The Eurosatory 2026 trade fair in Paris confirmed that the Czech defense industry has long since ceased to play the role of a mere subcontractor to foreign giants. More than fifty Czech companies are showcasing their products at this year’s largest European exhibition of defense and security technologies—ranging from manufacturers of heavy equipment to specialists in radar and electronic systems, as well as companies focused on unmanned systems and cybersecurity. Czech companies did not come to Paris merely to exhibit individual products, but to showcase their own technologies, integrated solutions, and their ability to forge international partnerships. The first day of the trade show was marked primarily by the world premiere of the new Tadeas 4x4 armored vehicle from Tatra Defence Vehicle.

This year’s Eurosatory trade show welcomed more than 2,600 exhibitors from 68 countries around the world, over 350 official delegations, and more than 140 conferences and debates dedicated to the future of defense and security. The organizers described this year’s event as the largest in the show’s history. Czech companies certainly did not get lost in this setting. Quite the contrary.

According to Czech Minister of Defense Jaromír Zůna, the Czech participation represents one of the most prominent national presentations. “Impressive. I don’t know what other word I would use. I think there are more than fifty companies from the Czech Republic here, which is a great result—a great representation of our industry and the capabilities of the Czech Republic showcased at this trade fair,” said Defense Minister Zůna in an interview with CZ DEFENCE during the opening of the Czech pavilion. According to him, Czech companies have become a respected part of the European defense ecosystem. “Everywhere you go, you come across a company that is collaborating with a Czech firm. Today, even the world’s largest arms manufacturers are seeking to collaborate with our companies,” the defense minister emphasized.

Yesterday, several products developed by Czech defense industry companies also made their world premieres at Eurosatory. For example, Ray Service unveiled its new EGIS Family product line—a modern platform of robust imaging and computing systems designed for military vehicles and ground-based defense systems.

Tadeas 4x4: A New Member of the Czech Armored Vehicle Family

The world premiere of the new Tadeas 4x4 armored vehicle drew the most attention at the CSG Group’s booth. This new model was developed as a logical extension of the Tadeas family, whose first member was the Tadeas 6×6, introduced two years ago. “It’s a vehicle that’s part of the same family. This is the little brother of the big 6x6 version. So it’s not a standalone project, but a logical continuation of our platform,” said Tomáš Mohapl, CEO of Tatra Defence Vehicle (TDV), during the official unveiling.

According to him, the goal from the outset was to create a versatile heavy-duty four-wheel-drive platform. “There are many light 4x4 vehicles on the market. We wanted to offer a heavy-duty four-wheel-drive vehicle with a wide range of modular options and the ability to adapt to specific customer needs,” Mohapl explained. A significant aspect of the project is the fact that the vehicle was developed entirely in the Czech Republic. “What I’m very proud of is that we’re designing and developing this vehicle in the Czech Republic. It’s another example of the Czech defense industry and its growth. And we have international ambitions for it,” emphasized the TDV director.  The Tadeas 4x4 utilizes the latest generation of Tatra chassis solutions and shares a number of components with the third generation of Tatra Force vehicles, which significantly simplifies logistics and maintenance. “The chassis components and electronic platform are the same as those in the new generation of Tatra Force. We are thus offering armies a highly versatile solution,” added Mohapl.

According to Radomír Smolka, Director of Research and Development at Tatra Defence Vehicle, the main advantage of the new Tadeas platform is its versatility. “Tadeas is a platform. It has a gross vehicle weight of up to 25 metric tons and a high payload capacity. Depending on the configuration, the payload can reach five to six metric tons,” said Smolka. However, the vehicle is not intended solely as a conventional armored personnel carrier. “It is suitable as a liaison vehicle, command post, or ambulance, but a pickup variant is also being developed that can carry, for example, air defense equipment or other specialized systems,” explained the TDV director of research and development.

Another distinctive feature of the Tadeas vehicle is its digitalization. “It’s a next-generation digital platform. It enables drive-by-wire control and is ready for remote control or semi-autonomous operation. It really is the latest generation,” added Smolka. According to experts, the ability to quickly integrate new technologies will be one of the decisive factors in the future competitiveness of armored vehicles.

This year’s Eurosatory trade show highlights another important trend. Czech companies are increasingly forming international partnerships. One example is the creation of a new European association, EADUS (European Association for Defense Unmanned Systems), focused on unmanned systems with Czech and Ukrainian roots. “We will be putting together something that does not yet exist in Europe—an association focused on the supply chain and frontline user experiences,” was stated during its presentation, noting that representatives of Ukrainian organizations with direct experience from the war will play an advisory role within it. EADUS aims to connect unmanned system operators directly with manufacturers without intermediaries, contribute to the development of new training standards, and promote the use of European components, which should reduce dependence on non-European hardware. According to security consultant and former government commissioner for the reconstruction of Ukraine Tomáš Kopečný, EADUS aims to bring together technologies and companies from across Europe, such as Lithuania, Denmark, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Romania.

According to Jiří Hynek, president of the Czech Defense and Security Industry Association, it is precisely this kind of cooperation that represents the future of European defense. “The new trend is not just to sell products, but to form international alliances and establish cooperation,” Hynek said.

This year’s Eurosatory showcases a Europe that is rapidly adapting to the new security environment. The focus is shifting from individual weapons systems to the ability to integrate sensors, effectors, data, and industrial capabilities across national borders. In addition to traditional armored vehicles, software, artificial intelligence, air defense, and unmanned technologies are also gaining in importance.