STV Group to supply ballistic vests to Czech Army
STV Group is to provide 46,988 ballistic vests to the Czech Army between 2020 and 2025 as part of a wider modernisation effort. The agreement is worth CZK 1.67 billion ($62.8 million), according to the Czech MoD.
The vests will come in three variants: green camouflage, desert camouflage and black for the Military Police. Each will have Level IV ballistic protection.
The announcement was made during a visit to the defence ministry by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (pictured holding a gun), in which it was urged that outdated Russian military technology must be phased out from the Czech Armed Forces.
The government is aiming to increase its military spending from its current level of 1.4% of GDP to 2.0% by 2024, which would equate to an annual budget of approximately CZK130 billion.
Defence Minister Lubomir Metnar said further contracts for 52 NATO 155mm calibre guns and SHORAD anti-aircraft missiles are also expected to be concluded later this year.
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