The Czech defense industry companies from the CSG Group presented themselves at the Future Forces Forum 2024 in Prague

The joint CSG Group stand became a focal point of interest for numerous prominent figures, including political leaders, defense technology experts, and members of the armed forces. On the first day of the Future Forces Forum, the President of the Czech Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Petr Pavel, visited the CSG exhibit, showing particular interest in the TITUS armored vehicle and the latest generation of Tatra Force military vehicles. The Tatra Force vehicle also caught the attention of Defense Minister Jana Černochová, who visited the CSG stand, as this vehicle model is set to become part of the Czech Armed Forces' equipment in the future. CSG's exhibit also drew delegations from NATO countries, other allied nations, and partners from Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

At the Future Forces Forum, Tatra Export signed a contract with the state enterprise VOP CZ to supply nearly thirty Tatra 8x8 chassis for workshop vehicles that VOP CZ will deliver to the Czech Army as part of the new infantry fighting vehicle project. Representatives from Excalibur Army and Tatra Defence Vehicle, both part of the CSG Defence division, also met with officials from BAE Systems Hägglunds, with whom they recently signed cooperation agreements for the production and supply of components and assemblies for CV90 and BvS10 vehicles. Additionally, Karbox received the Innovation Award 2024 for its exhibit, the EWA. EWA is a groundbreaking device for both civilian and military use, capable of efficiently extracting drinking water directly from atmospheric air, even in extremely low humidity conditions. This project is the result of collaboration between Karbox and the University Centre for Energy Efficient Buildings (UCEEB), part of the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU).

At the Future Forces Forum, Tatra presented its portfolio of military vehicles, particularly highlighting the third-generation Tatra Force military logistics truck with a 6x6 chassis. This model will be delivered in the coming years to the Czech and Slovak armed forces based on signed framework agreements. "We will be supplying hundreds of these vehicles, with some being second-generation Force models and others from the third generation. Both contracts span multiple years, and Tatra is fully prepared for them. However, as the overall volume of Tatra orders grows, we are also working to expand our production capacity to meet the rising demand for our vehicles. Our goal is to reach an annual production level of 2,500 vehicles within three years, with plans to expand production facilities in the northern Moravia region," explained Vladimír Sokolovský, Sales Director of Tatra Export.

The Kopřivnice-based company Tatra Defence Vehicle (TDV) showcased its armored vehicle TITUS 6x6 at the Letňany exhibition grounds, which, along with the Pandur II 8x8, serves as a cornerstone of the company’s development and production. This summer, TDV completed its order for 62 TITUS vehicles for the Czech Army in three versions. Currently, its designers and engineers are also preparing a new version of the Pandur vehicle. "We are working on a significantly upgraded and modernized variant, which we call the Pandur II 8x8 EVO. We are developing this based on foreign interest in the Pandur 8x8 platform and in response to the Czech Army’s previous indication of intent to acquire more wheeled armored vehicles and modernize its existing Pandur fleet. We aim to unveil the new model by mid-next year," said Robert Vent, TDV’s Sales Director. Another notable innovation was a military ambulance on the new Toyota Land Cruiser Series 70 chassis, developed in collaboration between TDV and Dajbych 4X4.

The standout and largest exhibit at this year’s Future Forces Forum was the Morana self-propelled howitzer, produced by the Šternberk-based company Excalibur Army. "This is a modern artillery system of a new concept on a Tatra 8x8 chassis, featuring a 155mm gun with a 52-caliber barrel housed in an armored rotating turret. We are currently conducting intensive tests and preparing to build another unit. Alongside this project, we are also producing our proven systems for customers, such as the Dita howitzers, which the Dutch government has once again ordered for Ukraine," said Jiří Doležel, Excalibur Army's Sales Director. In a world premiere, the Šternberk company also presented an observation and patrol system named Hector, mounted on a Toyota Land Cruiser Series 70 chassis, as well as the armored Patriot 4x4 vehicle with high ballistic and mine resistance, which is used by Czech firefighters and supplied, for example, to the Polish army.

The Pardubice-based company Retia showcased its multi-purpose 3D radar, ReGuard, designed for detecting and simultaneously tracking ground targets and slow, low-flying objects with a small radar cross-section. It is suitable for use in short-range air defense systems or anti-drone systems. Alongside the ReGuard radar, Retia also exhibited the lightweight and portable ReTwis 5+ radar, which can detect and track live people and animals behind walls or other non-metallic obstacles.

Another exhibitor at the joint CSG Group stand was MSM Group, which includes several manufacturers of modern medium- and large-caliber ammunition. The Slovak company ZVS Holding presented 155 mm NATO-standard artillery ammunition, while VOP Nováky showcased 155 mm training ammunition as well as 120 mm mortar rounds. Fábrica de Municiones de Granada displayed various types of 120 mm NATO tank ammunition and 60 mm mortar rounds. "In recent weeks, we ceremonially opened new production facilities at ZVS Holding in Snina, eastern Slovakia, and we are planning additional facilities in the town of Strážske. With this, we aim to strengthen our market position, but above all, to meet the high demand for large-caliber ammunition. We also seek to support the strategic objectives of NATO and the EU regarding defense capabilities and self-sufficiency in ammunition supplies," explained Jakub Fedor, MSM Group’s Sales Manager.

The Přelouč-based company Karbox and Tatra Defence Systems (TDS) brought to Letňany a Marrel hook loader equipped with a new type of transport platform mounted on a Tatra Force 8x8 chassis, along with a wide range of vehicle camouflage solutions from Czech Camouflage Systems. Another highlight was the EWA exhibit, which received the previously mentioned Innovation Award 2024. Czechoslovak Export also presented its services and projects at the stand, showcasing its role as an integrator of complex projects for CSG Group companies and as a commercial representative in various global regions. Czechoslovak Export focuses primarily on large international projects, delivering turnkey solutions, and ensuring logistics and financing for projects in both the defense and civil industries.

Since July of this year, the CSG Group has been the general partner of the Future Forces Forum. This general partnership between the Future Forces Forum and the global industrial-technology group CSG strengthens the forum’s position and prestige, while also supporting the activities of CSG companies in the production and development of security technologies and military equipment. “Thanks to our partnership, the Future Forces Forum platform enables us to introduce our technologically advanced products and the breakthroughs we’ve achieved in adopting pioneering technologies within our fields, not only to industry professionals but also to the general public. At the same time, we aim to demonstrate our companies’ ability to respond to dynamic technological development and to translate the latest military insights into products that meet both the current and future needs of our domestic and international customers,” explained Bohuslav Přikryl, Vice President for Research, Development, and Innovation at CSG. “We also intend to use the Future Forces Forum as a venue to discuss opportunities for further product development, expanding industrial cooperation, and ultimately to present our vision for the future.”