Many domestic and foreign representatives of the defence industry presented themselves at the NATO Days in Ostrava. The Swedish manufacturer BAE Systems was also present, which in May this year won an order for the production of 246 CV90 tracked infantry fighting vehicles for the Czech Army. In addition to the Swedish company, a number of Czech companies will also participate in the production of IFVs for our army. The existing Czech partner companies (Excalibur Army, VR Group, Meopta, Ray Service, STV GROUP, VOP CZ) have been joined by 5 more Czech companies (Pramacom, URC, LASER CENTRUM CZ, ACE-TECH and Agados), which will cooperate with BAE Systems (not only) on vehicles for the Czech Armed Forces.

Video: BAE Systems expands portfolio of cooperating Czech companies not only on CV90 BVP production for the Czech Armed Forces / CZ DEFENCE

It was at the NATO Days that the contracts between these Czech suppliers and BAE Systems Hägglunds were concluded. Pramacom will supply the communications equipment for the Czech CV90. URC has signed a contract to supply drone jammers for the entire CV90 fleet and IED jammers. LASER CENTRUM CZ, Agados and ACE-TECH will be responsible for the build-to-print mechanical parts. These companies specialise in precision steel cutting, bending, machining and welding.

The signing ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, Jana Černochová. BAE Systems Hägglunds is thus fulfilling its commitment to actively involve Czech industry in the Czech IFV programme. In addition, representatives of the 7th Mechanised Brigade of the Czech Army were invited as observers to the next meeting of the CV90 Users Club. This will be followed by the official invitation of the Army of the Czech Republic to join this prestigious group. This is an important moment for the Czech Army, when representatives of the Czech Army will share information, be part of the innovation process on the vehicles, but also work together on the strategic and tactical optimal use of CV90 vehicles.

BAE Systems Hägglunds representatives also met with representatives of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence during NATO Days 2023 to discuss possible future cooperation.

"We are fulfilling our commitment to our Czech industrial partners to actively engage them in the Czech programme. On 17 September 2023 we announced 5 new contracts. Already in May 2023 we announced the signing of contracts with 5 strategic partners. And in the coming weeks, we will announce additional partners in our Czech supply chain for the Czech program," said Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, President of BAE Systems Hägglunds, who further stated that Czech companies in the supply chain of partners have an open door to other BAE Systems programs, including a potentially very interesting cooperation on a possible Ukrainian program that is currently under discussion.

In connection with the above, we asked for an interview with Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, President of BAE Systems Hägglunds, and Marek Špok, Director of the state enterprise VOP CZ, which you can watch in the video at the beginning of this article.