Defence & Space

ICEYE to deliver space-based ISR capability to the Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE has entered into cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Air Force to provide sovereign satellite-based reconnaissance, surveillance and…

2025-06-23 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Mildat to Deliver 20mm Ammunition for Poland’s FA-50 Aircraft

The Polish Armament Agency has published the results of a tender procedure for the supply of a batch of 20×102 mm ammunition…

2025-06-20 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Polish 35 mm SA-35 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with PIT-Radwar

During the recent MSPO trade fair in Kielce, the company PIT-Radwar presented its proposal for a 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun…

2025-06-13 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 13 minutes

Mildat to Deliver 20mm Ammunition for Poland’s FA-50 Aircraft

The Polish Armament Agency has published the results of a tender procedure for the supply of a batch of 20×102 mm ammunition…

2025-06-20 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Poland: Bergepanzer 2 ARVs Set for Overhaul

Poland’s Armed Forces 2nd Regional Logistics Base has launched a tender for the repair and potential F3/F4-level maintenance of Bergepanzer 2 armored…

2025-06-18 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

SKW Cryptographic Security Certificate for Polish Comp@n Radio Set from the WB Group

The WB Group announced that the Comp@n system radio set, developed by its subsidiary Radmor, along with the Cryptographic Document Management…

2025-06-14 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Advancing multi-domain EW operations: Rohde & Schwarz unveils latest innovations at AOC Europe

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems, sensor fusion and signal analysis solutions, designed to meet the evolving…

2025-05-12 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

IFRE 2025: Communication Systems From INVISIO at the Megmar Booth

At the 5th International Fire Protection & Rescue Exhibition KIELCE IFRE-EXPO, Megmar presented the offerings of the Danish company INVISIO.…

2025-06-18 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Saab GlobalEye

At the 55th International Paris Air and Space Show, one of the most noteworthy elements of the static display was…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Poland: Buffer zone on the border with Belarus extended for another 90 days

The Minister of the Interior and Administration has signed a regulation introducing a temporary ban on presence in a designated area within the…

2025-06-11 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Galvion awarded FBI contract for their Hellbender FE helmet

Galvion announces the successful award of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) contract for their Galvion Hellbender Federal Edition (FE) helmet…

2025-06-09 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

ICEYE to deliver space-based ISR capability to the Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE has entered into cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Air Force to provide sovereign satellite-based reconnaissance, surveillance and…

2025-06-23 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Mildat to Deliver 20mm Ammunition for Poland’s FA-50 Aircraft

The Polish Armament Agency has published the results of a tender procedure for the supply of a batch of 20×102 mm ammunition…

2025-06-20 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda to the Singaporean company ST Engineering

One of the stops during the visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda to Singapore was the local company ST Engineering, which…

2025-06-14 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

ICEYE to deliver space-based ISR capability to the Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE has entered into cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Air Force to provide sovereign satellite-based reconnaissance, surveillance and…

2025-06-23 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

ICEYE signs agreement to deliver SAR satellite capabilities to the Portuguese Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE and the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa, FAP) announced the signing of an order for…

2025-06-13 | Redakcja | 4 minutes
Shooting

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

Mactronic M-Fire Guardian – A New Flashlight for Professionals

Mactronic is introducing a new angle flashlight, the M-Fire Guardian. According to the manufacturer, it is the first angle flashlight with red…

2025-06-04 | Michał Ihnatów | 6 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

UF PRO Introduces Waist/Flex Belts to Its Product Line

UF PRO, a Slovenian manufacturer of professional apparel and part of the Mehler Systems group, is adding a new accessory to its lineup…

2025-06-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

POLSECURE: Holsters HPE Poland offer for uniformed services

At the 3rd International Police and Public Security Fair POLSECURE 2024 in Kielce, Holsters HPE Poland presented its offer for…

2024-05-01 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

MSBS GROT BULLPUP conversion now available

Fabryka Broni “Łucznik” Radom is introducing long-awaited conversion kits for the MSBS GROT S16 FB-M1 and S10 FB-M1 semi-automatic rifles,…

2025-06-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IDET 2025: Grand Power Showcases M4M1 Carbines for the Slovak Armed Forces

At the International Defence and Security Technologies Fair IDET 2023 in the Czech Republic, Grand Power — a Slovak firearms manufacturer — showcased…

2025-05-28 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 8 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

Protective Rescuer Vest – BC Arms Archangel

The Archangel Rescuer Vest is the result of a collaboration between Polish companies Currahee and BC Arms. It was created in…

2025-05-16 | Mariusz Rams | 6 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

Czech Republic is looking for successors to the problematic Pandur vehicles

As reported by Czech media, the Czech Ministry of Defense is seeking successors to the Pandur II CZ M1 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicles and is interested in purchasing over a hundred new vehicles.

On Saturday, January 18, 2025, the Czech daily Novinky.cz reported that the Department of Armament and Procurement of the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic had sent requests for proposals to leading European and American manufacturers for new wheeled infantry fighting vehicles to replace the problematic Pandur II CZ M1 8×8.


Photos: Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic

The spokesperson for the Czech Ministry of Defense, Simona Cigánková, informed the newspaper that the Ministry of Defense is conducting an analysis of future needs in the field of wheeled armored vehicles, taking into account the evolving security environment and operational requirements.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, Col. Magdalena Dvořáková, explained that the military seeks a change because battlefield observations in Ukraine show that older armored personnel carriers struggle to withstand FPV drone attacks. “New requirements include, for example, a higher level of autonomous protection systems capable of countering both kinetic and non-kinetic enemy actions, such as assault drones,” said Dvořáková. The requirements also include enhanced ballistic and mine protection levels.

According to the newspaper, among the bidders and platforms that the Prague government is interested in are:

  • The consortium of Tatra Defense Vehicle and Czechoslovak Group with the Pandur EVO 8×8 (although it is manufactured by General Dynamics European Land Systems – editor’s note);
  • The consortium of STV Group and Patria Oyj with the AMV XP;
  • General Dynamics European Land Systems with the Piranha V 8×8;
  • General Dynamics Land Systems with the ICV Stryker 8×8;
  • The consortium of Rheinmetall AG and KNDS Deutschland (as part of ARTEC) with the GTK Boxer 8×8.

The Czech Armed Forces (Armáda České republiky, AČR) first reported issues with the Pandur II CZ M1 8×8 infantry fighting vehicles on October 30, 2019. At that time, parliamentarians were informed that 21 out of 72 combat vehicles equipped with Israeli Rafael Advanced Defense Systems RCWS-30 unmanned turrets were non-operational due to delays in spare parts deliveries. In total, the Czech military also operates 55 specialized variants. The first batch of 107 vehicles was ordered in 2009, followed by an additional 20 command variants in 2017. The initial requirement was estimated at 200 units, but budget constraints prevented a larger procurement.

On September 25, 2020, it was announced that Tatra Defence Vehicle would carry out overhaul inspections of the fleet under a 2.3 billion CZK contract (equivalent to 386 million PLN at the time). The work was completed in 2023. Meanwhile, in 2022, Czechoslovak Group submitted an offer for a comprehensive vehicle modernization program, valued at 136 million CZK (22.957 million PLN) per vehicle. The Ministry of Defense had been interested in pursuing these upgrades and purchasing additional vehicles up until the spring of last year. However, it has now changed its stance.

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