The Slovenian Armed Forces have taken over 40 German-made tactical eight-wheeled military trucks and 38 Oshkosh light tactical vehicles from the US in what Defence Minister Marjan Šarec described as the start of a Slovenian battalion battle group.

Slovenia has made a commitment to NATO to establish such a group, but Šarec said the vehicles will also be used for civilian purposes when needed.

Addressing an event at the Edvard Peperko barracks in Ljubljana on 13 December, Šarec said the ministry was also awaiting the delivery of five 11,000-litre water tanks that can be installed on any of the 40 German trucks. These also have an excavator arm.

Slovenia received the 40 8x8 Rheinmetall MAN military vehicles from Germany as part of a chain swap for tanks it had sent to Ukraine.

The four-wheeled Oshkoshs were bought from the US in a state-to-state deal for just over €26 million, excluding VAT. Eighteen of the 38 Oshkosh vehicles will be used in special tasks and 20 for the future battalion.

Željko Kralj, the head of the Logistics Directorate, said the military will take over another 84 Oshkosh vehicles, which, alongside the 8x8 wheelers, make up the main equipment needed to build two battalion tactical groups.

Under existing contracts, the Defence Ministry will receive 129 Oshkosh vehicles, seven of them as donation from the US government.

Major General Robert Glavaš, the chief of the general staff, was happy that after years of "material draught" a brighter future lies ahead.