Developing capabilities on the ground, in the air and in space. According to the plans of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, the main priority remains the construction of a heavy mechanised brigade and the related purchase of tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicles, 155 mm self-propelled guns, an automated fire control system and the SHORAD anti-aircraft system.

The Army also plans to deploy the MADR radars already acquired in specific operations, deepen the capability to provide support to allied troops on our territory (Host Nation Support), and continue to build the capabilities of the medical battalion and unmanned systems battalion.

Picture: According to the plans of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, the main priority remains the construction of a heavy mechanised brigade and the related purchase of tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicles, self-propelled guns of 155 mm calibre, an automated fire control system and the SHORAD anti-aircraft system. (illustration photo) | Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic

Capability development will also continue in the Cyber Domain and Space Operational Domain.

The Active Reserve will continue to recruit in the coming year

The Active Reserve, the best-prepared reserve for operational deployment, according to the General Staff, will continue to grow robustly next year. Its soldiers can look forward to new equipment and equipment. The Army plans to recruit 1,200 new AR members and 100 fewer conscripted soldiers next year. Currently, about 27,000 professional soldiers and about 3,500 active reservists serve in the Army.

Defence of the state and fulfilment of international obligations

Commanders and staffs will prepare for planning and managing operations to ensure the defence of the state and the fulfilment of international commitments in the coming year. Training of professional soldiers and active reservists will intensify - the Army must reach the required level of training after the covid break. Training will thus focus on practical training.

The new leadership in Mali

In addition to the tasks arising from the Czech Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of next year, the army will once again be in command of the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM). While last year up to 851 soldiers could go abroad under the approved mandate, next year there will be almost 100 more.

The mission of the eFP Forward Presence in the Baltics, which focuses on strengthening collective defence, remains a priority. In 2022, Czech Gripen will go to the same region for the seventh time and the fourth time in the Baltics. For six months, they will guard Lithuanian airspace in a mission called Air Policing. Up to 95 soldiers with five JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets will be deployed there.

In addition to the EUTM, the UN mission will continue in Mali, while in Sinai the Czechs will continue to operate in the MFO with CASA C-295M aircraft. The same numbers of Czech soldiers remain in NATO, EU and UN operations in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Golan and in the EUNAVFOR MED operation in the Mediterranean Sea.

Response forces

The Czech Army’s Task Force NRF 2022-2024 will be allocated to the NATO Response Force, in the STAND-UP phase. The construction and preparation of forces and assets for the NRF for 2023 will take place. The Deployable CIS Module (DCM-B) will be ready for deployment in support of Alliance operations. Czech soldiers will prepare for deployment in the EU V4 Battle Group.

The covid is also expected to be deployed next year

Soldiers will assist with covid until at least June. The mandate allows for up to 900 soldiers to be deployed to assist in hospitals and social facilities burdened by the pandemic. A further 150 soldiers can be deployed in connection with testing. The deployment of soldiers in Active Reserve is also envisaged. Currently, the Army is helping in nearly seventy hospitals, where it has sent over 900 soldiers. Others are helping with tracing, testing or in the Kotva (Military Police) vaccination centre or with the operation of the smart quarantine.