Military Wiki
Military of the Czech Republic
Armáda České republiky
Logo of the Czech Armed Forces Czech roundel
The coat of arms and roundel
Founded c.1918
Current form 1993
Service branches Land Forces, Czech Air Force
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief President of the Republic Miloš Zeman
Minister of Defense Vlastimil Picek
Chief of Defense Chief of the General Staff: Lieutenant general Petr Pavel
Manpower
Military age 18 years of age
Conscription Abolished in 2004
Available for
military service
2,414,728, age 15–49 (2005 est.)
Fit for
military service
1,996,631, age 15–49 (2005 est.)
Reaching military
age annually
66,583 (2005 est.)
Active personnel 21,057, 8,288 civilian personnel. Army Equipment= 123 m.b.t.'s, 586 i.f.v.'s & a.p.c.'s, 185 artillery pieces
Reserve personnel 676[1]
Expenditures
Budget CZK 42,053.4 millions (2013)
Percent of GDP 1.08% (2013)[2]
Industry
Foreign suppliers Flag of Germany Germany
Flag of Sweden Sweden
Flag of Russia Russia
United States
Flag of Spain Spain
Flag of Poland Poland
Flag of Canada Canada[3]

The Army of the Czech Republic (Czech language: Armáda České Republiky ) comprise the land forces, the Czech Air Force and support units. From the late 1940s to 1989, the extensive Czechoslovak Armed Forces (about 200,000) formed one of the pillars of the Warsaw Pact military alliance. After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic is completing a major reorganisation and reduction of the armed forces, which intensified after the Czech Republic joined NATO on 12 March 1999.[4]

History[]

The Czechoslovak Armed Forces were originally formed after 1918, when Czechoslovakia was created from former Austro-Hungarian areas after the defeat of that country in World War I. Following the downfall of Czechoslovakia and occupation of its Czech part by Nazi Germany in 1939, Czechoslovak units and formations served with the Polish Army (Czechoslovak Legion), the French Army, the Royal Air Force, the British Army (the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade), and the Red Army (I Corps). Four Czech and Slovak-manned RAF squadrons were transferred to Czechoslovak control in late 1945.

From 1954[citation needed] until 1990, the Army was known as the Czechoslovak People's Army (ČSLA).[5] Although the ČSLA, as formed in 1945, included both Soviet- and British-equipped/trained expatriate troops, the "Western" soldiers had been purged from the ČSLA after 1948 when the communists took power. The ČSLA offered no resistance to the invasion mounted by the Soviets in 1968 in reaction to the "Prague Spring", and was extensively reorganized by the Soviets following the re-imposition of communist rule in Prague.

"Of the approximately 201,000 personnel on active duty in the ČSLA in 1987, about 145,000, or about 72 percent, served in the ground forces (commonly referred to as the army). About 100,000 of these were conscripts."[6] There were two military districts, Western and Eastern. A 1989 listing of forces shows two Czechoslovak armies in the west, the 1st at Příbram with one tank division and three motor rifle divisions, the 4th at Písek with two tank divisions and two motor rifle divisions. In the Eastern Military District, there were two tank divisions, the 13th and 14th, with a supervisory headquarters at Trenčín in the Slovak part of the country.[7]

During the Cold War, the ČSLA was equipped primarily with Soviet arms, although certain arms like the OT-64 SKOT armored personnel carrier, the L-29 Delfín and L-39 Albatros aircraft, the P-27 Pancéřovka antitank rocket launcher, the Sa vz. 58 assault rifle or the Uk vz. 59 machine gun were of Czechoslovak design.

After 1992 (dissolution of Czechoslovakia)[]

Afghanistan - Czech BVP2 tanks are firing

Czech BVP2 firing in Afghanistan

Czech army Sgt. Van Kmecik and Croatian army Master Sgt

Czech Army Sgt. (left) discusses patrol routes with a Croatian Army Sgt. (right) while in Germany to prepare for deployment to Afghanistan.

The Army of the Czech Republic was formed after the Czechoslovak Armed Forces split after the 1 January 1993 dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Czech forces stood at 90,000 in 1993. They were reduced to around 65,000 in 11 combat brigades and the Air Force in 1997, to 63,601 in 1999,[8] and to 35,000 in 2005. At the same time, the forces were modernized and reoriented towards a defensive posture. In 2004, the army transformed itself into a fully professional organization and compulsory military service was abolished. The Army maintains an active reserve.

The Czech Republic is a member of the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Since 1990, the ACR and the Czech Armed Forces have contributed to numerous peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, including IFOR, SFOR, and EUFOR Althea in Bosnia, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Albania, Turkey, Pakistan and with the Coalition forces in Iraq.

Current deployments (as of 2010):

  • Kosovo: NATO Operation "Joint Enterprise" (KFOR) - 450 soldiers
  • Afghanistan: NATO Operation (ISAF) - 458 soldiers, 12 civilian experts and 3 Mi-171S helicopters in Faizabad, Logar and Paktika provinces.
  • Somalia: EU Operation Atalanta (NAVFOR) - 3 soldiers
  • DR Congo: UN peacekeeping mission (MONUC) - 3 military observers
  • Afghanistan: UN peacekeeping mission (UNAMA) - 1 military observer
  • Kosovo: UN peacekeeping mission (UNMIK) - 1 military observer

In February 2010, Czech media started to speculate about possible corruption around the purchase of Pandur II vehicles for the Czech Army.[9]

Structure[]

Czech Forces

Structure of the Czech Armed Forces. Click to expand.

Military of the Czech Republic is located in Czech Republic
Red pog
4th Mech Bde (Žatec)
Red pog
7th Mech Bde (Hranice)
Red pog
13th Art Bde (Jince)
Red pog
25th ADA Bde (Strakonice)
Red pog
53rd Recon Bde (Opava)
Czech Army - combat brigade locations

Structure of the Czech Armed Forces consists of three parts:[10]

  • General Staff of Czech Armed Forces (Praha)
    • Spol sily01 Land Forces (Praha)
    • Czech roundel Air Force (Praha)

The 153rd Engineer Battalion based in Olomouc was created on 15 October 2008 and is subordinated to the 15th Engineer Brigade, Joint Forces Command. The unit is stationed in the outskirts of the city of Olomouc, in place of the canceled 156th Rescue Battalion.[11]

Active reserves[]

Active Reserve (in Czech Aktivní záloha) is a part of the otherwise professional Army of the Czech Republic. This service was created to allow the participation of citizens with a positive attitude to the military.

A volunteer needs either to have completed the compulsory military service (which ended in 2004) or to attend 8 week training. Then the reservists have to serve up to three weeks a year and can be called up to serve two weeks during a non-military crisis. They are not intended to serve abroad. The Reserve presents itself on events like BAHNA, a military show.

Equipment[]

Equipment numbers as of January 1, 2013[13]

Equipment Origin Quantity Type Notes
Main battle tanks
T-72M4CZ Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 30 Main battle tank
T-72 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 93 Main battle tank
IFVs and APCs
BVP-2 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union
Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia
174 Infantry fighting vehicle
BVP-1 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union
Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia
207 Infantry fighting vehicle
BPzV Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 76 Armoured reconnaissance vehicle
OT-90 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 17 Armoured tracked personnel carrier Being phased out
OT-64 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia
Flag of Poland Poland
5 Armoured personnel carrier Being phased out
Pandur II Flag of Austria Austria 107 Infantry fighting vehicle / Armoured personnel carrier
Artillery
152mm SpGH DANA Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 89 Self-propelled howitzer
M1982 PRAM-L 120mm Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 85 Towed mortar
SPM-85 PRAM-S 120mm Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 8 Self-propelled mortar
ARTHUR Artillery Tracking Radar Flag of Sweden Sweden 3 Artillery tracking radar
Non armoured vehicles
Land Rover Defender Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 114 Light off-road vehicle
Land Rover Defender 130 Kajman Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 79 Light off-road vehicle
Tatra T 810 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 588 Military truck
Tatra T815 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 1000+ Military heavy truck (4x4, 6x6, 8x8, 10x10 versions)[14]
Dingo 2 Flag of Germany Germany 19 Armoured military truck
Iveco LMV Flag of Italy Italy 19 (+90) Armoured light off road vehicle
Air-defence systems
2K12 Kub-M2 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union 4 Batteries[15] Surface-to-air missile
9K35 Strela-10M Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union 1600 Surface-to-air missile
RBS 70[14] Flag of Sweden Sweden 172 Man-portable air-defense systems
Combat aircraft and helicopters
JAS 39 Gripen Flag of Sweden Sweden 14 Lightweight single-engine multirole fighter
Aero L 159 ALCA Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 24 Light attack aircraft
Mil Mi-35 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union
Flag of Russia Russia
17 Attack helicopter
Support/Transport aircraft and helicopters
PZL W-3 Sokół Flag of Poland Poland 10 Utility helicopter
Mil Mi-17 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union 5 Transport helicopter
Mil Mi-171Sh Flag of Russia Russia 16 Transport / attack helicopter
EADS CASA C-295M Flag of Spain Spain 4 Transport aircraft
Let L-410 Turbolet Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 8 Light transport and photographic mapping
Sojka III Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 1+ Unmanned aerial vehicle
Training aircraft and helicopters
Aero L-39 Albatros Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 9 Jet trainer
Zlin Z 142CAF Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 8 Basic trainer
Eurostar EV97 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 1 Basic trainer
PZL Mi-2 Hoplite Flag of Poland Poland 5 Trainer helicopter
VIP Transport
Airbus A319CJW Flag of France France 2 VIP transport
Yakolev Yak-40 Codling Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union 2 VIP transport
Bombardier Challenger 600 Flag of Canada Canada 1 VIP transport

Small arms & hand weapons[]

Name Country of origin Type Notes
CZ 75 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic
Pistol
Glock pistol Flag of Austria Austria Pistol In use by the 601. skss and some other units deployed in Afghanistan. Being replaced by CZ 75 SP-01 Phantom for all apart from 601st SFG.
Škorpion vz. 61 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic
Submachine gun
PDW Škorpion EVO III Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic Submachine gun In use by the Prague Castle Guard.
Heckler & Koch MP5 Flag of Germany Germany Submachine gun
Winchester Model 1200 United States Shotgun Model 1300 Defender used in small numbers
Vz. 52 rifle Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Rifle Used as ceremonial weapon by Prague Castle Guard
Bushmaster M4A3 United States Carbine In use by the 601. skupina speciálních sil generála Moravce
Sa vz. 58 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Assault rifle Standard service rifle, currently being replaced by CZ 805 Bren
CZ 805 Bren Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic Assault rifle Gradually replaces Vz. 58[16] as the standard issue assault rifle
Mk 48 United States General-purpose machine gun
M60 machine gun United States General-purpose machine gun In use by the 601. skss
Dragunov Sniper Rifle Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union Designated marksman rifle
Sako TRG Flag of Finland Finland Sniper rifle
CZ 700 Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic Sniper rifle
RPG-7V Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union Anti-tank grenade launcher
RPG-75 Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia
Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic
Anti-tank weapon
Carl Gustav M3 Flag of Sweden Sweden Recoilless rifle
FGM-148 Javelin United States Anti-tank missile launcher

Uniforms[]

Different types of Czech Army uniforms:

Commanding officers[]

  • Chief of the General Staff: Lieutenant General Petr Pavel
  • First Deputy Chief of the General Staff: Major General Miroslav Žižka
  • Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the AČR-Chief of Staff: Major General Bohuslav Dvořák
  • Deputy Chief of the General Staff - Director of Joint Operation Centre: Major General Aleš Opata
  • Deputy Chief of the General Staff - Inspector of the AČR: Major General František Malenínský
    • Immediately Subordinated Offices:
    • Military Regional Office, Boletice
    • Military Regional Office, Brdy
    • Military Regional Office, Březina
    • Military Regional Office, Hradiště
    • Military Regional Office, Libavá
  • Support Policy Division: Director Major General Pavel Jevula
    • Immediately Subordinated Institutions:
    • Central Military Hospital, Prague
    • Military Hospital, Brno
    • Military Hospital, Olomouc
    • Institute of Aviation Medicine, Prague
  • Communication and Information Systems Division:Director - Chief of the Signal Corps of AČR: Colonel Jan Kaše
    • Immediately Subordinated Institutions:
    • 6th Communication Centre
    • Research and Communication Centre 080
    • Information Technology Development Agency
  • Force Planning Division: Acting Director Colonel František Mičánek
  • Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare Department: Director Colonel Miroslav Žižka
    • Immediately Subordinated Office:
    • Military Geography and Hydrometeorology Office
  • Military Aviation Authority: Director Colonel Josef Otta

Current and historic military ranks[]

These are the military ranks, historic and present-day, of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic and its predecessor force, the Czechoslovak Armed Forces, later known as the People's Army.

Enlisted and non-commissioned officers[]

  • Vojín - Private, Airman
  • Svobodník - Private First Class, Airman First Class
  • Desátník - Corporal, Senior Airman
  • Četař - Sergeant
  • Četař jednoroční dobrovolník - Volunteer Sergeant (used 1919-1920)
  • Rotný - Staff Sergeant (formerly Sikovatel from 1919-20)
  • Štábní šikovatel - Company Sergeant Major (used 1918-1920)
  • Staršina - Platoon Sergeant, Flight sergeant (part of the rank system 1948-1959)
  • Rotmistr - Sergeant First Class, Technical Sergeant
  • Nadrotmistr - Master Sergeant
  • Štábní rotmistr - First Sergeant (abolished 2011)

Warrant officers[]

Officer cadets and military school cadets[]

  • Kadet Aspirant - Officer cadet (used 1919-1920)
  • Gážista mimo hodnostní třídu - Reserve Officer Candidate (used 1919-1920)

Officers[]

References[]

  1. http://www.army.cz/scripts/detail.php?id=51638
  2. http://www.army.cz/scripts/detail.php?id=5760
  3. [1]
  4. "Military Balance in Europe 2011"., March 07, 2011.
  5. For more information on the Czechoslovak Army during the Cold War, see Gordon L. Rottman, Warsaw Pact Ground Forces, Osprey Publishing, 1987
  6. Library of Congress Country Study: Czechoslovakia, Ground Forces, 1987
  7. Orbat.com, Warsaw Pact Order of Battle 1989, accessed 2 June 2010
  8. "Starting points for professionalization of the armed forces" (in Czech). 2000. http://www.defenceandstrategy.eu/filemanager/files/file.php?file=6406. Retrieved 2008-06-27. 
  9. http://zpravy.idnes.cz/secret-pandur-agreement-bring-the-politicians-we-ll-pay-pio-/prilohy.asp?c=A100221_142541_domaci_abr
  10. "New management and command structure of Armed Forces of the Czech Republic as of 1 July 2013". www.army.cz. Ministerstvo obrany. http://www.army.cz/en/ministry-of-defence/newsroom/news/new-management-and-command-structure-of-armed-forces-of-the-czech-republic-as-of-1-july-2013-86722/. Retrieved 6 July 2013. 
  11. http://www.153zpr.army.cz - webové stránky praporu www.153zpr.army.cz
  12. "Raketomety si naposledy vystřelily, po 40 letech služby končí". www.novinky.cz. Novinky.cz. http://www.novinky.cz/domaci/215284-raketomety-si-naposledy-vystrelily-po-40-letech-sluzby-konci.html/. Retrieved 1 September 2013. 
  13. http://www.dasa.mod.uk/publications/equipment/CFE-vehicles-and-aircraft/2013/2013.pdf
  14. 14.0 14.1 http://www.army.cz/scripts/detail.php?id=11072
  15. http://www.25plrb.army.cz/?page_id=178
  16. http://olomoucky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/armada-prevzala-ve-stepanove-nove-utocne-pusky-fot.html

Further reading[]

External links[]

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