1/2017 The military first, till the very last day 2 ACR in 2016 6 Field surgical team in Iraq 32 The 2nd Mechanized Company of Hranice completed three-week training at the shooting range Velká Střelná Live-firing exercise The theme of the exercise was a response to the dominant enemy, deploying infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) BVP-2, factsheet infantry soldiers and anti-tank hand grenades. Hard drill and The BMP-2 is a combat amphibious unstable weather thus not only tested the old experienced armoured tracked vehicle, manufac- soldiers of this company, but also trainees, for which it was tured in Czechoslovakia, under the licence of Soviet transporter BMP-2. often their first introduction to a live deployment of the IFVs. The vehicle is designed to increase the mobility and firepower of mechanized he 2nd Mechanized Company of Hra­ units to destroy armoured targets and enemy manpower. Its armament con­ nice completed three­week training Actual themes sists of automatic cannon 2A42, calibre Tat the firing range in the Libavá mili­ The organizers prepared attractive lessons, 30 mm, which is designed to destroy tary area. Its aim was to examine whether very close to a real combat, when the squad light armoured vehicles of the enemy, the soldiers were able to manage tactics sitting in the BMP­2 vehicle was “attacked” machine gun PKT, calibre 7.62 mm, and of platoon, as well as live firing from by the fire from a civilian car. In this situa­ launchers of antitank missiles Konkurs. the IFV BMP­2, with the best results in a given tion, the squad responded with the fire The BMP-2 has an installed device for time standard. Hranice soldiers de stroyed from a main gun of fighting vehicle and protecting the crew from the pressure fleeting and moving targets, up to a dis tance destroyed enemy. When the leader passed wave, penetrating radiation, radio­ of 2,300 meters, not only during the day, his report to superior, the squad was again active fallout and chemical weapons. but also at night. Members of the company attacked, this time by a mock terrorist It is also equipped with a 902V system for firing smoke grenades (6 pieces). capitalized their knowledge and skills from group, with small arms. According to the In Czecho slovakia, infantry fighting specialized preparation and field exercises guidelines dealing with the use of “propor­ ve hi cles BMP­2 were serially pro­ of the previous year and the trainees ac quir­ tionate force”, as prescribed by doctrines duced from 1987 to 1989. A total of ed the necessary skills. A great em phasis on weapons deployment, the squad leader 344 ­pieces were pro duced, of them was placed on the decision­making process ordered the fire team to dismount and 280 com bat vehicles were introduced of platoon commanders and squad leaders, destroy infantry. The second part of a fire into the former Czechoslovak People’s who among other things practiced issuing exercise continued with small­arms shoot­ Army (ČSLA). combat orders. ing. The soldiers first beat the enemy off by a resolute action and then gradually three­week training tested the abil ity of disengaged themselves from the fight, and com mand and was able to make the most with the use of covering fire they moved of the previous ex per i cences. “This ex er cise contents out form a tactically unfavourable area. I evaluate very positively,” said the com­ mander of the 2nd Mech Coy Captain Michal Rožňovský. The Mili tary Training Area Libavá Live-firing exercise 1 Cannon and also prepared for the soldiers its normal con­ di tions, i.e. totally unpredictable weather, The military first, till the very last day 2 a machine gun where snow alternated with rain and spring During the firing exercise, the soldiers ex­ sun shine with strong winds nearly in a hur­ ACR in 2016 6 ploited all weapons they had in the arse­ ricane force. For veteran soldiers, however, nal. Gunner­operators of the IFV were firing it was no problem and a quick adaptation The Giant Mountains 2017 15 both from the cannon and a machine gun. of novice trainees marked the suc ces sful During the attack, the infantry used BREN comple tion of the first phase of a three­- Paras with new types of bags 16 assault rifles, RPG­7 launches, machine guns week fire exercise in day and at night. Support for an Iron Wolf 18 and grenade launchers. “The level of train­ ing of commanders and gunner­operators Shield 21 of the IFVs went up noticeably. The intensive Text and photos by Michal Voska There was no time for fear 22 Women in the Czech Army 24 The Gripens over Iceland 26 Allied Spirit VI 28 Tábor’s patrol won the bronze 30 Field surgical team in Iraq 32 New units of the Active Reserve 35 Heavenly dogs 36 He tasted the atmosphere at the start, the next year he would like to smell the finish line 38 CZ Bren 2 40 TATRA trucks for the Armed Forces 42 The last of the heroes on parachutes 44 A mission in white 46 Command can′t do without a connection 48 Published by MoD Czech Republic Communication and Promotion Department Tychonova 1, 160 01 Praha 6, Czech Republic www.army.cz Identification number: 60162694 Address: Rooseveltova 23, 161 05 Praha 6, Czech Republic Phone: +420 973 215 648, +420 973 215 786 Editor­in­chief: Vladimír Marek Layout: Libora Schulzová Translation: Jan Jindra, Jaroslav Furmánek Cover photo: Jana Deckerová Distributed by MHI Prague, Production Section Rooseveltova 23, 161 05 Praha 6, Czech Republic Oľga Endlová, tel. +420 973 215 563 Printed by: Profi­tisk group s. r. o. ISSN 1804­9672 Registration number: MK ČR E 18227 Published in June 2017 2 A review 1/2017 General Josef Bečvář: Modernisation of our armed forces is not a horse race; all projects have to be worked out dutifully. The military first, till the very last day The Chief of General Staff Afghanistan, Mali, Sinai, Iraq and other General Josef Bečvář has been locations. Over the whole last year, we only received positive news from our foreign in office for almost two years. deployments. Knock on wood, I trust it will So, the following interview stay that way and there will be no major marks the middle of his term. incident. On the home front, recruitment is clearly the greatest achieve ment. There General, you have been in office for almost two was a major shift upwards in manning levels, years, half of your term. What is your evaluation? although we still have units with relatively I would not like to speak about any sort low number of posts filled. The third domain of half. I am rather through the first com­ is the active reserve com ponent. We have plete year in which we launched realisation finally made an important progress there of the Czech Armed Forces Development after several years of stag nation. I also highly Concept. After the Government authorised value that we managed to find answers to it in ­December 2015, we started the key re­ questions associated with major acquisition ali sa tion process in 2016. We knew before­ projects and moved forward with them. hand what the year will look like, that we would have to work the legislation, its im­ There have recently been extensive changes plementa tion and preparation for all major in the legislation affecting the Czech Armed Forces. projects. I do not allude only to modernisa­ What do those processes entail, and does it make tion and arma ments, but indeed to person­ any headway? nel manage ment, changes in the com mand Absolutely. Otherwise we would not propose personnel involved in this effort. They are and control system, improvement of logis­ those processes. At 1 July 2016, amend ed the force driving the military forward to new tic support and defence infrastructure. Al­ defence legislation package came into force visions. though it may look nervously on the media and the whole MoD im­­med i ate ly benefited. – that we still do not buy anything – it is not We have been able to use a differ ent way There was news recently that you were quite the case. We are on schedule. of selecting personnel into active duty ser­ drowning in the paperwork, that it takes too much Let us look at it from the other end, from vice and into the re serve, we have been able time… the financial perspective. In 2014, we hit to promulgate new regu la tions, develop But we have to count with that. There the rock bottom with the budget of mere new concept of build ing the active reserve are no general officers on the globe run­ CZK 42 billion. The 2015 MoD budget held component and so forth. The new legisla­ ning around with rifles in training areas. CZK 43.8 billion and there was 47.8 bil lion in tion definitely takes us for ward in de vel op­ Our mission here is to work on operation 2016. This year, the defence appro priations ing capacities for crisis management. or indeed strategic level and that is where amounting to CZK 52.5 bil lion practically we cannot do without administration and equal the sum we administered in 2009. You enjoyed a good cooperation on the defence policy development work. All armed forces The growth so far was primari ly used to legislation, and you have been through the concept around the world have it that way.