During his official visit to Brazil, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď along with members of the Slovak defence industry took part in the opening ceremony of the LAAD Defence & Security 2023 Trade Show, one of the largest international arms fairs, in Rio de Janeiro. The aim of his visit is to promote Slovakia's defence industry and gain insight into the portfolios of international defence manufacturers. As part of his official programme, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď will meet his Brazilian counterpart, Defence Minister Jóse Múcio Monteiro Filho.

Speaking at the LAAD Defence & Security 2023 event, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “I am very pleased to see that several Slovak companies are present here with specific project proposals. So, for example, KONŠTRUKTA - Defence, a state-owned joint-stock company, which has moved on to the second round of the self-propelled howitzer (SPH) tender as the bidder and possible supplier for the Brazilian Armed Forces.”

As well as seeking to procure 36 SPHs, Brazil is also interested in technology transfer for howitzer manufacturing, Minister Naď said and continued: “Amid strong competition, this is no easy fight, but we will do everything we can to succeed, unlike the Pellegrini government’s botched-up attempt, albeit unintentionally yet “only” due to its incompetence, to support the Zuzana SPHs in the Czech tender.”

The Minister also applauded the success of the Slovak-designed Falcon 4G laser-based CBRN stand-off detector by SEC Technologies at the event. The company has now signed a contract for the delivery of yet another detector to the Brazilian Armed Forces. This detector has also been in service with the Slovak Armed Forces.

Speaking of his participation in the arms fair, the head of the MOD said this is the minimum I can and I should do as the defence minister. “Some 15 defence ministers alongside interior ministers and chiefs of defence are taking part in the arms fair, whereas they all have come to support their national businesses and production,” Minister Naď said, noting that he will also give his firm backing to the SVK defence industry during his meeting with Brazilian Defence Minister Jóse Múcio Monteiro Filho later tomorrow.

On Government support being essential to the positive results of SVK defence and security exports, Minister Naď said: “I firmly believe that this tradition of giving intense support to the Slovak defence industry as State Secretary Marian Majer and I have set it in Defence will keep going into the future. As a matter of fact, Government support is key to the success of the Slovak industry abroad – it cannot succeed without it.”