The second day of the IDET 2025 international defence and security technology fair in Brno brought further significant events, and our CZ DEFENCE studio once again hosted a series of very interesting interviews with selected representatives of the Czech Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Committee, representatives of the defence industry and military experts.

Video: Our editorial team has its own studio at the trade fair, where it invites interesting guests from the Czech Army, the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Committee, representatives of the defence industry and military experts. / CZ DEFENCE

On Thursday, three key industrial cooperation agreements were signed between Czech companies and the American company Lockheed Martin. These agreements are part of a project to purchase 24 F-35A Lightning II aircraft for the Czech Army and represent an important step towards the involvement of Czech industry in the production and servicing of these aircraft.

The congress hall also hosted a very interesting all-day conference focused on the use of 3D printing in the European arms industry. Conference participants had the opportunity to learn about the latest applications of additive manufacturing for military purposes and visit the 3D printing exhibition in Hall F.

Among the armoured vehicles on display, which are likely to participate in a tender for new KBVP vehicles for the Czech Army in the near future, the new generation of the Czech-made Pandur 8x8 EVO vehicle with an Elbit UT30MK2 unmanned turret, the Boxer 8x8 vehicle with a Turra 30 turret, and the Finnish Patria AMV XP 8x8 vehicle, also with a Turra 30 turret.

Among the four-wheeled armoured vehicles, the MARS 4×4 combat vehicle from SVOS Přelouč will attract attention in two variants – with an integrated RBS 70 NG anti-aircraft system from the Swedish company Saab and a GLADIUS weapon station configured for a 12.7 mm machine gun.

Visitors can also view the Patriot 4x4 wheeled armoured vehicle from the Czech company Excalibur Army, the French FORTRESS Mk2 armoured vehicle from Arquus, and the Canadian Senator MRAP vehicle.

The latter vehicle will be newly manufactured in the Czech Republic by Roshel CZ, a joint venture recently established by Canadian manufacturer Roshel and Czech industrial group OMNIPOL.

On the second day of the Brno trade fair, we also spoke with many interesting personalities in our media studio. For example, we talked with Jiří Kašpárek, director of the state-owned company VTÚ, about testing and certification activities in the development, production and purchase of military equipment for the Czech Army. We also spoke with Colonel Miroslav Vybíhal, Director of the Land Forces Development Department of the Ministry of Defence's Forces Development Section, about the transition to Western platforms for main battle tanks and tracked IFVs and the associated changes in organisational structure, tactical system approach and logistical support. Our studio was also visited by fighter pilot and member of the ESA reserve astronaut team, Major Aleš Svoboda, and we also spoke with other selected representatives of our army and the Czech defence industry, etc.

Today (Friday) is the last chance to visit the IDET 2025 trade fair in Brno, which, through a large number of exhibits from around the world and a whole range of professional conferences, has once again confirmed its importance in the field of not only the Czech defence industry and security.