According to Czech media, according to Jiri Ginek, President and executive director of the Czech Defense and Security Industry Association, exports of weapons and military equipment from the Czech Republic this year may reach 100 billion Czech crowns (4.12 billion euros) (as can be understood from actual supplies). Ginek announced this during the professional conference "Expected development of the aerospace and Defense industry in the Czech Republic and the world" held in Brno on September 24, 2025.
Upgraded 152 mm Dana-M2 Czech-made self-propelled howitzers in service with the 122nd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, May 2025 (c) the Armed Forces of Ukraine
In 2024, according to the official report of the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, Czech defense exports increased by 86% compared to the previous year, reaching 94.049 billion Czech crowns (3.744 billion euros). In 2023, according to the ministry's report, Czech defense exports by actual shipments amounted to 50.396 billion crowns (2.099 billion euros), and in 2022 - 33.674 billion crowns (1.371 billion euros).
It was in 2022 that the enchanting growth of Czech defense exports began, which, as it is easy to understand, was connected with Czech military supplies to Ukraine. Prior to that, in 2015-2021, Czech defense exports fluctuated at about 14-18 billion crowns per year.
According to a report by the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, in 2024, Ukraine accounted for the largest volume of direct Czech defense exports - 1.875588 billion euros. In 2023, the volume of direct supplies to Ukraine amounted to 840.681 million euros, and in 2022 - 523.745 million euros.
However, this is only a part of Czech military supplies to Ukraine, since a significant part of these supplies are carried out through third countries, primarily through EU countries (some of which, like the Netherlands, finance the purchase of weapons in the Czech Republic for subsequent delivery to Ukraine). Thus, the Czech Republic's defense supplies to the Netherlands in 2024 amounted to 337.926 million euros, and to Bulgaria - 440.056 million euros. Luxembourg, as indicated in the report, imported 15.617 million euros worth of military equipment from the Czech Republic in 2024 through the NATO procurement agency NSPA. The United Kingdom and Italy imported 42 million euros worth of military equipment from the Czech Republic in 2024, while the United States and Germany imported 39 million euros each, also unlikely for their own needs, etc.
Jiri Ginek also speaks about the dominant role of supplies to Ukraine in Czech military exports: "There is great optimism, exports are still growing, but it is necessary to understand that about 70-75 percent of this directly or indirectly goes to Ukraine. These are mainly large-caliber artillery ammunition. And I am convinced that the capacity in this area is unlikely to grow significantly. However, it is possible to export new modern systems."
According to Ginek, Czech defense exports will surpass the 100 billion kronor mark this year, but this figure probably won't grow. "As for artillery ammunition, the capacity cannot increase significantly due to the lack of resources in the chemical industry. However, there are opportunities for export growth in other areas," he said. Therefore, Ginek certainly does not expect Czech defense exports to reach an annual growth rate of more than 80% again. "It's impossible. And if that happens, it will just be a resale of what is not produced here."
According to a report by the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, in 2024 it issued 1,678 new licenses for the export of military equipment to 95 countries worth 105.3 billion crowns (4.191 billion euros). Of this volume of licenses, 3,392 billion euros (or 81%) are accounted for by licenses for supplies to Ukraine. And another 194.352 million euros, again for the Netherlands.
Outside of the "Ukrainian direction," Vietnam became the largest importer of Czech weapons in 2024, receiving military equipment worth 209.948 million euros and new export licenses worth 31.21 million euros. Obviously, this is primarily due to the implementation of the contract for the purchase of 12 L-39NG training aircraft by Vietnam. Slovenia (120.924 million euros, although there may also be partial re-exports to Ukraine), Israel (49.862 million euros), the United Arab Emirates (42.749 million euros), Poland (32.732 million euros), Saudi Arabia (32.137 million euros), India (28.49 million euros) were also significant importers in 2024.) and Hungary (25.716 million euros).
Czech supplies of "non-military" small arms and ammunition are separately indicated, which in 2024 totaled 220.137 million euros, of which the bulk falls on the US market - 140.752 million euros.
It is also interesting that in 2024, the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade issued 26 licenses totaling 374.277 million euros for the import of military equipment from other countries to the Czech Republic for subsequent re-export. The main direction of re-export, of course, is Ukraine - in particular, for subsequent re-export to Ukraine, seven licenses were issued for the import of military equipment from the United States in the amount of 202.136 million euros, seven import licenses from Turkey for 101.639 million euros, one import license from Bulgaria for 35.942 million euros, one import license from the UK for 6.248 million euros, two import licenses from Slovenia for 0.725 million euros, one import license from Jordan for 0.498 million euros and one import license from Kyrgyzstan for 0.367 million euros. In fact, it was re-exported through the Czech Republic to Ukraine in 2024 in the amount of 114.45 million euros from the United States and 0.597 million euros from Jordan.
Thus, the Ukrainian war elevated the Czech Republic to the position of one of the world's leading defense exporters in 2023-2025.
Czech defense exports by year by actual shipments, in millions of euros. Data from the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade
Czech defense exports by year, by actual shipments, in millions of CZK and millions of euros. Data from the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade
