Slovakia is overhauling its pistol inventory in the biggest arms deal in the nation’s history. Almost 50,000 handguns are to be delivered to the armed forces, police, and other government departments, in a deal worth $25 million USD. Four new models of pistol are to be delivered, including the Glock 17 Gen 4, CZ 2075D RAMI P, CZ-07 Compact, and full-size CZ-09 handguns. The different models of handguns were adopted to meet the requirements of the different agencies in Slovakia. Jane’s reports:

Slovakia has signed a four-year framework agreement worth EUR22.92 million (USD25 million) on 16 December for the delivery of 46,600 semi-automatic pistols for its armed forces, police, customs officers, prison and court guards, and financial crime investigation services. It is the largest rearmament programme in the history of Slovakian security forces.

The four 9 mm semi-automatic handguns ordered by Slovakia on 16 December (from top): the Glock 17 Gen4 ‘intervention pistol’; and three CZ ‘service pistols’: the semi-compact CZ 2075D RAMI P, compact CZ P-07, and standard CZ P-09. (Slovakian Ministry of Internal Affairs)

To meet its various requirements, Slovakia is buying handguns chambered in 9×19 Parabellum, along with accessories, from Czech company Ceska Zbrojovka (CZ) and Austria’s Glock. Beretta and SIG Sauer (represented by local dealer Rapier) also bid for the requirement, but were unsuccessful.

Due to each of the services’ various needs, the tender was split into two parts, with two types of handguns chambered in 9×19 mm sought: 26,641 ‘intervention pistols’ in three variants (11,841 standard; 7,700 compact and 4,100 semi-compact) featuring a manual safety catch; and 20,000 ‘service pistols’ with only internal safety mechanisms.

Notably absent from the new lineup are any handguns from Slovakian gunmaker Grand Power Ltd, who makes the hammer fired K-100 handgun and the striker-fired Q-100 handgun. It’s unknown to the author at this time whether any Grand Power handguns were even trialled against the four handguns chosen in this deal. Whether Grand Power will attempt to contest this new contract remains a matter for speculation, but it seems like the Slovak government is happy to simply buy from neighboring Austria and their sibling nation the Czech Republic.

This deal also marks the latest success for heavyweight polymer wondernine maker Glock, who also won a contract to re-arm the New Zealand Defence Force last month. Despite being the oldest polymer-framed, striker-fired handgun on the market and having undergone few changes since its original design, the Glock still occupie a very attractive intersection between high quality and low price.