Slovak Defence Ministry Awarded €1M Pilot Training Contract Without Tender to Unlicensed Firm

Slovakia's Defence Ministry awarded a contract worth more than one million euros for pilot training without holding a public procurement competition, according to an investigation by the Institute for Central European Justice and Knowledge (ICJK), a Slovak investigative journalism centre. The contract was granted to a private company that reportedly lacks both a flight simulator and the required licence to conduct pilot training, raising serious questions about the legitimacy of the procurement process. The ministry is led by Robert Kaliňák, a senior figure in Smer-SD, the ruling social-democratic party of Prime Minister Robert Fico. Kaliňák has previously served as interior minister and is one of the most influential members of the current government. The decision to bypass competitive tendering — a standard requirement under EU and Slovak public procurement rules designed to ensure transparency and value for public funds — has drawn sharp criticism from the investigative outlet. The case adds to broader concerns about procurement practices within Slovak state institutions under the current government. Bypassing public tenders can violate EU regulations governing the use of public funds, and such irregularities may attract scrutiny from the European Commission. Critics argue the contract raises questions about possible conflicts of interest and the misuse of defence spending.