NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days have evolved over more than two decades from a regional event into the largest security show of its kind in Central Europe. Every year, NATO Days attract hundreds of thousands of visitors and dozens of military, security, and industrial partners from home and abroad. This year's edition, which will once again take place at Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport, promises not only top-class air and ground demonstrations, but also unique presentations by alliance partners, expert meetings, and support for the domestic defense industry.

The first NATO Days event took place in 2001 at Černá louka in Ostrava, with only a few pieces of equipment on display and only a few dozen participants. The aim was to familiarize the public with the work of security forces in a democratic society. The idea caught on, and thanks to the support of the Czech Army, the Moravian-Silesian Region, the City of Ostrava, and other partners, the event gradually grew. A key moment was the move to Ostrava Airport, whose extensive facilities made it possible to organize spectacular air and ground demonstrations. In 2010, the name was officially expanded to include Czech Air Force Days, thereby enhancing the prestige of the event. "NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days are unique in Europe in terms of their concept. It is based on a wide range of presentations by participants. We are not aware of any other event of this type where you can see everything from the latest technology, such as the fifth generation of F-35 aircraft, to ground equipment, police units, prison services, and even the training of municipal police horses," adds Zbyněk Pavlačík, chairman and co-founder of the Jagello 2000 association, which organizes this extraordinary event.

Video: Report from NATO Days 2023 / CZ DEFENCE

The history of the event is rich in milestones that underscore its international significance. For example, in 2012, the legendary B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber flew over the heads of spectators. At that time, Ostrava was only one of three places in Eastern Europe where the B-52 landed. In 2014, the concept of a special partner country was introduced, which strengthened bilateral relations and opened up opportunities for industrial and political cooperation.

According to the chairman of the Jagello 2000 association, the most challenging aspect is keeping the entire, very broad organic system of the organizing company together and coordinated. "Several dozen entities are involved in the preparation and implementation of NATO Days in Ostrava and Czech Air Force Days. It is also important to take into account that this is one of the few events of this scale that does not take place at a military air base, but at a civilian airport, where we must, of course, respect ongoing civilian operations and completely different rules than if the event were held at any military base. So the most difficult thing is to keep all the entities involved in the event in sync, whether they are co-organizers, our partners, or all other entities. We work on the organization all year round to keep this organism running and ensure that everything goes smoothly," Pavlačík points out. During the event, Mošnov is transformed into a temporary alliance base. There is intensive coordination of air traffic, landing security, ground equipment movement, and rapid reaction force deployment. For soldiers, it is an opportunity to train in an environment close to real foreign operations.

NATO Days has repeatedly faced challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021 significantly limited the format – from closure to the public to a hybrid model. Growing geopolitical tensions, particularly in connection with the war in Ukraine and NATO–Russia relations, required enhanced security measures and affected the participation of some foreign partners. Last year's edition was extreme in terms of flooding, which is, of course, a situation that cannot be prepared for in advance, and the organizer had no choice but to cancel the event. The floods affected not only the Moravian-Silesian Region, but also neighboring Poland and Slovakia. "The weather obviously has a fundamental impact on any outdoor event, whether it's precipitation or, conversely, drought and high temperatures. Over the past 23 years, I mean until 2023, our event has always taken place in all weather conditions, although in 2017, for example, we had to cancel the Sunday flight program for the first time due to low cloud cover. Because our event focuses not only on flight demonstrations but also on ground demonstrations, visitors have always found their way to us, which we are happy about. Our team has more than twenty years of extensive experience in organizing this event in almost all weather conditions," summarizes Zbyněk Pavlačík.

Without the active participation of the Czech Army and other security forces and entities, NATO Days could not exist in its current form. The army coordinates domestic military participation, provides logistics, and oversees the safety of air and ground demonstrations. Every year, units from 15 to 20 Alliance and partner countries gather in Mošnov, bringing with them state-of-the-art technology – from F-35 and Rafale fighter jets to Leopard 2 tanks and special forces. Joint dynamic demonstrations serve not only as a spectacle for the public, but also as realistic training in interoperability, i.e., the ability of armies to operate side by side. How will the Czech Armed Forces grace this year's event? "Visitors and experts can look forward to a symbolic shot from a CV90 tracked infantry fighting vehicle, which will kick off the event for the first time this year. As far as ground forces are concerned, we will once again have the new Leopard 2A4 tank, which will arrive from the nearby 7th Mechanized Brigade in Přáslavice, as well as its successor, the latest Leopard 2A8. Everything that the Czech Army has or is ordering will be on display. Then, as part of the flight demonstration, a new addition to the Czech Army Air Force will also be presented, namely the L-39 Skyfox aircraft. Another L-39 Skyfox and Z-242 L, which is new to the fleet of the Aviation Training Center of the state-owned company LOM PRAHA, will be on display in the static exhibition," Pavlačík reveals.

A special partner country has a special status and is given space for a more extensive presentation. This year, it will be Italy. This format supports the deepening of relations between armies, in politics and industry, and often leads to real projects – from joint training to equipment deliveries. "We are very pleased that a country of Italy's importance has accepted our offer to become the special partner country for this year's 25th edition of the event. What's more, Italy will be presenting itself in the Czech Republic in a truly wide range of ways. Several Italian prime ministers have already visited in the past, and this year high-level representatives will attend again, and to our great surprise, Italy will not only be participating in the program with flight demonstrations, but will also be presenting its special forces and two pieces of ground equipment to the public. A C1 Ariete battle tank and a Centauro tank destroyer will arrive from Italy, which will be a truly unique opportunity for visitors to familiarize themselves with this technology. The Italian Navy will also be present, sending their iconic and legendary AV-8B Harrier aircraft to Ostrava Airport. These Italian aircraft have never been presented in the Czech Republic before. The last time we had British Harriers here was fifteen long years ago, in 2010. We believe that as many as possible will be presented in the air," says the chairman of the Jagello 2000 association.

In addition to military demonstrations, NATO Days has become an important platform for presenting the domestic defense industry. Czech companies present their products to experts, politicians, and the public. Regular participants in previous years have included ERA (passive surveillance systems), Retia (radars and air defense), Česká zbrojovka, and the state-owned company LOM PRAHA. The Ministry of Defense and the Czech Army have long supported this presentation as part of a strategy to strengthen the self-sufficiency and export opportunities of Czech manufacturers. According to Zbyněk Pavlačík, the upcoming 25th edition of NATO Days in Ostrava and Czech Air Force Days is important because it is taking place at a time when a political decision has been made to gradually increase defense spending from 2% to 5% of GDP. "From this perspective, we believe that our event is a very important part of Stratcom. This means that taxpayers can see what is being purchased with these funds. This is inseparably linked to the fact that our event, which has been free of charge for our visitors from the outset, is significantly supported by our marketing partners, a significant proportion of which are companies from the defense industry. We are very pleased that our partners include most of the leading Czech defense industry companies and the most important contractors of the Czech Army, such as Lockheed Martin, CSG, Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod, Omnipol, and many other companies, because without their active involvement, we would not be able to finance this event," emphasizes Pavlačík. The strategic partner of the event is the CSG Group, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year.

NATO Days serve as a combination of a public show, a trade fair, and a diplomatic platform. At a time when Europe is facing new threats, this event is more important than ever. It offers the public the opportunity to see the armed forces and security services up close, while providing professionals with a space for training, exchanging experiences, and building trust. That is why it is always interesting to see what new features the next edition will bring. Zbyněk Pavlačík, chairman of the organizing association Jagello 2000, has a simple answer to that question: "Let yourself be surprised!"