Slovenia intends to procure CAESAR SPHs, Mistral air-defence systems, and possibly Patria armoured vehicles

Slovenia has signed a letter of intent with France to join the European joint procurement of CAESAR SPHs (pictured) and Mistral air-defence systems. (KNDS)

The Slovenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on 12 July that its State Secretary Damir Črnčec had signed a letter of intent (LOI) with French national armaments director General Gaël Diaz De Tuesta on the joint European procurement of CAESAR wheeled self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and Mistral air-defence systems.

The day before, on the fringes of the NATO Summit held in Washington, DC, from 9 to 11 July, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob announced that negotiations were under way between the Slovenian and Finnish MoDs on the possibility of procuring a Patria armoured vehicle.

The Slovenian MoD said on 12 July that the government-to-government agreement between Slovenia and France on CAESAR and Mistral enables co-operation on the design, production, and procurement of armaments and makes it possible for the ministry to begin preparing to procure and introduce them into service. Slovenia can apply for European funds, the MoD added, referring to its eligibility for funding under theEU's European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA).

The Slovenian signing of the LOI follows the signature by the Croatian MoD's Directorate for Material Resources on 17 June of a framework agreement with the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, to join the joint European procurement of CAESAR SPHs. The agreement with Croatia does not include Mistrals.

For more information on the European joint procurement of CAESAR, please seeEurosatory 2024: Estonia orders CAESAR SPHs, which Croatia also plans to procure.