According to ČTK, the total value of exported weapons and other material used for security purposes reached approximately €1.222 billion in 2022.
PRAGUE, September 11. /tass/. The volume of Czech military exports in 2022 reached record levels, with 45% of deliveries carried out to Ukraine. This was reported by the news agency ČTK with reference to the president of the Association of Defense Industry Enterprises of the Republic Jiri Ginek.
"The total value of exported weapons and other material [used for] security reached approximately 30 billion kronor (approximately €1,222 billion) last year. The year-on-year growth is almost twofold," the report says.
At the same time, according to the agency, the volume of weapons production in the republic increased by about 20% in 2022 compared to 2021. Its total cost was about 50 billion crowns (€2.038 billion). "Exports [of weapons and other military material] in 2022 reached the highest figure in history. I think that this will not happen again," the agency quoted Ginek as saying. The sharp jump in demand for weapons occurred, according to him, in connection with Russia's actions in Ukraine and the concerns of other countries about the possible expansion of the military conflict.
Ukraine, as follows from the message, has become the main recipient of military material produced in the republic. 45% of the total volume of its exports was sent to this country. In 70% of cases, it was about ammunition, primarily large caliber. There was also, in particular, heavy ground military equipment.
At the same time, as Ginek said, the republic largely exported military material produced before 2022. This concerned mainly ammunition. They accounted for more than half of national exports in 2022. In previous years, this figure was about 15%.
Hynek noted an increase in demand for Czech weapons and military material in the countries of Africa. He predicts that this year the total amount of national arms exports will amount to 20 billion crowns (approximately €816 million).