IDET 2025: latest ACR equipment put on display in Brno

At the IDET defence exhibition the Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) regularly presents new equipment and armament of the Army of the Czech Republic ACR). This year’s show, held in Brno from 28 to 30 May, was no exception, with some examples described below.

The Czech MoD originally planned to present the first CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicle for the 7th Mechanised Brigade. However, the prototype could not be completed in time, so BAE Systems Hägglunds exhibited a CV9035 MkIII within the outdoor exhibition area of the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR). Thus, of the largest recent weapon programmes, only the Spyder air defence system in the form of the MFU SR launcher made its debut. Its operational evaluation is planned to take place this year. Subsequently, it will be introduced into the inventory of the 251st Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion.

The ACR’s 73rd Tank Battalion presented a Leopard 2A4 main battle tank (MBT) and a Büffel armoured recovery vehicle. In 2023 the complete rearmament of the 2nd Tank Company was completed, while the rearmament of the 1st Tank Company and the delivery of additional Leopard 2A4 MBTs continue this year. In total, the battalion now has 20 Leopard 2A4s in service, with the remaining eight from the German donation to be delivered by the end of this year. A contract for the latest Leopard 2A8 should be awarded by the summer of 2025.

In addition, all versions of the Nexter TITUS armoured vehicle were presented. In 2019 the ACR orders The ACR ordered 36 communications vehicles (KOVS), six command and staff vehicles (KOVVŠ) and 20 fire support co-ordination vehicles (MKPPs), the deliveries of which started in the first quarter of 2023. The companies of the Czechoslovak Group subsequently completed up to six vehicles per month to finish deliveries by mid-2024. The TITUS has been introduced primarily into the inventory of the 7th Mechanised Brigade and combat support units such as the 13th Artillery Regiment; 15th Engineer Regiment; 31st Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Regiment; and 53rd Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare Regiment. The Czech MoD is currently in the process of approving the acquisition of an additional 20 TITUS vehicles in command and staff/communication versions (KOVVŠ/M2 and KOV VVŘ variants) along with two machines for driver training.

New equipment of the 601st Special Forces Group was represented by a Can-Am Outlander Max 100XT-P quad bike (of which 28 were ordered in 2023), a Sherco 450 SEF motorcycle (eight ordered in 2023) and an ENOK 4.8 special forces vehicle (five ordered in 2021 and six more in 2024). Moreover, the MoD is currently approving a contract for the purchase of 18 Supacat HMT Extenda 6×6 vehicles.

The Czech Military Police showed the new SOM-5M protection and monitoring system, which is based on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 419 CDI 4×4 with a logistics trailer and was introduced into the inventory in the spring of 2025. The system is designed for surveillance of objects, monitoring of areas of interest and trespasser detection. The SOM-5M was developed by VTÚVM: a subsidiary division of state-owned Vojenský technický ústav. The SOM-5M will replace the obsolete SOM-5 system, which has been in use by the Military Police since 2009. The SOM-5M was developed between 2023-2024 and is interoperable with the SOM-3M and SOM-6 protection and monitoring systems.

The outdoor exhibition area at IDET 2025 included a relatively large number of new logistics and support vehicles, such as CAS 30/9000/540-S3VH and CAS 30/8000/480-S3VH+ firefighting trucks manufactured by Kobit – THZ CZ on the Tatra 815-7 chassis. Altogether 37 vehicles were ordered in 2024 and the first of them were officially handed over in March 2025. The Liebherr LTM 1055-3.2 (one ordered in 2021) and Liebherr LTM 1050-3.1 (six ordered in 2024) represented the ACR’s new generation of mobile cranes. The former has already managed to be deployed during the devastating floods in Central Europe in September 2024.

For Czech logistics vehicles without special military requirements, which are procured in relatively smaller quantities, public tenders are issued where price is the main criterion. As Tatra chassis are among the most expensive, the ACR, which used to operate this platform almost exclusively, is thus beginning to acquire trucks of other brands, such as Scania, Volvo, MAN or Renault. This was also seen at IDET 2025, where a Scania R660 tractor with a Goldhofer MPA 5 (245) A semitrailer (15 ordered between 2022 and 2024) and a Volvo FMX 380 tipper truck with a D316 superstructure by F.X.Meiller (60 ordered in 2024) were on display.

New engineering equipment was represented by the Kramer 5075 wheeled loader. Four examples of these were ordered in 2024 for the maintenance of Czech military training ranges. Also shown was new airfield ground support equipment, such as a Polar GSH-W20 air heater, a Dieci Pegasus Essential 40.18 rotating telescopic handler (two ordered in 2023) and a Dieci Zeus 35.11-GD telescopic handler (four ordered in 2023).