TSAMTO, May 26. Based on the results of the analysis of recent conflicts, the command of the Czech Armed Forces decided to abandon the acquisition of medium-sized tactical unmanned aerial vehicles in favor of smaller systems.
As the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic reported on May 22, instead of three medium-sized tactical UAVs, more than 200 small-sized UAVs will be purchased, ranging from small quadrocopters to 20-kilogram long-duration flight vehicles. The planned purchase of medium tactical UAVs will be made later.
The decision was made after the Czech Armed Forces experts assessed the combat effectiveness of certain categories of unmanned aerial vehicles in combat and prepared recommendations for further actions taking into account their characteristics.
According to the head of the intelligence department of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, Brigadier General Roman Hitya, information about conflicts is constantly evaluated. At the same time, the task of intelligence is to track the capabilities of potential opponents. The conflict in Ukraine is important not only because of its scale, but also based on the range of weapons used by the parties, the assessment of which influenced the reassessment of priorities in the field of UAVs.
The Czech Armed Forces already have experience in using small-sized UAVs. The companies of some formations were supplied with so-called company reconnaissance kits, which include an unmanned aerial vehicle "Wasp AE". In addition, the Vazka A quadrocopters, Raven and Puma UAVs are operated by separate units of the Czech Armed Forces. The 53rd Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare Regiment adopted the Scan Eagle UAV. As planned, the number of UAVs in the staff of the units will be increased. In addition, the number of their types will be expanded.
The advantage of small-sized UAVs is the possibility of their use directly by combat units. Thus, the main advantages of UAVs of the "micro" and "mini" categories include the ability to provide the commander with information about the situation in the combat zone at the moment when he needs it. As stated, the use of UAV data is not much more complicated than using binoculars.
Due to the change in the priorities of UAV procurement, the SV intends to initially equip three combat formations – the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade, the 7th Mechanized Brigade and the 43rd Airborne Regiment. Small-sized UAVs will also be used by intelligence units and units of other branches of the armed forces. The goal is to maximize the combat capabilities of the brigade combat groups of the Czech Army.
Thus, the funds saved on the purchase of medium tactical UAVs will be used to equip tactical units. The cost of these drones will be lower than three medium tactical UAVs. At the same time, the command of the Czech Armed Forces realizes that micro- and mini-UAVs cannot replace medium tactical drones and vice versa.
As reported by TSAMTO, in August 2022, the Czech Ministry of Defense announced that it would begin negotiations with the Government of Israel on the acquisition of three Heron-1 unmanned aerial vehicles by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in accordance with the "Concept of Capacity Building of the Czech Armed Forces", which defines UAVs as key assets for conducting air reconnaissance and other tasks of direct combat support and protection of units. The advantages of Israeli UAVs were named compliance with the requirements of the country's armed Forces, low cost and shortest delivery time. The contract was supposed to be signed by the end of 2022.
Nevertheless, the assessment of the use of various UAVs during the conflict in Ukraine allowed us to identify both the advantages and disadvantages of the unmanned systems used, to re-evaluate a number of requirements for the purchased devices and to determine priority areas for equipping troops.
