Certification and production of ammunition for the new self-propelled howitzers will be provided by Czech companies, led by STV GROUP a. s. The company will be the system integrator for ammunition with standard and extended range, but will also cooperate with other Czech companies. This will ensure strategically important security of supply for Czech artillerymen.

Picture: 155mm CAESAR 8x8 ShH | Nexter Systems / CC BY-NC-ND

"The production of 155 mm ammunition is a groundbreaking project for the Czech defence industry. It is not just a symbolic crossing of an era of Czech artillery. We are gaining a production capability of a completely different technical level for the Czech companies. I am glad that we have managed to involve other Czech companies in the project, especially EXPLOSIA and the Military Technical Institute. Negotiations with the supplier of howitzers to ensure the safety of ammunition supplies for our soldiers were not easy and I must therefore thank the Ministry of Defence for its maximum support in these negotiations," says the Chairman of the Board of STV GROUP a.s. David Hác.

According to the agreement with the sister company of the CAESAR 8x8 cannon manufacturer, NEXTER Munitions, the compliance of the Czech ammunition will be assessed by the Military Technical Institute s.p. The certification of ammunition for the Czech Artillery will remain in the Czech company and will not depend on the supplier of the weapon, except for the testing of ammunition for the specifics of a particular cannon. This will ensure impartial control over the quality and performance of the ammunition.

STV GROUP a.s. will be a direct manufacturer of standard STV107 projectiles and STV HE ER extended range rounds, which allow hitting targets at a distance of up to 40 km. The state-owned company EXPLOSIA will supply bi-modular propellant cartridges for these missiles. Special munitions will be supplied to the Czech Armed Forces by NEXTER Munitions through STV GROUP a.s.

Picture: 155mm extended range STV HE ER cartridge (on the table in the middle) for the new CAESAR self-propelled howitzers that STV GROUP a.s. will supply to our Army | STV GROUP / CC BY-NC-ND

The transition to standard ammunition for NATO armies also represents an opportunity for the Czech defence industry, with STV GROUP a.s. and other Czech companies involved opening the door to export markets where 155 mm ammunition is in demand. In addition, the physical production of ammunition in the Czech Republic will support the creation of new jobs. Since STV GROUP a.s. is a family-owned company that taxes its profits in the Czech Republic, the purchase of domestic ammunition will also further support the Czech economy.

The contract for the acquisition of 52 new CAESAR self-propelled howitzers from the French manufacturer Nexter Systems was signed at the Ministry of Defence on 30 September 2021. This was during the visit of the French Minister of Defence Florence Parly, who also discussed Czech-French cooperation in the field of defence with her Czech counterpart Lubomir Metnar.

On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, the agreement was signed by Lubor Koudelka, Deputy Minister of Defence for Armaments and Acquisitions, and Olivier Travert, Vice President for Export of Nexter.

According to Defence Minister Lubomir Metnar, the signing marks the completion of another modernisation project, which represents a step forward in building a 21st century army.