support the draft budget, thereby confirming that "Slovenia is a serious and trustworthy partner in the international community."
Slovenia plans to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2030
Slovenia plans to increase annual defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2030, the country's Defense Minister Matej Tonin said on March 21, 2022.
According to the SeeNews publication with reference to the minister, in the medium term, until 2025, the government plans to increase defense spending to 1.5% of the country's GDP.
The publication recalls that Slovenia's original plan was to achieve the goal of 2% of GDP by 2035. Nevertheless, on the sidelines of the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on March 16, 2022, M. Tonin announced the postponement of the deadline for 2030.
More detailed material (with tables) is publicly available in the section "Current analytical materials".
