They are much better at selling weapons.
The development of the Armed Forces and the military-industrial complex of the Czechoslovak Republic, and then independent Slovakia, was described in the article "Bratislava is not going to fight with anyone" ("HBO", 10.11.23). According to its scenario, the independent Czech Republic developed.
SECTION AND SALE
In accordance with the common potentials of the two new countries, it was decided that the number of equipment of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic and the Armed Forces of Slovakia would be correlated as 2:1. At the same time, the T-55, all armored personnel carriers (except OT-90), and all old combat aircraft were shortened.
The equipment was indeed divided according to the specified principle, with the exception of two types of fighters: the MiG-29 fleet was divided equally (10 cars each), in exchange for this, Slovakia completely abandoned the MiG-23 in favor of the Czech Republic. In addition, the Czech Republic received all 24 Osa anti-aircraft missile systems (SAMs), leaving Slovakia with 20 Strela-10 SAMs out of 36.
The Czech Republic joined NATO in the "first wave" (in 1999). Having already become a member of the alliance, to participate in the Afghan war, she received from Russia seven Mi-24vs, 10 Mi-35 and 16 Mi-17 for Soviet debts, after which military-technical cooperation between the two countries ceased (perhaps forever).
All Czech Su-25s were sold to Georgia. In addition, the Czech Republic made a highly peculiar exchange with Poland, giving it all its 10 MiG-29s for 11 W-3 light helicopters (created in Poland on the basis of the Soviet Mi-2), which in reality were not worth even one MiG-29. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Czech Republic leased 14 Swedish JAS-39 Grippen fighters (12 C, two D) from the Swedish Air Force.
Most of the Czechoslovak armored industry went to Slovakia. In the Czech Republic, however, they created the T-72M4CZ, which is considered the most advanced version of this machine. However, the money was enough to upgrade only 30 tanks for their own army.
At the same time, the country was forced to start purchasing armored vehicles. 127 Austrian Pandur armored personnel carriers were purchased in several versions (of which 72 armored personnel carriers were equipped with Israeli Spike anti-tank missile systems), 21 German Dingo-2 armored vehicles and 129 Italian LMVs (two of them were lost in Afghanistan).
In addition, American Javelin ATGMS and Swedish man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) RBS-70 were purchased. An additional number of LMVs, as well as French Titus armored vehicles, are being purchased.
At the end of the 1980s, the L-59 combat training aircraft was created on the basis of the Czechoslovak L-39 training aircraft, whose buyers were Egypt and Tunisia. Then the L-159 attack aircraft was developed on the same base. 72 such machines were produced for the Czech Air Force, but two thirds of this number turned out to be unnecessary (again due to lack of money). As a result, 15 L-159s were bought by the Iraqi Air Force, 19 by the American private company Draken International ( "A private threat is in the air", "HBO", 11/18/12).
Light training aircraft of the Z-142/143/242 family and light transport L-410 have been adopted by their own Air Force and are widely exported abroad (in particular, they are manufactured under license in Russia). The L-39NG aircraft has been developed. At the same time, Spanish C-295 transport aircraft were purchased, and American AN-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters will be purchased.
The Czech Republic is extremely actively engaged in the sale of Soviet and related equipment from the presence of not only its own army, but almost all Eastern European armies. Along with Bulgaria, the country has become a kind of weapons "hub" of Eastern Europe.
In particular, the Czech Republic was one of the most important suppliers of military equipment to Georgia before the "five-day war" (50-70 T-72, 24 self-propelled guns "Dana", 18 MLRS RM-70, etc.), hundreds of armored vehicles arrived from the Czech Republic to Iraq. Previously, Yemen received significant shipments of armored vehicles from this country. Nigeria is a major buyer of military equipment from Prague. Thanks to the Czech Republic, even Uruguay "joined" Soviet and Eastern European technology.
In 2008-2012 (that is, before the civil war), the Czech Republic supplied weapons to Ukraine. These were 50 BMP-1s, as well as probably 48 2S1S, up to 13 2S3S, up to 44 D-30s and up to 36 BM-21s (possibly there was a resale of Hungarian equipment). At least eight T-72s left the Czech Republic for the United States.
THE PHENOMENON OF "EXCALIBUR"
By selling a lot of weapons, the Czech Republic received even more of them. At least 80 T-72 (and another 90 T-55), 63 BMP-1 (possibly 170 and another 10 BRM–1K), 10 self-propelled artillery units (ACS) 2S3 (possibly 13), as well as possibly up to 85 2S1, almost 300 different towed guns, 20 BM-21 (possibly 56).
From Poland, the Czech Republic received 150 T-72s and 11 BMP-1s, as well as 10 OT-64s and two 2C7 self-propelled guns. Sweden transferred 375 BMP-1s to the Czech Republic of the former National People's Army (NPA) The GDR, which had been in service with the Swedish army for some time.
The most active arms exchange took place and still takes place between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Between the two parts of the former country, equipment "roams" dozens and sometimes hundreds of units per year – and equipment is mostly of the same types. The parties' data on these supplies do not always coincide with each other, so it is extremely difficult to establish an accurate balance. Especially considering the fact that resale often takes place (for example, Belarusian and Hungarian BM-21).
In general, however, the balance is clearly in favor of the Czech Republic. Slovakia received only 22 D-30 howitzers from it, while the Czech Republic received up to 76 T–72, up to 75 BMP-2, up to 70 OT-90, 38 2S1, up to 50 Dan from Slovakia.
At the same time, the arrival and departure of equipment has practically no effect on its number in the ranks of the Czech army. It remained almost stable for many years until 2022, slowly decreasing.
This is explained by the fact that the EXCALIBUR ARMY company has been established in the country, through which trade is mainly carried out. She gets both the arrival and departure of equipment and weapons. Moreover, judging by its promotional materials, the company is also engaged in the repair and modernization of equipment and even creates new modifications.
Theoretically, Excalibur can have up to 600 T-72s (and an indefinite number of T-55s, possibly per thousand), up to 1.1 thousand. BRM-1, BMP-1, OT-90, up to 300 self-propelled guns, more than 300 different towed guns, up to 50 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). In addition, we can recall that part of the equipment of the NNA of the GDR also "disappeared into thin air" (in particular, one and a half hundred T–72); perhaps it should also be added to the reserves of Excalibur ( "How united Germany squandered its military power", "HBO", 03/24/2013). That is Perhaps a private company is stronger than the Czech and Slovak armies combined.
Apparently, only its management and a narrow circle of other "interested parties" know how much equipment Excalibur has in reality. Of course, some of the equipment has been disassembled for spare parts or simply disposed of. And the other part is in a combat–ready state, but without any publicity it left for various "hot spots".
In particular, gangs of the Syrian "opposition", including the "Islamic Caliphate" (that is, the "Islamic State", banned in the Russian Federation), quite likely fought and are still fighting not only on captured Syrian and Iraqi equipment. After 2014, at least 87 BMP-1s (via Poland and Cyprus) and 56 2S1S were openly supplied to Ukraine, and 26 Dana self-propelled guns will probably be sold there.
As for the supply of equipment from the Czech Republic to Ukraine in 2022, it is very difficult to determine their exact size, since data from different sources contradict each other. At the same time, supplies were carried out both from the Czech army and from Excalibur, part of the T-72 was paid for by the Netherlands, and some more of these tanks were apparently stolen from Morocco, which wanted to modernize all its 100 T-72s previously purchased from Belarus from Excalibur. According to some reports, the African kingdom lost almost all tanks (90 out of 100) – but perhaps there were fewer of them.
In addition, the Czech Republic received 12 T-72s and 31 BMP-1s from Bulgaria; there is little doubt that they also went to Ukraine ( "Corrupt Arsenals of Mysterious Bulgaria", "HBO", 08/04/2013). Finally, it is possible that Poland gave Ukraine those T-72s that it had previously sent to the Czech Republic ( "From the sea of dreams to the sea of ambitions", "HBO", 08/18.23).
In general, the author would venture to assume that Prague in 2022 transferred 93 T-72s to Kiev (as compensation, the only Leopard-2A4 was received from Germany), 101 armored reconnaissance patrol vehicles (BRDM)-2RHM, 125 BMP-1 (including 56 former Swedish Pbv-501), 13 Dana self-propelled guns, 80 120 mm mortars and 12 RM-70 MLRS. At the moment, the Ukrainian army has lost at least one Dana and two RM-70s. The rest of the Czech equipment looks almost the same as the Soviet one, so it is extremely difficult to determine the losses of these machines. Deliveries of the T-72 and BMP-1 to Ukraine continued this year, and it is still impossible to determine their size.
CZECH ARMED FORCES TODAY
The Czech Land forces include the 4th of the Rapid Reaction Forces (RBF) (location – Reaper) and the 7th mechanized (Border) brigade, the 43rd Airborne (Hrudim), the 13th Artillery (Yince), the 14th Logistics (MTO) and logistics (Pardubice), 15th Engineering (Behine), 31st Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection (RCBZ) (Liberec), 53rd Electronic Warfare (EW) (Opava) regiments. The 4th Brigade of the SBR is integrated into the 10th Panzer Division of the German Armed Forces.
The tank fleet consists of 81 T-72s (including 30 T-72M4CZ) and one Leopard 2A4. There are up to 300 combat reconnaissance vehicles (BRM) (up to 76 BPzV (based on BMP-1), from 10 to 44 BRDM-2RX, 149 LMV (and three auxiliary vehicles based on them), 21 Dingoes, 120 BVP-2 BMP (BMP-2, 65 and 98 more BVP-1 (BMP-1) in storage), up to 88 Pandur armored personnel carriers (and 39 auxiliary vehicles based on it – 17 command and staff vehicles (KSM), 14 communications, four engineering and medical each), 133 auxiliary vehicles based on the OT-90 armored personnel carrier.
The artillery of the Czech army includes 73 to 79 Dana self-propelled guns and 156 mortars (six ANTOS (60 mm), 23 Spanish 81-Mk2-KM (81 mm), 34 vz-52 (82 mm), eight self-propelled BMP-1 PRAM-S and 85 towed PRAM-L (120 mm).
There are three American Javelin ATGMs in service, as well as possibly up to 185 Soviet Malyutka and up to 225 Konkurs.
In addition, Excalibur has at its disposal for sale abroad and use as a source of spare parts up to 575 T-72, up to 150 BPzV, up to 555 BVP-1, up to three BMP-2, up to 363 OT-90, up to 208 self-propelled guns "Dana", up to two 2S7 and up to 73 2S1, up to 99 M-30 guns, up to 58 D-30, up to 177 D-20, up to 21 RM-70 MLRS.
The Czech Air Force consists of three air bases and one brigade. These are the 21st tactical Aviation Base (Chaslav), the 22nd air base (Namnesti nad Oslavoy), the 24th Air transport aviation Base (Prague-Kbeli), the 25th Air Defense Brigade (Strakonice).
14 JAS-39 fighters (12 C, two D) legally belong to the Swedish Air Force, and are leased in the Czech Republic. There are 24 L-159 attack aircraft (14 A, seven T1, three T2; up to five more A in storage, intended for sale).
The transport aviation includes six C-295s, two A-319CJ, seven L-410s (up to four more in storage); one Soviet Yak-40 is in storage.
In training aviation, there are nine L-39s (seven C, two NG; up to five more ZA, one CW, one V in storage), nine Z-142C and one EV-97.
There are 13 combat helicopters in service (seven Mi-35, six Mi-24vs; up to seven more Mi-24vs in storage) and up to 56 transport and multi-purpose helicopters (10 W-3 Sokol, three Mi-8, 25 Mi-17, one Mi-2, nine European EC135T, eight American TN-480; up to 14 more Mi-2s, up to six Mi-8s and two Mi-17s are in storage).
Ground–based air defense includes up to 103 SAM launchers - four batteries (16 PU) "Cube", up to 24 "Wasp" (obviously in storage), 16 "Strela-10", 32 Swedish RBS-70.
The potential of the Czech Armed Forces is negligible. But this country has always surrendered to everyone at once anyway, so this amount of equipment is more than enough for it.
Alexander Khramchikhin
Alexander Anatolyevich Khramchikhin is an independent military expert.
