Czech Army tests twin machine-gun counter-drone mount on SVOS Mars 4×4 armored vehicle
Czech air defense troops from the 25th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment have test-fired a remotely operated twin machine-gun system mounted on a SVOS Mars 4×4 armored vehicle against small drones. The setup is being offered as a lower-cost counter-drone option alongside the missile-armed version already ordered by the Czech Army.
Latvia selects Czech Morana 155mm wheeled howitzer after rejecting Swedish Archer as too costly
Latvia's government decided to procure Czech-made Morana 155mm wheeled howitzers from Excalibur Army for the National Armed Forces, choosing the system over Sweden's competing Archer howitzer. The Cabinet of Ministers based its decision on cost and delivery speed; Archer proved too expensive and slow under Latvia's current defence budget.
Why it matters: Archer lost on price and timeline—Czech industry is undercutting Western Europe on artillery while Sweden is still writing delivery schedules.
UK's Supacat starts production on 18 HMT Extenda vehicles for Czech special forces
British vehicle maker Supacat has started production on 18 HMT Extenda military vehicles for the Czech Republic's 601st Special Forces Group, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027. The vehicles will replace an aging fleet of Land Rover Defender 110 platforms. Defence Blog reports the HMT Extenda is designed for special operations mobility.