The Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic has recently announced a public contract for the purchase of ammunition for the combat air force with a total value of over CZK 96 million, which was discussed by the Government today. The necessity to implement this public contract lies in the need to ensure the readiness and combat capability of the Czech Air Force for possible deployment through the acquisition of ammunition.

The subject of the public procurement is the purchase of the following types of ammunition: PUMA BDU 33 CV - 1 200 pcs; PUMA MK 106 MOD 1 PRACT - 1 400 pcs; SMOKE INSERT MK4 MOD3 - 5 760 pcs; PYROPATRONA ARD 863 1A1W - 3 000 pcs; HEAD WTU-5001/B CV 10 - 1 800 pcs; ENGINE RLU 5002A/B (HEPI) - 1 800 pcs.

Picture: The Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic recently announced a public procurement contract for the purchase of ammunition for the Combat Air Force with a total value of over CZK 96 million. (illustration photo) | Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic

The estimated value of the contract is CZK 96 608 264,46 excluding VAT and was determined on the basis of the price data for the required ammunition from the NSPA. The price was determined on the basis of the fixed exchange rate for USD and EUR.

The contract is expected to be concluded by 30 June 2022 and the duration of the contractual relationship is expected to run from 2024 to 2026.

The objective of the contract is to replenish the supply of direct consumption ammunition for training for the next 4 years training period.

Without the implementation of this procurement, the readiness and combat capability of Air Force units would be compromised.

The contract is being procured through the international organisation NSPA, which the Czech Republic has joined by international treaty. Other alternatives outside the NSPA are currently disadvantageous in terms of manufacturers' lead times, lower economics resulting from the small requirement of the AFSF, and higher risks in the event of non-approval of the applicability of the whole on the airborne equipment.

The Czech Republic is a member of a number of partnerships and programmes within the NSPA. Among the most used ones is the Munitions Partnership, in which the Czech Republic has been a member since 2002. In the past, e.g. deception targets have been purchased through the NSPA or the Munitions Partnership, specifically in 2014 and 2015 for a total value of CZK 25,690,649.54 excluding VAT. Deception targets have also been ordered in 2021 for CZK 88,376,729.87 excluding VAT. The first deliveries are expected in early 2023.

In 2020, Mk. 3 Bolid missiles were ordered for a total value of CZK 657 943 800 excluding VAT. 

FX training munitions, jointly purchased by the V4 countries, are currently ordered through the NSPA for a total value of CZK 8 522 008 excluding VAT. Deliveries are expected next year. In total, more than 100 items of ammunition have been procured under the Munitions Partnership Programme, totalling more than CZK 2 billion excluding VAT.