Czech Defence News of the Week (19-25 May 2018)

The Czech Defence Journal is going to offer you an essential weekly summary of the Czech news in the domains of defence and security. Karla Šlechtová, the Czech Defense Minister, has ordered the military police to investigate the purchase of new multimission radars - There are two main candidates to assume the post of Minister of Defence in the newly forming government - General Dynamics and BAE Systems are preparing their presentions for the Czech Ground Forces Day (Bahna) which takes place on 23rd June.

• Karla Šlechtová (ANO), the Czech Defense Minister, has ordered the military police to investigate the purchase of new multimission radars from the Israeli Elta Systems (ELM-2084).

The minister said she stopped the tender for purchase due to "extremely serious findings"; which also means Karla Šlechtová has entered into an open conflict with her predecessor (2014-2017) and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Martin Stropnický, who is at the same time vice-leader of the ANO, Prime Minister's political party. The Israeli radars were selekted under Stropnický in December 2016. The acquisition is estimated to be worth about CZK 3.6 billion (USD 163.5 million). The National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB) did not approve the documenation on purchase of these radars earlier this year. Without certification by the Cyber Agency the radars cannot be connected with the NATO system.

The suspension of the tender is perceived by the military community to be incomprehensible. The tender has been prepared for 10 years and was well ahead of completion. The service life left of the radars currently operated by the Czech Army is estimated not to exceed two years, and the need of new equipment is urgent.

See also: Šlechtová: The Cyber Agency did not approve connection of radars from Israel

• There are two main candidates to assume the post of Minister of Defence in the newly forming government headed by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, and to replace Karla Šlechtová who faces several scandals, and the media speculate she might join the diplomatic corps and become ambassador to Japan. The candidates are Lubomír Metnar, the current Interior Minister, and Jan Beroun, who currently holds the post of Director of Military Intelligence. They both have served with the Czech Police in the past.

There are senators of the ČSSD (socialists) party and several party’s regional authorities who reject the plan of forming a coalition government with ANO though. Therefore a great uncertainty reigns over the new government, which also directly depends on the result of the ČSSD’s internal referendum.

• General Dynamics and BAE Systems are preparing their presentions for the Czech Ground Forces Day (Bahna) which takes place on 23rd June. Both companies are going to present their Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) ASCOD 2 and CV9030CZ.

See also: New Infantry Fighting Vehicles for the Czech Army