The defence technology fair DEFEA was held in Athens, Greece, on May 9-11, at which 15 Czech companies presented themselves thanks to the project for the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Czech Republic. “Safety is a basic prerequisite for us to have 30 years of independence at all,” said Zbyněk Pavlačík, chairman of Jagello 2000, at the ceremonial opening of the Czech exposition.
As part of the Czech defence industry, manufacturers of weapons, surveillance systems, explosives, protective masks and filter ventilation equipment as well as manufacturers of aircraft engines and airplanes presented themselves. There were also premieres – a heavy logistics vehicle and an armoured vehicle with a short-range anti-aircraft missile system.
The Czech exposition was opened by Radka Konderlová, senior director of the industrial cooperation section of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic and at the same time head of the Czech delegation. In her opening speech, she emphasized that this is the second Czech participation in this fair, which started symbolically on Europe Day.
“As the geopolitical situation changes, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, it becomes clear that the defence industry plays an absolutely essential role in the national defence of individual states and in overall European and alliance defence,” she added.
The connecting element between the Czech companies was once again the video, which, as part of the 30th anniversary project, presents successful Czech projects in the field of the defence industry, and which premiered in February this year at the IDEX trade fair in Abu Dhabi.
The full version of the video, which was presented at the IDEX fair, can be found below.
The Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the Defence and Security Industry Association, and the Association of the Aerospace Industry participated in the video and in the presentation of companies within the Czech exposition. The general partner of the project is Czechoslovak Group, a.s.