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@praisethesteph

Jan 19

🇨🇿#Czechia: The army is looking for a replacement for 107 Pandur II 8x8 CZ wheeled IFVs, which it purchased in 2009 for CZK 14.4 billion (~$640 million).

Originally, the Ministry of Defence wanted to upgrade 107 of 127 Pandur II 8x8 CZs and buy dozens of new ones for the new mechanised battalion. However, it now looks like the current Pandurs will be taken out of service and replaced with new wheeled IFVs. The Ministry has already approached several manufacturers.

THREAD 🧵 1/5

The first is a Czech company Tatra Defence Vehicle (TDV), from the Czechoslovak Group (CSG) consortium, which holds the licence for the production of the Pandur II 8x8 CZ and is offering the army a new version of the Pandur II 8x8 EVO.

It was TDV that two years ago offered the Ministry the modernisation of older Pandur IIs for 136 million CZK apiece and the delivery of 68 new Pandur II EVOs for 200 million CZK apiece.

Another TDV proposal was to buy old Pandur IIs and supply the Army with complete new Pandury II EVOs, which would reduce the unit price and give the MoD additional funds from the sold-off older Pandur IIs.

In addition, CSG is finalising the transfer of the complete production of a foreign turret for the Pandur II EVO in the Czech Republic (probably the UT30MK2 from Israel's Elbit Systems).

With the Army operating 20 new liaison Pandur IIs as of 2020 and no plans to replace them, the Pandur II EVO is the biggest candidate for the "new" wheeled IFV.

2/5

Another big candidate is the Finnish Patria in cooperation with the Czech STV Group - together they offer the Patria AMV XP.

Patria promises a large involvement of domestic industry and is reportedly already in talks with several Czech companies.

Slovakia chose Patria AMV XP in 2022, beating the Pandur II 8x8 from Czech CSG. Slovakia has so far ordered 76 Patria AMV XPs worth €447 million.

3/5

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@praisethesteph

Nov 26, 2024

🇨🇿#Czechia: News from the Czech defence industry, specifically STV Group (@stv_group).

🧵[THREAD, 1/4]

1) Ammunition production (I already touched on this topic in a recent thread about the Czech artillery regiment, link below at the end of the thread).

STV Group will complete a new artillery ammunition production line by the end of this year, which will increase production capacity by 100,000 artillery shells per year. At least one more production line will be built next year, so the production of artillery ammunition should reach at least 300,000 shells per year. Together with other large-calibre ammunition, including mortar and tank ammunition, the annual production capacity should thus be 500,000.

Also next year, STV Group wants to produce 500 million pieces of small-caliber ammunition annually.

But back to large-calibre ammunition. STV Group is upgrading the equipment for casting explosives into mortar shell bodies. Several Czech companies are now also involved in the production of shell bodies to reduce dependence on imports from foreign countries. STV Group is also planning to produce its own smokeless powder for large-calibre ammunition, with a target of 1,500 tonnes per year. A project is also underway to produce initiators, known as igniters, for ammunition.

🧵2/4

2) New acquisitions and portfolio expansion with new products.

In the second half of this year, STV Group bought the Slovak company MATADOR Industries - a company engaged in automation, production of parts for the Zuzana-2 SpGH and machinery and equipment for the rubber industry. As STV Group, or rather the parent STV Invest, is not a pure defence industry company, MATADOR Industries fits into its portfolio.

However, the reason for the acquisition is probably quite different. The STV Group plans to start the complete development and production of AFVs and heavy weapons at MATADOR Industries, including towed howitzers. Production should start next year and annual production should be several dozen vehicles per year.

STV Group has also launched new unspecified projects - for example for the Israeli company Elta Systems or for the Swedish company BAE Systems AB.

🧵3/4

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@praisethesteph

Sep 10, 2024

🇨🇿 BVP-1MA & BVP-1MB - Czech modernization of BVP-1 from the turn of the millennium

🧵[THREAD, 1/7]

In the 1990s, the state enterprise VOP-026 tried to modernize the old BVP-1 (licensed Czechoslovakian-made BMP-1). This modernized BVP-1 was to form the backbone of the mechanized units of the Czech Army.

The first and only prototype was presented in May 1999 in Brno at IDET ‘99. The aim of the modernisation was to improve and increase the combat value of the vehicle at the lowest possible cost - firepower, ballistic and mine protection, handling and reliability were to be improved.

2/7

Specifically, the bottom of the hull was strengthened to increase mine resistance and the possibility of installing additional armour. Automatic fire extinguisher and explosion prevention equipment from the German company Kidde-Deugra was installed, the fuel tanks received anti-detonation fillings from the Greek company KAPA SA, a laser warning system, and laser filters for sights, independent heating, thermal insulation and anti-slip surface was installed. Suspension dampers were added and torsion bars replaced. The vehicle was modified for operation on public roads, i.e. the exterior lighting and turn signals were replaced, rear-view mirrors were added, brakes were refurbished and the tracks received rubber pads.

3/7

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@praisethesteph

Apr 23, 2024

🇨🇿T-72M4CZ - the sad story of one of the best T-72 modernization projects

[THREAD]

Czechoslovakia has been the operator of several hundred T-72 tanks since the 1980s and the manufacturer since 1981, with efforts to modernize these tanks dating back to the second half of the 1980s, when Czechoslovakia wanted to equip its existing fleet of T-72s with the 1A40-1 fire control system (FCS). The Soviet Union, the original manufacturer of the T-72 tanks, proposed to supply Czechoslovakia with new T-72S and then T-72S1 tanks, but after the fall of communism and the change of political orientation in Czechoslovakia the purchase was abandoned.

After the fall of communism, the main impuls in Czechoslovakia for upgrading the T-72M and T-72M1 tanks came from the 1991 Gulf War, when Western coalition tanks (especially the M1 Abrams and Challenger 1) clearly outclassed the Soviet designed tanks in Iraq's arsenal (interestingly, Iraq also operated several dozen T-72 tanks manufactured in Czechoslovakia).

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@praisethesteph

Jan 5, 2024

Czech Heavy Weaponry In Ukraine

On February 24, 2022, Russian troops launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion of Ukraine. The Czech Republic and Czech private companies reacted immediately and immediately began sending much-needed weaponry to the Ukrainian defenders to withstand the initial onslaught. This 🧵thread will introduce you to every known 🇨🇿#Czech equipment delivered to 🇺🇦#Ukraine: ⬇️

Mi-24V/35

The Mil Mi-24V/35 Hind-E is a twin-engine attack helicopter designed for direct support of ground units, it has the unique ability to transport up to 8 people or 1500kg of material in the cargo area. It is armed with a 12.7mm four-barreled 9A624 rotary machine gun and can carry up to eight 9M114 ATGMs, 55mm S-5 or 80mm S-8 rockets, UPK-23-250 cannon containers with a 23mm GSh-23L twin-barreled cannon, GUV9A universal containers with the possibility of installing a 30mm automatic 9-A-800 grenade launcher or one 12.7mm four-barreled 9-A-624 machine gun and two 7.62mm four-barreled 9-A-622 machine guns, and more...

The Czech Republic received 17 Mi-24V/35 attack helicopters, manufactured between 2003 and 2005, as compensation for Russia's debt to the Czech Republic. The helicopters received subsequent modifications compared to the classic Mi-24V: TV3-117VMA engines, EVU engine exhaust gas cooling system, cabin and exterior light modifications for use of night vision system including custom night vision scopes, GPS satellite navigation system (Garmin-155 XL type), backup artificial horizon (type LUN 1241 of Czech manufacture), VARTA batteries, civil identification system transponder (IFF), which allows flights over the territory of the Czech Republic without restrictions, new elements for signaling and recording of flight parameters , altimeter calibrated in feet. Later modernization (~2017) included stabilized platform with FLIR night vision optoelectronic system, multi-function displays including moving map system, upgraded communication and navigation equipment, incorporation of an friend/foe aircraft identification system (IFF), planning and combat support system.

Photos from the stopover for refuelling in the east of the Czech Republic, during the flight to Poland and then to Ukraine, mid-May 2022. 📸Photos by @BuschModelar

Four Mi-24V/35 helicopters were donated to Ukraine in May 2022, with 2 apparently serving as a spare parts source and two participating in combat missions (No.3362 and No.3370), further helicopters were promised in July 2023.

By December 2023, all remaining Mi-24V/35 of the Czech Air Force were grounded and apparently almost all will be sent to Ukraine in early 2024.

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@praisethesteph

Dec 4, 2023

Czech weapons in Ukraine

On February 24, 2022, Russian troops launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion of Ukraine. The Czech Republic and Czech private companies reacted immediately and immediately began sending much-needed weapons and ammunition to the Ukrainian defenders to withstand the initial onslaught.

This 🧵thread will introduce you to every known 🇨🇿#Czech-made weapon delivered to 🇺🇦#Ukraine ⬇️:

Samopal vz.58

SA vz.58 is an assault rifle in caliber 7.62x39mm, manufactured by Česká Zbrojovka Uherský Brod. It exists in two basic versions - P, with a fixed stock, also known as Pádlo "Paddle", and V, with a folding stock, also known as Kosa "Scythe". The government decided to deliver to Ukraine on February 26, 2022, the third day of the invasion, in the amount of 5,000 units. They were seen especially in the first months of the war, among foreign volunteers, mobilized civilians and the Territorial Defense Forces.

CZ Bren 2

The Bren 2 is an assault rifle manufactured by Česká Zbrojovka Uherský Brod. They went to Ukraine directly from the production plant and were originally intended for the Czech Army, and part of them were apparently ČZUB stocks. In Ukraine, they were seen in both versions - 5.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x39mm. It is found mainly in the equipment of the GUR MO, the International Legion and foreign units within the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

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