Defence & Space

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | 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

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 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

Autonomous and Unmanned Systems by Łukasiewicz – PIAP at the OPEX 2025 Training Ground in Italy

During the HEDI OPEX 2025 experimental campaign at the CEPOLISPE training ground in Italy, the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial…

2025-06-28 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Debut of Foudre – the French HIMARS

As previously announced by Turgis & Gaillard, the 55th International Paris Air and Space Show served as the venue for the…

2025-06-23 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Polish Ministry of National Defence: New Contract for K2 Tanks and Support Vehicles Imminent

In Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, along with Secretary of State at the Ministry…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Bayraktar TB2 and FlyEye Drones to Support Polish Police Manhunt for Killer Near Limanowa

The Bayraktar TB2 drone and FlyEye systems will support the Polish police in the search for 57-year-old Tadeusz Duda, suspected…

2025-06-30 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

Galvion’s European Production Hub in Poland is formally opened by the Ambassador of Canada tothe Republic of Poland

Canadian company Galvion announced that the Canadian Ambassador to Poland, Catherine Godin, officially opened the European Production Hub in Gdańsk.

2025-06-26 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

East Shield and the Baltic Defense Line: Cooperation and Investment in Defense Are the Cornerstone of Europe’s Security

East Shield, the Baltic Defense Line, the integration of available deterrence and defense capabilities, and EU defense funding were the…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Russia Loses World’s Largest Helicopter, Mi-26, in Ukrainian Attack on Crimea

The Security Service of Ukraine reported that during a special operation at the Kirovske military airfield in occupied Crimea, a Pantsir-S1 air…

2025-06-29 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

Finland Ministry of Defense selects ICEYE for space-based intelligence and surveillance capabilities

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE and the Finnish Ministry of Defense have signed a Letter of Intent that enables the Finnish Defense…

2025-06-27 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Axiom Mission 4: The Historic Spaceflight of Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski

June 25, 2025, will go down in history as the day when the second Pole in our history flew into…

2025-06-25 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes
Shooting

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Upgraded Z8i Scope from SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Swarovski Optik, the Austrian optics manufacturer with nearly 80 years of tradition, has unveiled an upgraded version of its Z8i…

2025-07-03 | Mariusz Piwowar | 3 minutes

Upgraded Z8i Scope from SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Swarovski Optik, the Austrian optics manufacturer with nearly 80 years of tradition, has unveiled an upgraded version of its Z8i…

2025-07-03 | Mariusz Piwowar | 3 minutes

Streamlight introduces the SL-SideSaddle

Streamlight, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting tools, announces the SL-SideSaddle series, a new hands-free lighting solution built for outdoor adventure…

2025-07-01 | Redakcja | 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

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

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 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

CZ Introduces the New CZ P-10 C PORTED Model

CZ P-10 C PORTED – a compact pistol with tamed recoil thanks to an integrated compensator.

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 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

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 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

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

Excalibur Army has published its 2023 financial result

  • Excalibur Army has grown into the largest defence industry company in the Czech Republic.
  • In 2023, the company’s total revenues reached CZK 18.7 billion [EUR 779 million], up almost 40 percent year-on-year.
  • Revenues from the sale of goods amounted to CZK 14.9 billion [EUR 621 million], up 35 percent year-on-year. This was mainly the sale of weapons and ammunition.
  • Revenues from the sale of products and services amounted to CZK 3.8 billion [EUR 158 million] and increased by 53 percent year-on-year. This was mainly the sale of military equipment.
  • EBT (profit before tax) reached CZK 4.5 billion [EUR 188 million] and grew by 125 percent year-on-year.
  • The company will pay approximately CZK 869 million [approximately EUR 36 million] in income tax to the Czech Republic, and has also contributed CZK 103.5 million [EUR 4.3 million] to public budgets on social security and health insurance.
  • The vast majority of sales are export orders and a significant part of the profit is reinvested in expanding production and development
  • Most of the sales are made within NATO countries and, of course, in Ukraine, other important markets are countries in Asia and Africa.
  • The company successfully implements a number of development projects of special ground equipment for armed forces and rescuers.
  • In 2023, the development of the DITA howitzer, which is already in mass production, was successfully completed. The final development of the MORANA howitzer continues.

EXCALIBUR ARMY spol. s r.o. (hereinafter EA) earned a record CZK 18,704,927 thousand [EUR 779,145 thousand] in 2023. This is almost 40 percent increase compared to 2022, when it earned CZK 13,506,010 thousand [EUR 549,807 thousand]. It achieved a profit before tax (EBT) of CZK 4,534,611 thousand [EUR 188,887 thousand], which represents a more than twofold increase compared to 2022, when the pre-tax profit was CZK 2,035,998 thousand [EUR 82,882 thousand]. Sales of goods were crucial for the company in 2023, reaching CZK 14,901,391 thousand [EUR 620,710 thousand] compared to CZK 11,027,869 thousand [EUR 448,926 thousand] in 2022. The Company generated these revenues mainly from the sale of weapons and ammunition. Revenues from the sale of own products and services for 2023 amounted to CZK 3,803,536 thousand [EUR 158,434 thousand], while in 2022 they reached CZK 2,478,141 thousand [EUR 100,881 thousand]. The company generated these revenues mainly from the sale of military equipment. Thanks to its successful business, EA is a major contributor to public budgets: In the Czech Republic, it will pay approximately CZK 869 million [approximately EUR 36 million] in income tax for 2023, and another CZK 103.5 million [EUR 4.3 million] was her contribution to the social security and health insurance systems.

Petr Kratochvíl, CEO of EA, commented on the results: “Our company has two pillars of business: trading in military equipment, which we acquire on the world market, and selling our own products and related services. In both pillars, we recorded strong year-on-year growth, which is due not only to the conflict in Ukraine, but also to growing defence investments in NATO countries and elsewhere in the world.” 

EA has finalized several major contracts in 2023. EA delivered to customers Pandur II 8×8 vehicles, DANA M2 howitzers and Viktor light anti-aircraft systems, products that are the result of EA’s own development and design activities within EA and other companies of the CSG Group, to which EA belongs. During 2023, modernized T-72 tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other categories of weapons and ammunition were delivered.

“For security reasons, we cannot disclose details about our orders and customers. It is true that more than two-thirds of our sales were made in NATO countries, other important territories for us are, of course, Ukraine and Indonesia,” says Jiří Doležel, EA’s Sales Director.

Projects and outlook for 2024 

During 2024, EA will continue to supply its own products. A contract has been signed for further deliveries of Viktor systems, AM-70 bridge vehicles, Treva-30 recovery vehicles and DITA 155 mm self-propelled howitzers will be shipped to customers. EA will continue to supply modernized T-72 tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. As far as domestic orders are concerned, EA will be involved in Czech subcontracts for the production of French Caesar howitzers, which the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic has ordered from Nexter Systems in the number of 62 pieces. This project will be implemented until 2026. 

Another important project is the contracted assembly work for the Swedish company BAE Systems, which will supply CV90 armoured vehicles to the Czech Army. EA will perform this contract continuously until 2030. 

“We expect that the currently signed contracts for the supply of products, goods and services will be reflected in the company’s results in 2024 with a further significant increase in sales,” says Sales Director Jiří Doležel. 

Investment and recruitment 

“The increased demand and the volume of signed contracts fully utilize our capacities, which we are trying to further increase in connection with the performance in contracts. We are expanding the company’s production capacity in the existing premises in the production area in Přelouč. The construction of a new assembly hall and administrative facilities is in full swing in the Šternberk complex,” says EA Executive Director Zdeněk Novobilský.

The new hall in Šternberk should be completed in December 2024 and put into operation at the beginning of 2025.  Due to the construction and subsequent commissioning, an increase of up to 200 employees in production and administration is planned. 

EA’s total core employees increased from 524 as of December 31, 2022 to 604 as of December 31, 2023 during 2023.

Research and development 

In 2023, the development of a ballistic protected cabin for the PATRIOT vehicle was underway in order to achieve ballistic and mine protection level 2 and 3 according to the STANAG 4569 NATO standard. The project is supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic.

The final tests completed the development of the new generation TREVA-30 wheeled recovery vehicle. The vehicle is designed for recovery, towing, towing and crane handling of wheeled and tracked vehicles weighing up to 30 tons and can be used by both military and rescue forces. Preparations for the production of 15 of these vehicles for a foreign customer have begun.

In 2022, the development of the 155 mm DITA self-propelled gun howitzer on a modified Tatra chassis was completed. Mainly shooting tests and SW modifications (on-board control system and its connection to the fire control system) took place. Diagnostics of the main howitzer systems have been newly developed and tested. Production and operational documentation is prepared. Serial production of customer-specific vehicles began.

Last year, the development of a new type of wheeled armoured vehicle PATRIOT with a welded self-supporting cabin was also launched. It is a short “pick-up” version with an open rear compartment for various types of superstructures. The first concrete prototypes will be vehicles with 81 and 120 mm mortars and the TRITON firefighting vehicle in a new configuration for firefighters in Germany. 

In 2023, the research and development sub-project of a self-propelled wheeled howitzer with the type designation MORANA with a 155 mm calibre gun with a barrel length of 52 calibers according to NATO standards, which was supported by a subsidy program of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, was successfully completed. The next development phase continues this year with testing and shooting tests. The howitzer is integrated on a newly developed special TATRA Force 8×8 chassis with a ballistic protected cabin. In addition to the main weapon of 155 mm calibre, the weapon superstructure also has an integrated weapon station with a 12.7 mm machine gun. The howitzer has new feeders and ammunition conveyors. The howitzer is operated by three people, and in addition to replenishing ammunition to the conveyors, all preparatory and firing activities take place from the cabin. In the left ballistic protected turret there is an emergency workplace for one crew member, which allows you to conduct fire or complete a firing task in emergency mode or in the event of a failure of part of the howitzer systems. 

The development of the TRCV-30 wheeled rescue vehicle also continued. It is a vehicle designed specifically for rescue and crane handling with wheeled and tracked vehicles weighing up to 30 tons. It can be used for military and civilian applications. Compared to the TREVA 30 vehicle, it has significantly wider recovery capabilities in all directions and is not equipped with a fork. The prototype uses the proven TATRA 8×8 chassis with a new shorter two-door ballistic resistant PUMA cab (protection level 2 according to STANAG 4569), on which a special crane superstructure is integrated. 

History of Excalibur Army 

The company was founded in 1995 and initially focused on the trade in surplus military equipment. Since 2000, it has expanded its activities to include the sale of spare parts for military wheeled and tracked vehicles, the sale of weapons and ammunition and other military equipment. 

In 2005, a plant was opened in Přelouč (on the premises of the former militry repair plant Přelouč), where large investments were made in repairs and reconstruction of the premises in the following two years. Subsequently, the company’s management and part of the administration moved to Přelouč and a repair workshop and paint shop were put into operation. 

The company began to repair, refurbish and modernize main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and artillery systems – rocket launchers and howitzers. At the same time, it also supplied a number of spare parts, including engines. It has gradually established strategic cooperation with leading foreign manufacturers in the field of land-based defence systems and has begun to offer advanced defence systems of its own development and production. 

In 2012, EA leased part of the state-owned company VOP Šternberk and in 2013 it bought the entire Šternberk production plant, with more than 60 years of tradition in the repair and production of military equipment and spare parts, by winning a tender in which it offered the highest price. 

Today, it offers many types of military vehicles, weapon systems and ammunition, for which it provides complete service, including modernization. 

In 2014, EXCALIBUR ARMY became part of the CZECHOSLOVAK GROUP holding. At the beginning of 2016, civilian divisions were excluded from the company into separate entities and EXCALIBUR ARMY has been fully focused on orders related to military equipment since that year.  

The company’s vision is to become a globally successful manufacturer and supplier of special ground equipment for security and rescue services, offering sales, service, reconstructions and modernizations of proven types of equipment, as well as new types of equipment that are the result of its own development.

Press release

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