@praisethesteph and I visited IDET defence exhibition yesterday.
Here is what I found interesting.
THREAD 1/X
STARKOM. This is new EW system made by Czech defense industry and currently fielded by Czech Army. Its build on Tatra 815-7 chassis with level 2 armoured cabin. 2/x
Some more newly fielded equipment. Like Scania 8x8, PODTEO meteorological reconaissance or new MADR ELM-2084 MMR radar. 3/x
Lot more was there to see. Like POP-3 mobile container Medical unit on Tatra 815-7 6x6, mobile communicaton vehicle build on Tatra Armax. RBS-70NG carrier and recovery Tatra 815-7 8x8 V. All used by Czech armed forces 4/x
One very interesting system, newly fielded by Czech Armed forces, are Czech-made inflatable decoys. Same company is sending decoys to UA. Here STARKOM and Leo2A4 decoys were presented. 5/x
Inside, Czech Armed Forces presented more equipment, such as drones, weaponry and new Titus 6x6, both in signals, and fire coordination version. Beautiful vehicle, Czech-made and equiped with czech multispectral camo net 6/x
Also newly fielded VOBU2018 made by Fénix Protector company was presented 7/x
Now lets go to private, or state companies. We start with CSG. Biggest Czech defence company. Here is their Pandur II with UT-30mk.2 turret. This turret might be used for czech army Pandur II MLU. 8/x
Of course Tatra Phoenix 8x8 and Force cannot be missing. Same goes for Phoenix with Armoured cab 9/x
Also Treva-30, DITA howitzer, Morana howitzer and Patriot II 4x4 MRAP, all made by Czech @excaliburarmycz company were showcased. 10/x
New Tatra Force was Presented, and oh my. What a beauty. First new generation Tatra Force was given to Czech Firefighters. Military version of the cabin will be done by next year. 11/x
Czech STV Group company presented new drones. These seems to be suicide ones. Also M72 which will be likely adopted by Czech armed forces was displayed 12/x
Also Czech military technical institute VTÚ presented new drone. Also its Taros 4x4 armed UGV with RCWS was presented. VTU also showed its new RCWS. 13/x
Czech Company Retia Pardubice presented its new C-UAS system, called ReCas that is made of active (reguard radar) and passive detection system. And hard-kill (laser and soft-kill (drone rifle - ADW) efectors. 14/x
Now lets go to foreign companies. KMW and Nexter displayed Leo2A7+ MBT, which better iteration 2A8 is wanted by Czech Armed Forces (up to 70 will be bought) and Caesar 8x8. Czech Armed Forces bought 62 of Caesar CZ 8x8. First will be delivered by 2024/2025 for testing 15/x
Also this Titus 6x6 mortar version seems good. Same goes for Arquus Sabre 4x4 light assault vehicle, that was customized by Czech VTÚ, for our paratrooper/recon light assault vehicle tender, that is now under way. Czech army wants to buy 150 vehicles in multiple versions. 16/x
Here comes the king. CV-90mk.IV with D-series turret with APS, that was developed specifically for Czech army tender. This one is armed with 35mm cannon. Czech army wants 30mm. Yesterday, deal was finally signed. Czech Army will get 246 vehicles. Great news! 17/x
There was of course lot more. But this was most interesting for me. So this was IDET and lets end it with Czech Firefighting speciala, made by Tatra Trucks and other Czech companies, like EA. This Tatra Force 10x10 cistern is amazing.
Okay. Let me clear the air about Leopards, Leopards 2A8 to be specific, that should be ready for serial production by 2025 and Czechia wants tu buy up to 77, including support versions.
THREAD 1/X
So far we know, that Czechia wants 77 tanks with 48 of them to be MBTs plus around 8 command. So 56 total of combat Leo2A8 (rest of 77 will be said support).
Czech defence minister Černochová was authorized two days ago to start preparing the deal, but talks are in progress 2/x
For about half a year now. It should come as a little surprise, that Czechia wants Leopards. They were our number one new tank candidate for a long time now. Not Abrams, not K2, but Leopard. Leopard2A8 being the most modern version seems like a perfect solution. 3/x
Let me tell you more info about this interesting system. These inflatable decoys made by czech company Inlfatech are made of synthetic silk so they are light and durable. This STARKOM (Czech Army EW system) decoy weighs just 32 kg. What is more interesting is, that they have 1/3
Heat emitors and radar reflectors inside. Meaning it looks like a real vehicle under thermovision or on Radar. According to the company and tests, current drones with most advanced sensors cant tell decoy from real thing on 1 500 metres. They are being fielded by Czech Army 2/3
Inlfatech have been sending its decoys to Ukraine since the start of the war. 3/3
I have to say. Avia B-35/B-135 will always stay in my heart. 🇨🇿
Beatiful aircraft. Work on it started in 1936. First flight of B-35 was on 28th september 1938. Made by Czechoslovak company Avia and designed by Czech engineer Františkem Novotným and his team. 1/5
It had Avia HS 12Ydrs engine with power of 860 HP and were able to speed up to almost 500 km/h. It was to be armed with 1x 20mm canon and 2x 7,92mm MGs. 2/5
First verion, B-35 had fixed landing gear, but supposed serial production version for Czechoslovakia called B-135 was made with retractable one, and also it was planned to equip it with more powerfull Avia 12Y-1000 engine with 1000 HP power. 3/5
Seems like you really liked Vipers in standard CzAF pattern, now lets look at some unusual camo patterns used by Czech Air Force. Both fixed wing and rotary wing. 1/x
Lets start with Gripens. This one (1st and 2nd pic) got this paint scheme back in 2018, as part of celebration of 100 years of CzAF. Second one is using "NATO tiger" camo scheme to present 211st tactical squadron as part of NATO Tiger Association. 2/X
L-159 ALCA. This is really interesting one. Let me present to you L-159 ALCA "Spitfire". I believe mainly Brits (@thinkdefence@nicholadrummond ) will appreciate that. It got this paint as a memorial of Czech pilots in service of RAF during WW2. 3/x
Logistics. It isn´t so "sexy" topic as fighter jets, or tanks, or IFVs, but its absolutely crucial for warfare.
In AČR (Czech Armed Forces), logistic units are part of "Síly bojového zabezpečení" (forces of combat security/sustainment). Lets look at them closely.
THREAD 1/x
To understand Czech logistics. We need to start with units and their equipment, before we can get to details.
Units: First of all. Every combat (mechanized, tank etc.) or combat support (artillery, Air defence, engineers) battalion of AČR, have its own logistic company. 2/x
On top of that. There is 14th logistic regiment which is made of 141st and 143rd logistic battalions and 142nd repair battalion. Next is Center of operations support and battalion of support of deployable forces, which main task is to support allied forces on territory of 🇨🇿 3/x
THREAD. It was fast and you were right. It is STARKOM.
STARKOM is a completely new Electronic Warfare system (EW) of 🇨🇿 Czech Armed Forces. It was developed by VVÚ (Military research institute) Brno and uses EW components made by Czech companies specializing in this industry 1/x
STARKOM is build on reliable Tatra 815-7 FORCE chassis and both workstation and cabin are protected at stanag level 2, both from small arms and blasts (mines, IED, arty). Armored cabin and special workstation is made by Tatra Defence vehicle. Therefore its completely 🇨🇿 2/x
This mobile system is capable of jamming enemy satellite, mobile, aerial and radio communication. It is also capable of GNSS and WiFi jamming, signal and data transfer jamming of unmanned vehicles like UAV (drones) and on top of that it can also jam TS of
guided missiles 3/x