Specifically, this will involve deliveries of additional tanks, howitzers, small arms, infantry fighting vehicles, air defence capabilities and electronic warfare systems from our defence industries, Deputy Minister Blažkovec elaborated. Kyiv will obtain both modern Czech weaponry and refurbished equipment already in use with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The weaponry and ammunition will be in battle ready conditions and will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming months and in 2024. The aim is to establish a long-term cooperation and support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The first project involves the donation of 15 modernised T-72EA main battle tanks scheduled to be delivered to Ukraine shortly.
“This agreement will greatly benefit the development of the Czech defence industry and the Czech Republic’s security as such. It will help Czech defence and security industries become even more competitive on the global market. At the same time, the projects will have a substantial economic benefit for the Czech Republic, including job opportunities for our citizens“, Czech Deputy Minister of Defence Blažkovec underscored.
For the Czech Republic, this is not the first endeavour under which it delivers weaponry funded by another state. Forty five units (out of 90) of modernised T-72 tanks have been already supplied to Ukraine as part of trilateral project with the United States and the Netherlands. In addition, projects have been underway to supply the MR-2 Viktor air defence systems and passive surveillance systems.
Such industrial projects in support of Ukraine are coordinated by the MoD Intergovernmental Defence Cooperation Agency (AMOS), which is a component of the Czech Ministry of Defence. “Our mission is to provide coordination among all involved stakeholders. We obtain information from Ukraine on currently required equipment, Czech businesses prepare their offers and we present the package to our international partners, who provide funding for the projects,” AMOS Director Aleš Vytečka explained.
According to Jan Jireš, Director General of the Czech Ministry of Defence Policy and Strategy Division, the reason to forge the LoI was the need to ensure a sustained international military support to Ukraine. “We concurred with our partners that continuing supplies of materiel from industrial stocks and from manufacture are of essential importance for the defence capability of Ukraine in the coming months,” he said and added that the joint intention was to harmonise the initiative with urgent capability requirements of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and to identify military equipment that can be delivered with speed.
