Czech Arms Exports

William Malcolm

Defense Ministry To Sign CZK 8.52 Billion Weapons Deal With Nexter

The Ministry of Defense will buy new artillery pieces for the Czech army from the French company Nexter Systems for 8.52 billion crowns with VAT, the Minister of Defense Lubomír Metnar (for YES) informed the government today. The minister stated this on Twitter. In the Czech Republic, most of the works will be assembled by the Czechoslovak Group (CSG) holding company, which will supply Tatra chassis and armored cabs. 

The contract with the manufacturer should be concluded by the end of September, Petr Sýkora from the press department of the Ministry of Defense told ČTK. The price of the contract is about 40 percent higher than originally assumed, the reason, according to an earlier statement from the Ministry, is, for example, inflation or higher prices of raw materials.

The defense will buy 52 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers from Nexter. In the armament of the Czech army, it will replace DANA cannons, which do not meet NATO requirements for range and caliber, which the Allies use.