The NATO Days and Czech Air Force Days offer the public an annual opportunity to discover the latest developments in the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic and NATO, as well as the newest technologies and products of the Czech defense industry. This year marks the 25th NATO Days and the 16th Czech Air Force Days, and once again the traditional special partners—Czechoslovak Group (CSG) and the Kopřivnice-based automaker Tatra—will be among the participants. The CSG exhibition will feature Tatra Defence, Excalibur Army, Retia, Eldis, and MSM Group.
Last year, the NATO Days had to be canceled due to severe flooding in Northern Moravia. As a long-standing partner, CSG recognized that canceling the NATO Days in Ostrava and the Czech Air Force Days caused significant economic losses, both for tourism in the Moravian-Silesian Region and especially for the event organizer, the Jagello 2000 association, which has cooperated with CSG since 2011. Therefore, CSG decided to provide full financial support to the organizer to help bridge this difficult period and to ensure that the future of this unique, Europe-wide event—as well as other projects run by Jagello 2000—would not be endangered. Thanks in part to this support, the NATO Days can once again take place this year.
During this year’s NATO Days, Tatra Defence (TD) will showcase its new Pandur 8x8 EVO wheeled infantry fighting vehicle during dynamic demonstrations—certain to be one of the highlights of the program. Production and system integration of the Pandur 8x8 EVO, including the weapon station and certain electronic systems, will be carried out entirely in the Czech Republic at the Tatra Defence plant in Kopřivnice. Another exhibit will be the brand-new TADEAS 6x6 MEV armored vehicle, also designed and produced by Tatra Defence. This special medical evacuation vehicle, built on a Tatra chassis, will be presented to the Czech public for the first time. While primarily intended for military use, the TADEAS can also serve as a specialized vehicle for rescue services, firefighters, and police forces.
At the Mošnov airport, Tatra will display the full portfolio of its vehicles, including various versions of the second and third generation Tatra Force model range, widely used by the Czech Army and other armed forces in Europe and around the world. The Tatra Phoenix range, which forms a key pillar of production for civilian users, will also be on show. Fans of Tatra vehicles can look forward to souvenir stands, and those interested in employment at the country’s oldest car manufacturer can meet with Tatra’s recruitment specialists. Another major CSG exhibit on a Tatra chassis will be the RM-70 Vampire multiple rocket launcher, developed by the Šternberk-based Excalibur Army. This launcher provides fire support for ground forces and features a modern control and targeting system along with a fire control system and ballistic computer.
MSM Group, another exhibitor at the joint CSG stand, includes several producers of modern medium- and large-caliber ammunition. Its ZVS company will present 155 mm NATO-standard artillery shells. Another Slovak member, VOP Nováky, will showcase 155 mm training ammunition as well as mortar shells in 60 mm, 81 mm, and 120 mm calibers. The Spanish company Fábrica de Municiones Granada, also part of MSM Group, will present 105 mm artillery ammunition and 120 mm and 105 mm tank ammunition used by modern NATO artillery and tanks. A new feature will be 120 mm training tank ammunition developed in cooperation with VOP Nováky. Newly included in MSM Group, the Czech company ZVI Vsetín will exhibit new 30×173 mm medium-caliber ammunition designed for infantry fighting vehicles and remote weapon stations.
Retia will exhibit its ReCUBE GBAD mobile command and control container platform for ground-based air defense. This system offers fully integrated real-time management of all sensors and effectors and will be mounted on a Tatra vehicle with a hook loader from partner company Karbox. Eldis Pardubice will present its latest next-generation solutions for comprehensive airport radar systems, including two brand-new radar models: the RL-3000 and PAR-NG. The RL-3000 is a long-range 3D radar using software-defined architecture to track non-cooperative aerial targets, while the PAR-NG represents a new generation of precision approach radars for use at both civil and military airports.
Alongside CSG, the venture capital fund Presto Tech Horizon will also be present at NATO Days. CSG is both an investor and an active partner in this fund, which primarily focuses on companies developing dual-use technologies serving both civilian and security purposes.
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