Military of the Czech Republic

Army of the Czech Republic Armáda České republiky
The coat of arms and roundel
Founded	30 June 1918
Current form	1 January 1993
Service branches	Land Forces Czech Air Force
Headquarters	Prague, Czech Republic
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	President of the Republic Miloš Zeman
Minister of Defense	Martin Stropnický
Chief of staff	Chief of the General Staff: Army general Josef Bečvář
Manpower
Military age	18 years of age
Conscription	Abolished in 2004
Available for military service	2,414,728, age 15–49 (2005 est.)
Fit for military service	1,996,631, age 15–49 (2005 est.)
Reaching military age annually	66,583 (2005 est.)
Active personnel	18,000 soldiers and 7,530 civilians.
Reserve personnel	1200
Expenditures
Budget	CZK 47,8 billion (2016)
Percent of GDP	1.03% (2016)
Industry
Domestic suppliers	22px ČZUB Tatra
Foreign suppliers	See list Austria Sweden Germany Italy United Kingdom United States Israel Spain Russia Poland

The Army of the Czech Republic (Czech: Armáda České republiky) comprise the Czech Land Forces, the Czech Air Force and support units. From the late 1940s to 1989, the extensive Czechoslovak Armed Forces (about 200,000) formed one of the pillars of the Warsaw Pact military alliance. After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic is completing a major reorganisation and reduction of the armed forces, which intensified after the Czech Republic joined NATO on 12 March 1999.

History

The Czechoslovak Armed Forces were originally formed on 30 June 1918 when 6.000 members of the Czechoslovak legion, which had been established in 1914, took oath and received a battle banner in Darney, France, thus preceding the official declaration of Czechoslovak independence by four months. The military achievements of the Czechoslovak legions on the French, Italian and especially Russian front became one of the main arguments that the Czechoslovak pro-independence leaders could use to gain the support for the country's independence by the Allies of World War I.

Following the downfall of Czechoslovakia and occupation of its Czech part by Nazi Germany in 1939, a number of Czechoslovak units and formations served with the Polish Army (Czechoslovak Legion), the French Army, the Royal Air Force, the British Army (the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade), and the Red Army (I Corps). Four Czech and Slovak-manned RAF squadrons were transferred to Czechoslovak control in late 1945.

Croatian Army soldier discusses patrol routes with a Czech Army soldier (left)

From 1954 until 1990, the Army was known as the Czechoslovak People's Army (ČSLA). Although the ČSLA, as formed in 1945, included both Soviet- and British-equipped/trained expatriate troops, the "Western" soldiers had been purged from the ČSLA after 1948 when the communists took power. The ČSLA offered no resistance to the invasion mounted by the Soviets in 1968 in reaction to the "Prague Spring", and was extensively reorganized by the Soviets following the re-imposition of conservative communist rule in Prague.

"Of the approximately 201,000 personnel on active duty in the ČSLA in 1987, about 145,000, or about 72 percent, served in the ground forces (commonly referred to as the army. About 100,000 of these were conscripts." There were two military districts, Western and Eastern. A 1989 listing of forces shows two Czechoslovak armies in the west, the 1st at Příbram with one tank division and three motor rifle divisions, the 4th at Písek with two tank divisions and two motor rifle divisions. In the Eastern Military District, there were two tank divisions, the 13th and 14th, with a supervisory headquarters at Trenčín in the Slovak part of the country.

During the Cold War, the ČSLA was equipped primarily with Soviet arms, although certain arms like the OT-64 SKOT armored personnel carrier, the L-29 Delfín and L-39 Albatros aircraft, the P-27 Pancéřovka antitank rocket launcher, the vz. 58 assault rifle or the Uk vz. 59 machine gun were of Czechoslovak design.

After 1992 (dissolution of Czechoslovakia)

Czech BVP-2 firing in Afghanistan

Czech Army Soldiers to participate in exercise Combined Resolve at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany

The Army of the Czech Republic was formed after the Czechoslovak Armed Forces split after the 1 January 1993 dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Czech forces stood at 90,000 in 1993. They were reduced to around 65,000 in 11 combat brigades and the Air Force in 1997, to 63,601 in 1999, and to 35,000 in 2005. At the same time, the forces were modernized and reoriented towards a defensive posture. In 2004, the army transformed itself into a fully professional organization and compulsory military service was abolished. The Army maintains an active reserve.

The Czech Republic is a member of the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Since 1990, the ACR and the Czech Armed Forces have contributed to numerous peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, including IFOR, SFOR, and EUFOR Althea in Bosnia, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Albania, Turkey, Pakistan and with the Coalition forces in Iraq.

Current deployments (as of 2010):

• Kosovo: NATO Operation "Joint Enterprise" (KFOR) - 450 soldiers
• Afghanistan: NATO Operation (ISAF) - 458 soldiers, 12 civilian experts and 3 Mi-171S helicopters in Faizabad, Logar and Paktika provinces.
• Somalia: EU Operation Atalanta (NAVFOR) - 3 soldiers
• DR Congo: UN peacekeeping mission (MONUC) - 3 military observers
• Afghanistan: UN peacekeeping mission (UNAMA) - 1 military observer
• Kosovo: UN peacekeeping mission (UNMIK) - 1 military observer

In February 2010, Czech media started to speculate about possible corruption around the purchase of Pandur II vehicles for the Czech Army.

At present, the military of the Czech Republic is considered heavily underfunded, with too few armoured vehicles and aircraft, and even shortages of ammunition for infantry weapons. Some military equipment for the infantry has been purchased in civilian shops by personal expenditures of soldiers. The government announced an increase of the budget for the military, depending on the growth of the economy.

Structure

Structure of the Czech Armed Forces. Click to expand.

4th Mech Bde (Žatec)

7th Mech Bde (Hranice)

13th Art Rgt (Jince)

25th ADA Rgt (Strakonice)

53rd Recon Rgt (Opava)

Czech Army - combat brigade/regiment locations

Structure of the Czech Armed Forces consists of three parts:

• General Staff of Czech Armed Forces (Praha)
  • Land Forces (Praha)
  • Air Force (Praha)

The 153rd Engineer Battalion based in Olomouc was created on 15 October 2008 and is subordinated to the 15th Engineer Regiment. The unit is stationed in the outskirts of the city of Olomouc, in place of the canceled 156th Rescue Battalion.

Active reserves

Active Reserve (in Czech Aktivní záloha) is a part of the otherwise professional Army of the Czech Republic. This service was created to allow the participation of citizens with a positive attitude to the military.

A volunteer needs either to have completed the compulsory military service (which ended in 2004) or to attend 8 week training. Then the reservists have to serve up to three weeks a year and can be called up to serve two weeks during a non-military crisis. They are not intended to serve abroad. The Reserve presents itself on events like BAHNA, a military show.

Equipment

• 

  Vz. 58 assault rifle, now only in reserve

• 

  CZ-805 BREN assault rifle

• 

  Czech modernized T-72M4 CZ

• 

  Czech BVP-2 on a Military parade in Prague, 28 October 2008

• 

  Czech Pandur II 8x8 armoured personnel carrier

• 

  Tatra 810 medium truck

• 

  ShKH-77 Dana: 152mm Self-propelled cannon howitzer

• 

  Czech Air Force modernized Mi-24V helicopter gunship

• 

  Czech Air Force W-3A

• 

  Czech Air Force JAS 39 Gripen

• 

  Czech Air Force L-159 light combat aircraft

Equipment numbers as of January 1, 2016

Equipment	Origin	Quantity	Type	Photo	Notes
Main battle tanks
T-72M4CZ	Czech Republic	30	Main battle tank
T-72M1	Soviet Union	93	Main battle tank		In reserve
IFVs and APCs
Pandur II	Austria	107	Infantry fighting vehicle / Armoured personnel carrier		20 more on order
BVP-2	Czechoslovakia	185	Infantry fighting vehicle
BVP-1	Czechoslovakia	139	Infantry fighting vehicle		In reserve
BPzV	Czechoslovakia	76	Armoured reconnaissance vehicle
Artillery
152mm SpGH DANA	Czechoslovakia	86	Self-propelled howitzer
M1982 PRAM-L 120mm	Czechoslovakia	85	Towed mortar
SPM-85 PRAM-S 120mm	Czechoslovakia	8	Self-propelled mortar
ARTHUR Artillery Tracking Radar	Sweden	3	Artillery tracking radar
Non armoured vehicles
Land Rover Defender 110 TDi	United Kingdom	114	Light off-road vehicle
Land Rover Defender 130 Kajman	United Kingdom	79	Light off-road vehicle
Tatra T 810	Czech Republic	586	Military medium truck
Tatra T815	Czech Republic	2700	Military heavy truck		(4x4, 6x6, 8x8, 10x10 versions)
Dingo 2	Germany	19	Armoured military truck
Iveco LMV	Italy	120	Armoured light off road vehicle
Air-defence systems
2K12 Kub-M2	Soviet Union	4 Batteries	Surface-to-air missile
9K35 Strela-10M	Soviet Union	16	Surface-to-air missile
RBS 70	Sweden	16	Man-portable air-defense systems
Combat aircraft and helicopters
JAS 39 Gripen	Sweden	14	Lightweight single-engine multirole fighter
Aero L 159 ALCA	Czech Republic	21	Light attack aircraft
Mil Mi-24V	Russia	17	Attack helicopter
Support/Transport aircraft and helicopters
PZL W-3 Sokół	Poland	10	Utility helicopter
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	4	Transport helicopter
Mil Mi-17	Soviet Union	5	Transport helicopter
Mil Mi-171Sh	Russia	16	Transport / attack helicopter
EADS CASA C-295M	Spain	4	Transport aircraft
Let L-410 Turbolet	Czech Republic	8	Light transport and photographic mapping
RQ-11 Raven	United States	2	Unmanned aerial vehicle
Training aircraft and helicopters
Aero L-39 Albatros	Czechoslovakia	9	Jet trainer
Zlin Z 142CAF	Czechoslovakia	8	Basic trainer
Eurostar EV97	Czech Republic	1	Basic trainer
PZL Mi-2 Hoplite	Poland	2	Trainer helicopter
VIP Transport
Airbus A319CJW	France	2	VIP transport
Yakolev Yak-40 Codling	Soviet Union	2	VIP transport
Bombardier Challenger 600	Canada	1	VIP transport

Small arms & hand weapons

Name	Country of origin	Type	Photo	Notes
CZ 75	Czechoslovakia Czech Republic	Pistol
Glock pistol	Austria	Pistol		In use by the 601st Special Forces Group and some other units deployed in Afghanistan. Being replaced by CZ 75 SP-01 Phantom for all apart from 601st Special Forces Group.
Škorpion vz. 61	Czechoslovakia Czech Republic	Submachine gun
PDW Škorpion EVO III	Czech Republic	Submachine gun		In use by the Prague Castle Guard.
Heckler & Koch MP5	Germany	Submachine gun
Heckler & Koch UMP	Germany	Submachine gun		Used by military police.
Winchester Model 1200	United States	Shotgun		Model 1300 Defender used in small numbers.
Vz. 52 rifle	Czechoslovakia	Rifle		Used as ceremonial weapon by Prague Castle Guard.
Bushmaster M4A3	United States	Carbine		In use by the 601st Special Forces Group.
Vz. 58	Czechoslovakia	Assault rifle		Now in reserve only, replaced with all active units by CZ 805 Bren.
CZ 805 Bren	Czech Republic	Assault rifle		Standard service rifle (purchases 2012 - 2015).
CZ 806 Bren 2	Czech Republic	Assault rifle		Standard service rifle (since 2016).
Mk 48	United States	General-purpose machine gun	120px
M60 machine gun	United States	General-purpose machine gun		In use by the 601st Special Forces Group.
Dragunov Sniper Rifle	Soviet Union	Designated marksman rifle
Sako TRG	Finland	Sniper rifle
CZ 700	Czech Republic	Sniper rifle
RPG-7V	Soviet Union	Anti-tank grenade launcher
RPG-75	Czechoslovakia Czech Republic	Anti-tank weapon
Carl Gustav M3	Sweden	Recoilless rifle
FGM-148 Javelin	United States	Anti-tank missile launcher		An additional order totalling US$10.21 million was placed in December 2015 for an unknown amount of missiles and launchers.

Uniforms

Different types of Czech Army uniforms:

• 

  Commando soldier from ÚSO VP SOG in desert camouflage uniform in Afghanistan

• 

  Standard woodland pattern camouflage uniform

• 

  Members of the Arctive Reserve during exercise

• 

  Czech military band in Olomouc

• 

  Czech military band in Olomouc

• 

  Soldier of Prague Castle guard holding ceremonial Vz. 52 rifle

Commanding officers

The current Chief of the General Staff of the Military of the Czech Republic Josef Bečvář.

• Chief of the General Staff: Army General Josef Bečvář
• First Deputy Chief of the General Staff: Major General Miroslav Žižka
• Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the AČR-Chief of Staff: Major General Bohuslav Dvořák
• Deputy Chief of the General Staff - Director of Joint Operation Centre: Major General Aleš Opata
• Deputy Chief of the General Staff - Inspector of the AČR: Major General František Malenínský
  • Immediately Subordinated Offices:
  • Military Regional Office, Boletice
  • Military Regional Office, Brdy
  • Military Regional Office, Březina
  • Military Regional Office, Hradiště
  • Military Regional Office, Libavá
• Support Policy Division: Director Major General Pavel Jevula
  • Immediately Subordinated Institutions:
  • Central Military Hospital, Prague
  • Military Hospital, Brno
  • Military Hospital, Olomouc
  • Institute of Aviation Medicine, Prague
• Communication and Information Systems Division:Director - Chief of the Signal Corps of AČR: Colonel Jan Kaše
  • Immediately Subordinated Institutions:
  • 6th Communication Centre
  • Research and Communication Centre 080
  • Information Technology Development Agency
• Force Planning Division: Acting Director Colonel František Mičánek
• Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare Department: Director Colonel Miroslav Žižka
  • Immediately Subordinated Office:
  • Military Geography and Hydrometeorology Office
• Military Aviation Authority: Director Colonel Josef Otta

Current and historic military ranks

These are the military ranks, historic and present-day, of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic and its predecessor force, the Czechoslovak Armed Forces, later known as the People's Army.

Enlisted and non-commissioned officers

• Vojín - Private, Airman
• Svobodník - Private First Class, Airman First Class
• Desátník - Corporal, Senior Airman
• Četař - Sergeant
• Četař jednoroční dobrovolník - Volunteer Sergeant (used 1919-1920)
• Rotný - Staff Sergeant (formerly Sikovatel from 1919-20)
• Štábní šikovatel - Company Sergeant Major (used 1918-1920)
• Staršina - Platoon Sergeant, Flight sergeant (part of the rank system 1948-1959)
• Rotmistr - Sergeant First Class, Technical Sergeant
• Nadrotmistr - Master Sergeant
• Štábní rotmistr - First Sergeant (abolished 2011)

Warrant officers

• Důstojnický zástupce - Cadet Warrant officer (used 1919-1920)
• Podpraporčík - First Warrant Officer (abolished 2011)
• Praporčík - Warrant officer
• Nadpraporčík - Senior Warrant Officer
• Štábní praporčík - Chief Warrant Officer (abolished 1949, reinstated 1999)

Officer cadets and military school cadets

• Kadet Aspirant - Officer cadet (used 1919-1920)
• Gážista mimo hodnostní třídu - Reserve Officer Candidate (used 1919-1920)

Officers

• Podporučík OF-1c - Sub-lieutenant (abolished 2011)
• Poručík OF-1b - Second lieutenant, Lieutenant
• Nadporučík OF-1a - First lieutenant
• Kapitán - Captain (formerly Setník in the Home Army)
• Štábní kapitán - Senior Captain (abolished 1952)
• Major
• Podplukovník - Lieutenant colonel
• Plukovník - Colonel
• Brigádní generál - Brigade General (Jun 12th, 1953 to generálmajor, 1999 reinstated to Brigádní generál)
• Divizní generál - Divisional General (Jun 12th, 1953 to generálporučík)
• Generálmajor - Major General (exists Jun 12th, 1953 to present)
• Generálporučík - Lieutenant General (exists Jun 12th, 1953 to present)
• Polní podmaršálek - Lieutenant Field Marshal (used 1918-1920)
• Sborový generál - Corps General (Jun 12th, 1953 to generálplukovník)
• Generálplukovník - Colonel General (abolished 1998)
• Generál - General (created in 1920 and abolished 1930, today highest rank in Slovakia)
• Armádní generál - General of the Army, General of the Air Force
• Polní zbrojmistr - Field marshal (used 1918-1920)

Further reading

• Stephane Lefebvre, 'The Army of the Czech Republic: A Status Report,' Journal of Slavic Military Studies, Vol. 8, No. 4, December 1995, pp. 718–751
• Tomáš Weiss, 'Fighting Wars or Controlling Crowds? The Case of the Czech Military Forces and the Possible Blurring of Police and Military Functions, Armed Forces & Society, Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 450-466

External links

• (English) Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic
• (Czech) Information Center about NATO