Czech Defence News of the Week (9th – 16th August 2019)

Caption: L-159 ALCA

Ministry of Defence unilaterally withdrew from the contract for the delivery of four PERUN combat vehicles. - The 12th joint exercise of the Czech and Lithuanian Air Forces took place from the 3rd – 10th August. - A purchase contract for delivery of 71 heavy and medium trucks by the TATRA TRUCKS a.s. signed. - The SHORAD system acquisition removed from this year's schedule due to budgetary savings.

• Ministry od Defence spokesman Jan Pejšek confirmed on 20^th August that the MoD unilaterally withdrew from the contract for the delivery of four PERUN combat vehicles, worth more than CZK 94 million, on 9^th August. The decision is based the results of army trials of the vehicle meant for the 601^st SFG. In its press release, SVOS, the designer and producer of the vehicles, subsequently challenged the trials and negotiations with representatives of the MoD. According to the ministry the vehicle failed in 85% of the evaluation tests.

See also: Perun 4x4 Special Operation Vehicle for the 601st SFG

• The 12^th joint exercise of the Czech and Lithuanian Air Forces took place from the 3^rd – 10^th August. Four L-159 ALCA light attack jets from the 212^th Tactical Squadron were deployed again at the base in Šiauliai. Although the L-159s are designed primarily to support ground troops, they can also perform tasks such as air policing. "Most of our flights in the Czech Republic are close air support, while the exercise in Lithuania is focused mainly on counteracting air targets, moreover in foreign areas, which is a challenge for our pilots," Major Jambor, Deputy Commander of the 212^th Tactical Squadron said.

See also: Aero Vodochody – producer of famous trainers (founded 1919)

• On Thursday 15^th August, Filip Říha, Deputy Minister of Defence and head of the Armaments and Acquisitions Section, signed a purchase contract for delivery of off-road heavy and medium trucks with the TATRA TRUCKS a.s. representatives. A total of 71 vehicles, with which the Czech army has excellent long-term experience, will be delivered to units and facilities of the Army of the Czech Republic: 37 T-815 trucks and 34 T-810 trucks will be acquired by the Czech army between 2020 and 2021. Soldiers can eventually receive another thirty T-815 trucks between 2022 and 2024. The Ministry of Defence will pay CZK 557 million for 71 trucks.

See also: Tatra – trucks and innovative chassis platforms for military vehicles

• According to the actual negotiations within the Government the Czech defence budget for 2020, instead of CZK 74.28 billion, will probably be 2 billion shorter. The MoD is likely to proceed to the austerity step outlined by Filip Říha, Deputy Minister of Defence, during the last meeting of the Defence Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament: the removal of the SHORAD system acquisition from this year's schedule.

See also: Czech Army’s Modernization Projects: SHORAD/MSAM Air Defence Systems