At the end of September, Leoš Janáček Airport in Ostrava hosted the 25th anniversary edition of NATO Days in Ostrava and the 16th Czech Air Force Days. This traditional event, whose motto is "Our security cannot be taken for granted, and without security there can be no prosperity," once again confirmed its status as the largest public exhibition of armed and security forces in Central Europe.

Video: NATO Days 2025: The largest security exhibition in Central Europe / CZ DEFENCE

The Saturday opening ceremony was attended by top constitutional officials, representatives of the army, and regional leaders. The opening speech was given by Josef Bělica, Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region and member of the Defense Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, who recalled that last year's event was canceled due to devastating floods. “Last September was very difficult for us, and I am glad to have the opportunity to once again thank all components of the integrated rescue system and the Czech Army for their help and excellent work,” Bělica emphasized, adding that last year's floods demonstrated the importance of security and preparedness for the state.

The governor's words were echoed by Czech President Petr Pavel. "It is an honor and a pleasure to meet again after a year's break at an event that has become not only an important social occasion, but also something of a celebration for us. We are reminded of the importance of our NATO membership and who our true allies are. What is happening today in Poland, Estonia, and for the fourth year in Ukraine concerns us all. If we do not stand together, it will happen to us too,“ said the president, adding that the slogan ”Together we are stronger" is more meaningful today than ever before.

Cohesion and preparedness were also mentioned in his speech by the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, Army General Karel Řehka. “Thanks to our membership in NATO, we are experiencing a historically unprecedented level of security and prosperity. It is good to remember this and to demonstrate our ability to cooperate and our cohesion—not only to our allies, but also to our potential adversaries. The army is here for everyone, and every soldier is prepared to risk his life to defend his country.”

The press conference held by Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Defense Minister Jana Černochová in front of an F-35 aircraft at the exhibition of this year's NATO Days partner country, Italy, was in a similar vein. "I am very pleased that it was our government that initiated the largest modernization of the Czech army in modern history. And that you can see the results of this modernization here with your own eyes,“ said the Prime Minister. At the same time, he drew attention to the deteriorating security situation in Europe. ”Russian drones are flying in Romania and Poland, two hundred kilometers from our borders. Yesterday, we witnessed another extraordinary escalation and provocation by the Russian Federation – the violation of Estonia's airspace. Our priority is to ensure the safety of our citizens and to be prepared for any potential threats," Fiala emphasized. In response to these threats, the government has established a Coordination Group for Air Defense of the State under the State Security Council. Its task is to monitor technological developments, propose measures, including legislative ones, and coordinate the activities of ministries, the Czech Army, and the police. “This is another step towards protecting the safety of our citizens as best we can,” added the prime minister. Fiala also recalled the Czech Republic's commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defense, with a gradual increase to 3% in 2030 and 3.5% in 2035.

In her speech, Minister of Defense Jana Černochová emphasized the importance of cooperation with Italy, the partner country of NATO Days 2025. “We are standing in front of an F-35A. It is the same type of aircraft that we have decided to purchase for our army in a quantity of 24. Twelve of them will be manufactured directly in Italy. I would like to thank our Italian friends for allowing us to see this aircraft up close,” said Černochová, who also mentioned other interesting features of this year's event – the Slovak F-16 was presented for the first time, and the KC-390 Embraer Millennium transport aircraft, which will soon be serving in our army and can also be used to fight large fires, was also on display. “We are purchasing technology that will serve not only the army but also the integrated rescue system. This is proof that we are thinking about defense as well as helping the civilian sector,” emphasized Černochová.

The minister subsequently added to CZ DEFENCE that projects related to aviation and air defense are particularly important in the modernization of the Czech Army. "It was definitely the purchase of the aircraft behind me – the F-35. It is definitely the purchase of the transport aircraft, which visitors to NATO Days can also see, the KC-390. These are definitely things that relate to our air defense. We can see the SPYDER here, MARS vehicles on a Czech chassis, which, together with the Swedish Saab, will form one of the layers of our air defense," said the minister.

She also considers heavy ground equipment to be important. "These are definitely the CV90 infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 2A8 tanks, which can also be seen here," added Černochová.

The minister also highlighted the intensive involvement of the Czech defense industry in individual modernization projects of the Czech Army: "I can certainly mention the stands of Czech companies such as Česká Zbrojovka and CSG. Yesterday, we opened a new production hall in Šternberk, where Excalibur Army is located and where another production line for heavy equipment is being launched. This is extremely important in terms of our economic interests, but also in terms of self-sufficiency and independence." According to Černochová, self-sufficiency in defense is also key in light of the experience of the pandemic: "If there is one thing the whole world is calling for, it is for industry to be as domestic as possible. So that we don't end up like we did with COVID, when we were looking for respirators and were dependent on supplies from abroad. We have learned our lesson, which is why we are trying to support and encourage our defense industry. Ninety-six percent of all contracts we have concluded at the Ministry of Defense have been with the Czech defense industry, which I consider a huge success," Jana Černochová added for CZ DEFENCE.

A total of 16 countries participated in this year's event, sending both air and ground equipment to northern Moravia. Over 70 aircraft and helicopters were presented in static and dynamic demonstrations. The dynamic demonstration of the UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper helicopters, which are part of our army's arsenal, attracted a lot of attention. Visitors could also see new air defense equipment – the SPYDER system and MADR radar, which, together with other equipment, illustrated the ongoing modernization of the armed forces.

The dominant part of the program was the air show. In addition to solo performances by the Czech JAS-39C Gripen and L-159 Alca, the top acrobatic groups received the most enthusiastic response. The British Red Arrows, Turkish Stars, and Croatian Krila Oluje offered visitors a unique experience and demonstrated not only flight precision but also a high degree of coordination and professionalism. An emotional moment was the dynamic demonstration of the W-3A Sokol helicopter in the role of search and rescue service, which symbolically ended the service of this type in the Czech Air Force.

Visitors had the opportunity to learn about the technology and training of units from the United States, Germany, Poland, France, Slovakia, and Austria. The presence of allied armies emphasized interoperability within NATO and demonstrated readiness to defend the common space.

As already mentioned, Italy was the partner country for this year's NATO Days, sending not only selected military aircraft to Ostrava—such as the F-35 Lightning II, the rare twin-engine Panavia Tornado fighter jet, the multi-role Eurofighter Typhoon, and the legendary C-130J Super Hercules turboprop transport aircraft.

The Italian Army's presentation also included ground equipment and a presentation of units specializing in airspace protection and cyber defense.

Italy's participation was complemented by industrial presentations from companies such as Leonardo, which showcased modern helicopter and radar technologies. The partnership with Italy underscored the long-standing cooperation between the two countries within NATO and the EU and contributed to strengthening bilateral relations in the field of defense and security.

NATO Days is also a meeting place for commanders and pilots of air forces across allied armies. As Major General Petr Čepelka, Commander of the Czech Air Force, told CZ DEFENCE, meetings with foreign colleagues and visible progress in the modernization of the Czech Air Force and air defense are very important: "I had the opportunity to talk to some army representatives yesterday at the gala evening, and we will definitely talk again tonight. We are discussing cooperation and next steps. We are also talking to all current and future F-35 users about sharing experiences and equipment loans. The F-35 user group is working very intensively, and I can see that the entire project is making significant progress. I am convinced that the decision to purchase the F-35 was the right one," emphasized Major General Čepelka, adding: "We all know that we must strengthen the protection of our airspace. Air defense has been neglected for thirty years, and it is not possible to catch up in just a few years. We have acquired F-35 aircraft as the pillar of air defense, SPYDER systems, new mobile radars, and RBS 70 NG platforms. We must continue to focus on development."

The Commander of the Czech Air Force also praised the establishment of the Coordination Group for Protection against Drones at the State Security Council. "It is good that it has been established. Our experts will get involved and it will give us clear guidance on how to strengthen protection not only against drones, but also against missiles, ballistic missiles, and aircraft. These threats are clearly stated in our strategic documents and we will respond to them," said Major General Čepelka. In conclusion, General Čepelka assessed the event itself: "It's amazing. There are tens of thousands of visitors here, maybe even a hundred thousand people. We have beautiful weather, a positive atmosphere, and we are talking about modernization and our display teams. There is a relaxed atmosphere, and I am very happy about that."

In addition to the Air Force, the Czech Army's ground forces, police, firefighters, customs administration, and prison service were also traditionally represented. Visitors were able to see modern combat vehicles, engineering equipment, and demonstrations by special forces. Rescue topics were also given a lot of space, from medical care to the coordination of the integrated rescue system.

An important part of the event was the presentation of the Czech defense and security industry. Traditional exhibitors, such as Czechoslovak Group (CSG), AERO Vodochody, LOM PRAHA, Retia, and Česká zbrojovka, presented their latest products and technologies for domestic and foreign customers. These exhibitions were important evidence of the domestic industry's ability to participate in the modernization of the Czech Army and at the same time compete on international markets.

NATO Days traditionally relies on strong support from key partners, dominated by major companies in the Czech defense and industrial sectors. Special attention was paid this year to the Czechoslovak Group holding company, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The group, which today brings together a number of key companies operating in the field of land equipment, ammunition, aviation, and radar systems, used the Ostrava event to present its current product range and future development directions.

The CSG anniversary underscored the long-term contribution of Czech industry to ensuring the country's defense capabilities and its growing role in the international market, where Czech products are becoming an increasingly important part of alliance capacities. According to spokesman Andrej Čírtek, 2013 was one of the turning points. "At that time, CSG acquired a majority stake in the legendary Czech car manufacturer Tatra and won a tender to purchase the Military Repair Plant in Šternberk. These two transactions meant that the group transformed into a manufacturing company and began to develop its own products in the defense industry," said Čírtek.

Today, CSG has production facilities in the US, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Greece, and India, and its products are used literally all over the world. Entering the US market was a crucial moment. "We managed a transaction that had many ups and downs, but ultimately turned out positively. It gave us enormous confidence and showed that a Czech company can create a large global defense industry holding company," said the CSG spokesperson. He is referring to the significant acquisition of the American Kinetic Group, which includes brands such as Remington and Federal. "This has made us one of the largest manufacturers of small-caliber ammunition in the West. In addition, we are building the Future Artillery Complex, a state-of-the-art factory for the production of 155mm ammunition for the U.S. Army, Marines, and Navy," concluded Čírtek.

At this year's NATO Days in Ostrava, CSG presented, for example, the Pandur 8x8 EVO, the latest version of the proven wheeled infantry fighting vehicle platform. "It has a 30mm cannon and machine gun and can be used against ground vehicles and airborne targets, including drones. Thanks to modern sensors using augmented reality and artificial intelligence, its deployment capabilities are significantly broader," said Andrej Čírtek, describing the new Czech armored vehicle.

The group is also involved outside the defense industry – it recently became a partner of the Czech Olympic Committee. "If we look at the largest European companies in our field, they all support sports and the non-profit sector. It is logical that CSG, which already plays in this league, is beginning to increasingly support Czech sports and the Olympic team," emphasized Čírtek.

This year, the organizers again paid special attention to security and the smooth running of the entire event. According to estimates, more than 150,000 people visited the venue on each day of the weekend, witnessing nearly 90 hours of dynamic demonstrations. NATO Days in Ostrava have long gone beyond the scope of a regular public exhibition. It is a platform for international cooperation, a demonstration of the cohesion of allies, and a means of raising public awareness of the tasks and needs of the armed and security forces.

This year's event once again confirmed that it is not only a prestigious showcase a prestigious showcase for the Czech Army, but also an important tool for defense diplomacy, the development of industrial ties, and the public presentation of the state's security policy. In this context, Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, told CZ DEFENCE that NATO Days in Ostrava are of fundamental importance not only for the army itself, but also for Czech society: "Through these events, we demonstrate the capabilities of the Czech Armed Forces and our coalition partners, and show that the Alliance is here to protect its territory and the people who live there."

According to General Hlaváč, the event also strengthens public confidence in the army and its role within NATO. "It contributes to the resilience of society because people see what the army does, what it can do, and at the same time we are opening up to them," said the first deputy chief of the General Staff of the Czech Army.