Yesterday, the Government approved the proposal of the Ministry of Defence to provide comprehensive service support for the TITUS 6x6 vehicles newly in service in the Czech Army in three versions - KOVVŠ (Command and Staff Wheeled Armoured Vehicle), KOVS (Command and Staff Wheeled Armoured Vehicle) and MKPP (Fire Support Coordination Point). The service will be provided by the vehicle manufacturer, Tatra Defence Vehicle (TDV), for the period 2024-2028 for a total of CZK 785,951,000. 

Service support mainly includes defects and routine repairs, spare parts supply, statutory inspections and calibrations, performing the full range of maintenance or selected tasks, training of workshop specialists, instructors and equipment crews, updating of technical documentation and advisory and consultancy activities related to maintenance.

The estimated value of the public contract of CZK 785 951 000 excluding VAT was determined from the experience with the operation of the chassis and superstructure part of the Pandur II 8x8 KOVS, KOVVŠ (due to the similarity of the built technology), in which maintenance and servicing tasks were priced in the framework agreements, and also on the basis of the current prices of electronic spare parts, while taking into account average inflation, higher labour costs and higher needs for servicing interventions in the years of use of the equipment. In addition to covering all routine repairs, the financial framework should also provide for emergency repairs, also taking into account the increasing number of equipment in service.

The service support was logically agreed with Tatra Defence Vehicle, as the company is the exclusive owner of the complete production documentation of the TITUS 6x6 vehicles and the necessary technical and technological equipment for production, and is therefore entitled to provide comprehensive after-sales service, other services and support throughout the life cycle of the equipment. The company is also the only one to have an exclusive sub-licence for the production and lifecycle support of TITUS 6x6 vehicles from Nexter Systems, which is the owner of the know-how for the vehicles (Nexter Systems, as the owner of the know-how for the production of TITUS 6x6 vehicles, has transferred the sub-licence for the production and lifecycle support to TDV). The contract for the comprehensive service support of TITUS 6x6 vehicles is expected to be concluded by the end of February this year.

This contract for comprehensive service follows the purchase contract for the delivery of 62 units of TITUS 6x6 equipment from 2019, concluded between the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic and the supplier ELDIS Pardubice, s.r.o., where this is the first procurement of comprehensive service support for this equipment. The implementation of this procurement is necessary to ensure full functionality, readiness and combat capability of TITUS vehicles for eventual deployment.

These TITUS 6x6 vehicles are a unique element for providing communication and information support at the command posts and form the core of the command and control system in various combat conditions at brigade, regimental and battalion levels, especially in coalition operations with regard to mobility and modularity. The technology ensures automation of work and provides the necessary information for the commander's decision-making process. It also enables the sharing of information between selected users in the chain of command and the exchange of information in an interoperable multinational operations environment.  

Without the implementation of the procurement, the operational capability of the technology would be compromised and the tactical level command post or command and control system for ground forces would not be assured. It would not be possible to command units, plan, process and evaluate data, and decide on the next course of action, and thus conduct combat operations.

TITUS 6x6 vehicle in the Czech Army

The Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic ordered a total of 62 TITUS armoured vehicles for the Czech Army in 2017, in three versions - 6 units in the command and staff version (KOVVŠ) with 6 staff stations, 36 units in the liaison version (KOVS) and 20 vehicles will serve as fire support coordination points (MKPP). The first deliveries of serial TITUS vehicles in all 3 variants have already been made, and more will take place this year. The total value of the contract is CZK 6 billion.

Compared to Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) armoured vehicles, TITUS is unique due to its high level of durability and high mobility. MRAP vehicles, which were used in large numbers in Iraq and Afghanistan, for example, were characterized by high durability, but at the expense of mobility. These vehicles were not capable of driving in difficult terrain and had to navigate on paved roads, making them easy targets for ambushes and IEDs.

On the other hand, TITUS has the same or higher durability, but thanks to the Tatra chassis, the vehicle has no problems with driving in difficult terrain and can thus be moved together with combat vehicles, and is therefore classified in the modern MRAV (Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle) category.

As far as the electronic and communication equipment of the new TITUS for the Army is concerned, these are the most advanced technological systems within NATO military equipment. This is mainly due to several years of development, during which it was necessary to adapt all systems to the requirements of the Czech Army.

General parameters of the TITUS 6x6 armoured vehicle

• MRAV (Multi-role Armored Vehicle) category
• Crew of 4 persons, number varies by vehicle type
• High ballistic protection (STANAG 3). Body welded from heavy armoured sheet metal, with armoured plates and windows on the outside, internal walls lined with composite materials (spall liner). Effective protection against infantry weapons, heavy machine guns and artillery ammunition fragments, mines and IEDs.
• TATRA T 815-7 Force chassis with central tube and independently suspended, air-sprung semi-axles with first and third axles steerable
• Air suspension system with the possibility of changing the vehicle ground clearance. Outer turning radius 13 m, climb rate 60%, side roll value 30%. Tactical tyres 16,00 R20 with central inflation system, which allows not only adjusting the tyre pressure for different surfaces, but also driving with tyre punctures
• Vehicle speed on paved roads up to 110 km/h with a range of up to 700 km
• Universal armament carrier – Remote controlled weapon stations with the ability to mount a 12.7 mm calibre machine gun or 40 mm calibre grenade launcher. Possibility of installing a remote-controlled turret with a 20 mm rapid-fire gun and a 7.62 mm machine gun. Possibility of mounting up to three light machine guns on the hatch at the three roof hatches. Firing is also possible with a gun located in the folding ramp. Other versions of the TITUS armoured personnel carrier allow for the function of weapon system carriers – anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles or a mortar of 120 mm calibre
• Electronic and communication systems provide classified and unclassified radio communication and data link in VHF and UKV bands and also by satellite tactical communication (SATCOM), including the use of integrated cryptomodules
• The vehicle is equipped with the already proven STAR Light 3 SF protective jammer from the Czech company URC Systems spol. s r.o. The jammer protects against the current threats of radio remotely launched IEDs, including 4G and 5G mobile communication systems. The system is ready for connection of a dedicated anti-drone jamming module (MAD). Also new is liquid cooling to reduce the jammer's build volume. The jammer succeeded in military trials
• Power is provided by an alternator connected to the vehicle's engine when the vehicle is moved. In both stationary and autonomous modes, the engine is switched off and the electronic systems are powered either from batteries, mains or a generator
• The radios and necessary components in the new MKPP vehicles will be compatible with the equipment already in place in the Czech Army. The new titles will also allow the fitting of a Battlefield Identification Friend or Foe (BIFF) system that can recognise own-foreign units
• Protection of the crew from the effects of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons

Video:Report: first training of drivers-instructors for the new TITUS 6x6 / CZ DEFENCE