Czech Defence News of the Week (5 October – 12 October 2018)

Author: www.aero.cz|Caption: L-39NG

The final phase of the ‘Touches of Statehood’ exhibition was completed on October 5th by the attendance of President of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman - Lead by the Deputy Minister of Defence Alena Netolická a Czech delegation of the Ministry of Defence and of the Czechoslovak legion community visited the war graves of the Czechoslovak legionaries in Volga Region, Ural, Russia - Servers used for cybernetic espionage by Hezbollah identified and disabled by the Security Intelligence Service and its partners - The suspected perpetrators of the Novichok attack on Russian double agent Sergei Skripal reportedly visited the Czech Republic in 2014 - Industry Day was held by the Ministry of Defence with the major topic: the acquisition of a Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System - On Friday 12th October 2018, at 11:50, the first L-39NG pre-series aircraft rolled out from the hangar at AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE

• The final phase of the ‘Touches of Statehood’ exhibition was completed on October 5th by the attendance of President of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman who officiated the opening at Prague Castle Riding School. The exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Czechoslovakia on 28th October 1918 ranks among one of the country’s major events and celebrates both the birth of independent Czechoslovakia and the joint peaceful and ongoing coexistence of Czechs and Slovaks since the foundation of the sovereign Czech and Slovak Republics in 1993.

Read more: President Milos Zeman opens ‘Touches of Statehood’ exhibition

See also: The Czech military history and museums

• Lead by the Deputy Minister of Defence Alena Netolická a Czech delegation of the Ministry of Defence and of the Czechoslovak legion community visited the war graves of the Czechoslovak legionaries in Volga Region, Ural, Russia, between 5th and 10th October. The visit took place within the commemoration of the centenary of the Czechoslovak independence. The question created controversies in Russia, as the legionaries who later opposed themselves against the Bolsheviks were partially blamed for the outbreak of the Russian Civil War (1918-1919).

• The Security Intelligence Service (BIS) issued a press release on Monday in which it says it cooperated with foreign partners in identifying, analysing and disabling servers in the Czech Republic and the wider world, which Hezbollah was using for cybernetic espionage.

Read more: Czech counterintelligence helps uncover Hezbollah hacking scheme

• The suspected perpetrators of the Novichok attack on Russian double agent Sergei Skripal reportedly visited the Czech Republic in 2014, at the time when Skripal himself was in the country, allegedly helping the Czech counter-intelligence service uncover Russian spies. Radiožurnal, Czech Radio’s flagship news channel, broke the story on Wednesday, citing Czech intelligence sources.

Read more: Skripal suspects believed to have followed him in Czechia long before attempted poisoning

• On 10th October an Industry Day was held by the Ministry of Defence. The major aim was the market research concerning the acquisition of a Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System, to inform potential suppliers and to find out about the possibilities to engage the Czech defence and security industry within the project. The debate was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the Defence and Security Industry Association of the Czech Republic (DSIA), and Czech and foreign companies.

See also: Czech Army’s Modernization Projects: Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System

• On Friday 12th October 2018, at 11:50, the first L-39NG pre-series aircraft rolled out from the hangar at AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE, the leading Czech aerospace company. Aero is now going to prepare the aircraft for its maiden flight planned before the end of this year. The L-39NG aircraft is a modern and effective trainer designed as a unified, comprehensive training system for modern air forces. The L-39NG is based on the aerodynamic concept of the current L-39, but utilizes the latest technologies and equipment. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Minister of Defence Lubomír Metnar were present to the ceremony.

Read more: The new Czech jet aircraft L-39NG rolled out from the hangar

See also:

• The L-159 Light Attack Jet to serve with the USAF?
• Aero Vodochody is selling military aircraft again
• Aero and IAI present: F/A-259 Striker light attack jet