Czech defense group expands in Slovakia with wheeled vehicle program in mind
As Slovakia is pursuing plans to acquire at least 76 eight-wheel-drive armored vehicles, Prague-based defense holding Czechoslovak Group (CSG) hopes to build on its experience with Czech wheeled vehicle programs to expand to the neighboring market.
With the Slovak tender in mind, the Czech group has increased its presence in the neighboring country.
“This year, we launched a new brand in Slovakia, Tatra Defence Slovakia, which will mount chassis for military vehicles,” Jiri Chromec, a representative of Tatra Trucks, told Defense News. “Our Slovak facility will work on various vehicles, including six- and eight-wheel-drive ones.”
Local observers say that some of the foreign players that are expected to offer their eight-wheel-drive vehicles to Slovakia include GDELS, with the Pandur II, and Finland’s Patria, with its armored modular vehicle (AMV).
At the same time, Slovakia is also planning to purchase 152 new tracked vehicles for its land forces.
Slovak government approves acquisition of new armoured vehicles
In order to ensure the mobility of land forces and to reinforce a national commitment to NATO, Slovakia's government has approved the acquisition of 152 IFVs and 76 8x8 armoured combat vehicles (ACV).
A spokesperson for the service confirmed to Shephard that, based on qualified estimates gained from RfIs, the country plans to invest €1.739 billion ($2.55 billion) in procuring the IFVs and €332 million ($392.51 million) on the ACVs.
Das Ministerium hat gestern ein RfQ an 33 Staaten übermittelt. Bis Ende 2021 müssen die Angebote für 8x8-Radpanzer eintreffen, bis Ende Januar 2022 die Angebote für Schützenpanzer auf Kettenfahrgestell.
Die Angebote werden nach folgenden Kriterien evaluiert:
Kosten ... 35 %
Technische Spezifikationen ... 30 %
Logistik (Life Cycle Costs) ... 10%
Beteiligung der slowakischen Industrie (die mindestens 40 % des Kaufpreises ausmachen muss) ... 25 %
Bis Ende März 2022 soll der Zuschlag für die Radpanzer erfolgen, bis Ende Juni 2022 der Zuschlag für die Schützenpanzer. Die ersten neuen Fahrzeuge sollten bestenfalls schon 2024 geliefert werden.
Five countries present their bids for the Slovak 8x8 AFV programme, they are coming up for evaluation by a project team of experts (3. Januar 2022)
The Ministry of Defence received bids for the Slovak Armed Forces' 8x8 Wheeled Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) Programme. Czechia, Finland, Romania, Spain and the US submitted their bids by the official deadline of 31 December 2021, with some countries offering several technical solutions.
The bids are now coming up for evaluation by a 70-member project team comprising experts from across Defence and the Ministry of Economy (MOE) to help assess the level of Slovak industry content.
The project team will now analyse the bids in detail, whereas testing and trials on individual vehicles are expected soon after. Following the evaluation process, the expert team will finalise a feasibility study and related documents. The recommendation for the SVK Cabinet to procure the 8x8 Wheeled Armoured Fighting Vehicles is due by the end of March 2022.
The bids will be assessed on their merits against the scoring criteria. Out of 100% of the total score, the total Agreement price is worth 35%, the technical specifications 30%, logistics support across all stages of the vehicle's life cycle 10%, and the SVK defence industry's role in the programme 25%.
UAM hat im März 2011, in Zusammenarbeit mit dem rumänischen Verteidigungsministerium, ein mittlerweile totes Programm zur Entwicklung eines Radpanzers begonnen:
Lansarea programului naţional "Transportor blindat pentru trupe 8x8" la Uzina Automecanica Moreni
Slovakia narrows down IFV programme to four proposals
An MoD spokesperson told Shephard that offers for the €1.74 billion ($2.55 billion) government-to-government tender have been submitted by Hungary (with the KF41 Lynx platform), Poland (Borsuk), Spain (ASCOD) and Sweden (CV90).
Die Deadline für die Angebote endete am 31. Januar. Vier Angebote sind eingegangen. Es folgen eine Angebotsbewertung und eine Machbarkeitsstudie. Bis Ende Juni 2022 soll eine Empfehlung an die Regierung vorliegen.