The state-owned company VOP CZ is expanding its activities in the field of military production. It has recently won a prestigious contract for the welding of armored cabins for IVECO vehicles for the defense company KNDS Deutschland.

The contract covers the production and welding of armored cabins for specific IVECO GTF3 vehicles. They will be manufactured at the VOP CZ production plant in Šenov near Nový Jičín. The contract currently covers 130 cabins, with the option to deliver dozens more included in the agreement.

Thanks to the high quality and precision requirements, this contract could put VOP CZ at the forefront of European production of welded military components. The state-owned company has extensive experience in the field of armored cabin welding, having previously welded hulls for Czech Pandur armored vehicles and supplied more than 400 cabins for NIMR vehicles destined for a customer in the Middle East.

The production of GTF3 cabins will take place in several phases. Production is scheduled to start in the fall of this year, with the first cabins expected to be delivered by the end of 2025.

GTF3 cabins are part of IVECO vehicles used, for example, by the German Bundeswehr. "This cooperation with KNDS Deutschland confirms that VOP CZ has a strong reputation in the field of military welding. Our experience and know-how in the field of armored structure welding are truly extensive, and this was the main reason why KNDS Deutschland chose us as its partner," said VOP CZ Director Vlastimil Navrátil to CZ DEFENCE.

The product portfolio of the defense company KNDS Deutschland also includes the Leopard 2A8 main battle tank (which should serve in the Czech Army in the future), the PzH 2000 and RCH 155 artillery systems, and the 4x4 APC DINGO 2 vehicle, which has been in service with the Czech Armed Forces for several years. KNDS Deutschland is part of the German-French defense holding company KNDS.

The involvement of a Czech company in this supply chain is an important step towards deeper integration of the Czech defense industry into European structures, which also strengthens the Czech Republic's reputation in the field of defense technologies.