Ukrainians exhibit at the arms fair in Prague, discuss cooperation
Update: 19/10/2022 17:44
Issued by: 19/10/2022, 17:40
Prague – The Ukrainian system of unmanned aircraft or innovative and technological systems for artillery can be seen at the arms trade fair Future Forces Forum in Prague, which takes place in the atmosphere of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There are nine exhibitors in the Ukrainian pavilion. For example, in the case of Leleka drones, this is a possible production in the Czech Republic, the manufacturer told ČTK.
More than 200 exhibitors from 24 countries participate in the international arms exhibition. The exhibition in the complex in Letňany will last until Friday. The Ukrainian pavilion in hall 3 is symbolically opposite the stand of the Czech Ministry of Defense, with which some companies are negotiating the possibility of cooperation.
The possible production of drones for the aerial system of unmanned aircraft by the Deviro company from the city of Dnipro is apparently close to an agreement in the Czech Republic. “We are talking about starting production as quickly as possible within a few months,” Štefan Füle, who helps the Ukrainian manufacturer in the Czech Republic, told ČTK.
In the defense of Ukraine against Russia, the Leleka-100 drone helps target guidance, and by the end of next year, the company is sold out for the Ukrainian armed forces and security forces. A more modern Leleka-1000 is under development, which, according to Füle, could have a Czech engine and some other parts in the future.
Potential production in the Czech Republic should be ensured by the ability to produce drones in the event of its disruption in Ukraine. “And to increase production for the Ukrainian army and the quality of drones, because we assume that during production in the Czech Republic we will get access to higher quality parts from which the drone is assembled,” said ČTK on behalf of the manufacturer Kosťantyn Dubovskyj. He added that the goal is to sell drones to EU countries.
Ministry of Defense Jana Černochová (ODS) told ČTK and Czech Radio that similar matters are being discussed with the Ukrainian side. “It is logical that the Ukrainian side is trying to move production to other countries. I hope that we will be able to go to Ukraine with the Prime Minister (Peter Fiala) and we will have a meeting there with my counterpart, Mr. (Oleksije) Reznikov. It is an opportunity for support and our fight for Ukraine to be a free country again,” she said.
Czech drones could also help in Ukraine. For example, those developed by the Technical Faculty of the Czech University of Life Sciences (ČZU). Although they are used in so-called precision agriculture, they could probably be used in defense as well. One example is the Unithor tracked drone. “We developed a special chassis for it, which could serve as a carrier of sensors and sensors to secure minefields in Ukraine,” said Petr Hnízdil, head of development of ProLab from CZU. According to him, the Distributhor drone is capable of carrying so-called special cargo, such as ammunition.
Ukrainian company Antabos LLC came to Prague to present its complex automation programs for artillery. Technologies help calculate the ideal shot angle. “It is used, for example, in combat vehicles such as the Tatra, and we will talk about the connection of our system for DANA self-propelled howitzers as well,” Maksym Hluškov said for the company.
In the Ukrainian pavilion, there is also Twist Robotics, a company that creates systems that help resist electronic warfare, the Ukrainian Association of Defense and Security Industry and the National Guard of Ukraine.
Černochová said in October that the export of military equipment from the Czech Republic to Ukraine reached 47 billion crowns this year. For security reasons, the ministry does not comment on what kind of material goes to Ukraine. According to the ministry, these are heavy equipment, short and long firearms or ammunition. Most likely, it also concerns tanks, helicopters, cannons or rocket launchers.