DEFENSE MAGAZINE

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) is?unveiling a?modified version of?its European-built Pandur 6x6 combat vehicle, now outfitted with a?short-range air defense (SHORAD) turret already in?service with the US?Army. This enhanced variant aims to?fill a?critical capability gap in?maneuver air defense for light infantry and rapid deployment forces.

In his presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised a?series of?measures to?fundamentally change the United States. These promises are confirmed by?the large number of?executive orders he?has signed since returning to?the White House—more than 90?in total. Perhaps the most controversial military-related decision came in?late January, which states that the gender identity of?transgender active-duty service members "is inconsistent with a?soldier's commitment to?an honest, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, including in?personal life, and is?detrimental to?military readiness."

The BMP-3 is?a Russian Infantry Fighting Vehicle developed in?the Soviet Union in?the 1980s by?Kurganmashzavod. It?entered service in?1987, and belongs to?the most heavily armed vehicles in?its class. Its armament consists of?the 100 mm?2A70 low-pressure cannon, the 30?mm 2A72 automatic cannon, the 7.62 mm?coaxial PKT machine gun and two other 7.62 mm?PKT machine guns. The BMP-3 can fire the 9M117 anti-tank missile of?the 9K166-3 Basnya system (AT-12 Swinger in?NATO designation) from its main cannon barrel.?

The ex-Yugoslav countries, which took different paths after the break-up of?the federation in?1991, are at?different stages of?military modernisation today. While Slovenia and Croatia are firmly part of?NATO and are actively transitioning to?Alliance standards, Serbia maintains military neutrality and relies primarily on?Russian and Chinese equipment.

China’s Ministry of?State Security (MSS) has officially confirmed the espionage case involving Liu, a?former defense engineer who was sentenced to?death for leaking classified state secrets to?foreign intelligence agencies. The case, which had been the subject of?speculation on?Chinese social media, was publicly acknowledged in?a detailed statement by?the MSS, outlining Liu’s espionage activities and the extent of?the security breach.

The U.S. Army and Navy should rely more heavily on?3D printing technology in?the future for military building construction. According to?the US?Department of?Defense, the use of?composite wood and other innovative elements should play a?greater role in?barracks construction. As?part of?the discussion, lawmakers and experts evaluated which of?the modern techniques would be?most appropriate and cost-effective while maintaining the necessary durability.

In a?significant policy shift, the defense ministers of?Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have announced their intention to?withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, a?global treaty banning the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of?anti-personnel mines. Citing the increasing threat posed by?Russia, these NATO members emphasize the necessity of?enhanced defensive capabilities to?secure NATO's Eastern Flank. Their joint statement sends a?resolute message:?"Our countries are prepared and can use every necessary measure to?defend our territory and freedom."

We recently visited the Czech company Tatra Defence Vehicle (TDV), part of?the CSG group, where we?had the opportunity to?see part of?its current production portfolio. We?saw the first welded hull of?the new generation of?the Pandur 8x8 EVO armoured wheeled vehicle, the welded set of?the BvS10 two-piece tracked all-terrain vehicle or?the Tatra vehicle platforms under development, which will be?part of?the SPYDER anti-aircraft kit for the Czech Army as?guided missile carriers.

The United States has launched large-scale military strikes against multiple targets in?Yemen under the control of?the Iranian-backed Houthi militia. President Donald Trump announced the operations on?Saturday, citing national security concerns and the need to?safeguard international navigation routes.

The challenges that the Czech Army has been addressing in?recent years are in?many cases transnational and are thus also relevant in?other NATO member states. That is?why we?asked Lieutenant General Ivo St?echa, the military representative of?the Czech Republic to?NATO and the European Union, for an?interview in?which we?discussed, for example, the issue of?recruitment and the related topic of?the reintroduction of?full-time service, the lower level of?resilience of?society, the willingness to?participate in?the defence of?the state, the emergence of?new technologies and much more.