The second day of the Eurosatory 2026 trade show reaffirmed the strong position of the Czech defense industry on the international stage. In addition to the signing of an agreement with the Turkish company FNSS, the trade show featured the premiere of the Trident layered air defense system, as well as new products and technologies from EVPÚ, Colt CZ Group, and Lumnio. The presentation of the MARS 4x4 armored vehicle with the RBS 70 NG from SVOS, designed for the Czech Army, also attracted attention. The Paris exhibition center is a venue where Czech companies showcase not only individual products but, above all, their ability to create integrated solutions, forge strategic partnerships, and respond to changes on the modern battlefield.

One of the highlights of the second day of the trade fair was the signing of a contract between FNSS and its Czech partners. This agreement represents another important step in deepening Czech-Turkish industrial cooperation and confirms that Czech companies are respected partners in the implementation of large-scale international projects. The collaboration with FNSS builds on a trend evident throughout the Paris exhibition—the ability to combine domestic know-how with foreign technologies to create competitive solutions for global markets.

However, it was primarily the unveiling of the new Trident multi-layered air defense system that captured the attention of the professional community. This CSG project represents one of the most ambitious examples of Czech systems integration in recent years. Trident is a modular short-, medium-, and long-range air defense system designed to protect military formations, strategic facilities, and large territorial areas against a wide range of air threats. The system is capable of engaging aircraft, helicopters, guided missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other targets on the modern battlefield.

Excalibur International is the prime integrator, while Czech companies supply key subsystems. Retia provides the radars and the command and control system; Tatra Trucks supplies the Force chassis platforms; and Tatra Defence manufactures the armored cabins and launchers. The Turkish company Roketsan has become a strategic partner, supplying anti-aircraft guided missiles. Trident exemplifies how the Czech industry is shifting from the production of individual components to the supply of complete systems capable of competing with established global players. In its basic configuration, the system has a range of up to 100 kilometers and supports various guidance modes. It can also incorporate electronic warfare capabilities or specialized anti-drone solutions.

SVOS also presented an interesting example of the Czech approach to modern air defense. The company’s sales director, Štěpán Černý, presented the MARS 4x4 armored vehicle equipped with the RBS 70 NG system in Paris. It is precisely this configuration that the Czech Army—specifically, the 25th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment—will acquire, with a total of 24 units to be delivered between 2028 and 2030. According to Černý, this is the natural successor to the portable RBS 70 NG systems, offering significantly greater mobility for air defense units. From the outset, the vehicle was designed to make the most of the capabilities of the Swedish weapon system.

Thanks to special design modifications, the vehicle eliminates vibrations and shaking that could negatively affect firing accuracy. “It’s a solution that has been thought through down to the last detail,” said Černý, noting that its development involved long-term collaboration with Saab and the future user, the Czech Army. The vehicle is designed for a four-person crew and carries a supply of additional rounds as well as equipment for the crew. According to company representatives, the ability to detect a target, take up a firing position, and open fire takes only a few minutes. Furthermore, the individual vehicles are designed for networked operations, allowing six vehicles to cooperate with a single radar station within a joint command and control system.

According to SVOS, the Czech Army contract is a significant reference that is already opening doors to further negotiations with foreign partners. Černý also noted that the company’s portfolio extends beyond armored vehicles. A significant portion of production consists of multilayer armored glass and additional protective components used not only in the military sector but also in the protection of civilian vehicles, the transport of valuables, and the security of government facilities. According to Štěpán Černý, customers include manufacturers of armored vehicles from the Czech Republic and abroad, as well as the armed forces of NATO member states and specialized security companies.

EVPÚ Defence also had a significant presence at the event, bringing its remotely controlled weapon stations to Paris. The Gladius MAX station, designed for the integration of 30 x 113-millimeter caliber weapons, attracted the most attention. The manufacturer presented it as an effective means of neutralizing unmanned aerial vehicles and protecting units against the increasingly frequent drone threats. Alongside it, the smallest addition to the Gladius family was also unveiled—a lightweight remote-controlled station designed primarily for light armored vehicles. Its advantages include compact dimensions and low weight, which allow for integration in spaces where there is no room for more robust systems. EVPÚ thus demonstrated its ability to offer solutions across the entire spectrum of platforms.

The Colt CZ Group’s exhibit also drew significant attention from visitors. This Czech manufacturer of handguns has long been one of the best-known domestic brands in the defense industry, and its presence at the trade show underscores the company’s strong position in the international market.

The interest shown by industry experts and foreign delegations demonstrates that the combination of a long tradition in firearms manufacturing, modern production technologies, and the ability to respond to the needs of professional users represents a significant competitive advantage for the Colt CZ Group.

Information, data processing, situational awareness, and the ability to integrate individual sensors into a functional whole are playing an increasingly important role on the modern battlefield. It is precisely in these areas that decisive technological superiority is emerging today. The Czech company Pocket Virtuality is well aware of this and has developed the Lumnio electronic platform, designed for the service and maintenance of vehicles and other equipment using digitized manuals, remote support, and augmented reality.

At this year’s Eurosatory trade show, we spoke with Jiří Hynek, president of the Czech Defense and Security Industry Association (AOBP), about the state of the Czech defense industry. He confirmed the strength of the Czech defense ecosystem as a whole. “We have good products; we have something to offer. Not just the ability to sell, but also to be a partner for other countries,” Hynek said. At the same time, he emphasized the need to focus on the technologies of the future and not merely prepare for a repeat of past conflicts. According to him, the Czech defense industry has the capability to respond to the needs of the modern battlefield.

However, the challenge remains to convince customers to invest in a timely manner in technologies that will determine the outcome of future conflicts. He was equally forthright in highlighting the issue of European self-sufficiency. Dependence on imports of strategic raw materials poses a risk that Europe often fails to recognize in times of peace, but which can have far-reaching consequences in a crisis. According to him, the defense industry is not made up solely of visible products—such as armored vehicles or ammunition. Software solutions, electronic warfare, monitoring systems, and information processing technologies play an equally important role. It is precisely these often-invisible capabilities that will determine success on the future battlefield.