Czech Air Force
Czech Air Force | |
---|---|
Vzdušné síly | |
Aero L-159 | |
Transport | C-295M, Airbus A319 |
The Czech Air Force (Czech: Vzdušné síly)[Note 1] is the air force branch of the Army of the Czech Republic. Along with the Land Forces, the Air Force is the major Czech military force. With traditions of military aviation dating back to 1918, the Czech Air Force, together with the Slovak Air Force, succeeded the Czechoslovak Air Force in 1993.[4][5] On 1 July 1997, the 3rd Tactical Aviation Corps and the 4th Air Defence Corps of the Czech Army were merged to form an independent Air Force Headquarters.
The air force is responsible for securing the integrity of the Czech Republic's airspace through the
Czech
History
First years
The separation saw a large reduction in types, numbers, and bases. In 1994, the 3rd Corps of Tactical Aviation was created. The newest fighter in the
The new-era Air Force of the Czech Army was effectively formed on 1 July 1997 when the 3rd Corps of Tactical Aviation and the 4th Air Defence Corps were united. The members of both units have taken part in
2000s
A new international tender was issued for an interim solution. Gripen again won this tender among six different bidders as the Czech Republic accepted a government-to-government 10-year lease from Sweden that did not involve BAE Systems. Media allegations of BAE Systems kickbacks to decision makers during the original sales effort have led nowhere in judicial inquiries.[11]
In December 2008, the Czech Air Force wanted to train helicopter pilots for desert conditions for the upcoming mission in Afghanistan. Israel was the only country that was ready to help out, as it saw this as an opportunity to thank the Czech Republic for training Israeli pilots and supporting Israel when it first became a state.[12][13]
The independence of the Czech Air Force was terminated on 1 December 2003 when the force became a part of newly established Joint Forces of the Czech Army with the command post located at Olomouc. Within the new structure the Air Force Commander-in-Chief was named as a Joint Forces Chief Commander Deputy.[6]
2010s
The Air Force operated within this structure until 30 June 2013. Within the framework of the reorganisation of the Army, on 1 July 2013 the independent High Command of the Czech Air Force (Czech: Velitelství vzdušných sil) was established, headquartered in Prague with new Commander in Chief Brigadier General Libor Štefánik.[14] Former Joint Forces Command and Support Forces Command HQs were disbanded by 30 June 2013.[15]
With the Gripen contract due to expire in 2015, speculation mounted about whether that leasing agreement will be renewed or another type of fighter plane chosen.
The creation of a non-supersonic air force has also been discussed as an option, owing to the perceived high costs and limited usefulness of keeping supersonic assets in a country surrounded by allied countries (all are
On 16 May 2014, the director general of the Swedish defence and export agency FXM and the Czech deputy defence minister for defence acquisitions signed the "Annex prolonging agreement of lease of the JAS-39 Gripen aircraft", ensuring also the continuous upgrading and increasing the capabilities of these machines. The Swedish supersonic aircraft will equip the Czech Air Force until 2027 with an option for further two years.[20]
Czech Defense Minister
2020s
In September 2020, both old Soviet Yak-40 transports were decommissioned in Kbely Air Force Base.[26] In September 2021, the last small VIP transport plane CL-601 Challenger ended its service. In March 2022, it was removed from military air registry,[27] and it is now one of the components of Military History Institute.[28]
In September 2021, Czech Defense minister Lubomír Metnar signed contract with government of Israel for SPYDER Air Defense systems[29] to replace old Soviet era 2K12M2 Kub (SA-6) systems. In April 2022, after Czech republic donated some of its Mi-24 helicopters to Ukraine as part of the military support, the US DoD decided to give additional 6 AH-1Z Viper and 2 UH-1Y Venom from their reserves as a gift to boost insufficient number of already ordered helicopters.[30] They should be delivered after modernisation in 2026 and 2027.[31] The first two AH-1Z arrived in July 2023 and both AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters were presented to public for the first time during the 2023 NATO Days in Ostrava.[32] All of the 12 ordered helicopters is expected to be delivered before the end of first quarter of 2024.[31]
In July 2022, Czech government selected F-35A Lightning II as a new fighter aircraft to enter service after lease of the JAS-39 ends in 2027. For that purpose minister of defence Jana Černochová was authorized to start negotiation on procurement of 24 fighters with the government of United States of America.[33] On 27 September the Czech government approved the conditions of the contract for 24 F-35A that would be delivered from 2029 to 2033.[34]
Czech Air Force together with Polish Air Force protects the airspace of Slovakia since 1 September 2022 when Slovak Air Force grounded its old MiG-29 and the term of delivery of the new F-16C fighters were postponed to 2024.[35]
CzAF-NATO cooperation
Since the Czech Republic joined
NATO Tiger Association
In 2002, the NATO Tiger Meet was held at the Beja Air Base in Portugal. The 331st Helicopter Squadron was honored there by proclaiming it as a full member of the NATO Tiger Association. The squadron also received the most prestigious trophy, the Silver Tiger. With its new 221st Helicopter Squadron designation the unit continues, rejuvenated by new incoming members, in the Tiger tradition through today.
After the deployment of new JAS-39 Gripen fighters in 2005, four Gripens took part in the NATO Tiger Meet for the first time in 2008 at French Landivisiau. In 2010, the 211st Tactical Squadron was accepted as a full member of the NATO Tiger Association at Volkel Air Base, and the squadron was awarded a Silver Tiger Trophy.[37]
AWACS
In 2011, the Czech Republic became the eighteenth country taking part in the NATO
Foreign deployments
Afghanistan
In December 2009, Czech Air Force members started to build-up a rear for their new helicopter unit to be deployed in
The first advisory group of the Czech Air Force was sent to Afghanistan in April 2008. Involved then there were members of the 231st of the time and the recent 221st Helicopter Squadron who have been tasked to participate in an establishment of the new
A new Czech team was added to the deployment in 2010. The new Czech group consisted of pilots and technicians from the 243rd Helicopter Squadron, respectively from the 24th Transport Air Base at Prague-Kbely. The main task of Kbely AMT (Air Mentoring Team) section has been defined as air training of Afghan Mi-17/Mi-171 transport helicopter crews.
The Czech Republic also provided material help to Afghan Air Force which included supplies of aviation equipment – six Mi-17 transport helicopters and six Mi-24 attack helicopters. After selected helicopters underwent major overhauls and modernizations all have been presented to the Afghan National Army during the 2007–2009.[41]
Baltics
The Czech Republic first joined the
Sinai Peninsula
One of the most important tasks of the Czech military transport aviation in recent years is to provide support to the international Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) peace mission at the Sinai Peninsula. A small unit with one transport C-295M turboprop belonging to the equipment of the 24th Transport Air Base at Prague-Kbely has operated there since early November 2013 and contributes to the surveillance and monitoring the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.[43]
Ukraine
In relation to the 2014 Russian invasion of the Eastern Ukraine and occupation of Crimea the Government of the Czech Republic decided to provide help to the Ukrainian people. The first large-scale evacuation took place on 27 February 2014, when two aircraft departed the 24th Transport Air Base at Prague-Kbely for Kyiv, Ukraine. The A319CJ was fitted with two PTUs (Patient Transport Units) and two stretchers, the C-295M carried one PTU and 12 stretchers. The aircraft brought 27 Ukrainian citizens to the Czech Republic. Medical care was provided during the flight by a team of military medical personnel from the Centre of the aviation rescue service at Plzeň-Líně and from the Central Military Hospital in Prague. The second MEDEVAC mission took place on 6 March 2014, when one C-295M brought to the Czech Republic further 11 wounded persons.[44]
Structure
Command and Control centres Air defence missile unit RAT-31DL
other sites
The Czech Air Force consists of the following main units:[45]
- Air Force Command, in Prague
- 21st Tactical Air Force Base "Zvolenská", in Čáslav
- 211th Tactical Squadron, with 14× JAS-39C/D Gripen
- 212th Tactical Squadron, with 14× L-159T1 ALCA
- 213th Training Squadron, with 2× L-159T2 ALCA[46]
- 211th Tactical Squadron, with 14×
- 22nd Helicopter Air Base "Biskajská", in Náměšť nad Oslavou
- 24th Transport Air Base "T. G. Masaryka", in Prague-Kbely
- 25th Air Defence Missile Regiment "Tobrucký", in Strakonice
- 251st Air Defence Missile Group, with 2K12M2 (SA-6)
- 252nd Air Defence Missile Group, with RBS-70/NG
- 251st Air Defence Missile Group, with 2K12M2 (
- 26th Air Command, Control and Surveillance Regiment, in Stará Boleslav
- 261st Control and Reporting Centre (CRC), in Hlavenec, reports to NATO's Integrated Air Defense System CAOC Uedem in Germany
- 262nd Radiotechnical Battalion, in Hlavenec
- 1st Radiotechnical Company, in Nepolisy, with RAT-31DL
- 2nd Radiotechnical Company, in Polička, with EL/M-2084 mobile radar
- 3rd Radiotechnical Company, in Stará Ves nad Ondřejnicí, with radars EL/M-2084,[49] ST-68U, and RL-4AS mobile radars
- 4th Radiotechnical Company, in Sokolnice, with RAT-31DL
- 5th Radiotechnical Company, in Třebotovice, with radars EL/M-2084 and ST-68U mobile radars
- 6th Radiotechnical Company, in Kříženec, with radars EL/M-2084, ST-68U, and RL-4AS mobile radars
- 7th Radiotechnical Company, in Hrušovany, with EL/M-2084 mobile radars
- 263nd Support Battalion, in Hlavenec
- Force Protection Company
- Reserve Control and Reporting Centre, in Větrušice
- Logistic Company
- Radar Maintenance Center, in Olomouc
- Prague Air Traffic Services Station, at Prague Airport
- Pardubice Airport Authority
- Flight Training Centre (CLV)
- 21st Tactical Air Force Base "Zvolenská", in Čáslav
Aircraft
Current inventory
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat Aircraft | ||||||
F-35 Lightning II | United States | stealth multirole | F-35A | 24 on order[54] | ||
Aero L-159
|
Czech Republic | light attack | L-159A
|
16[54] | ||
JAS 39 Gripen | Sweden | multirole | JAS 39C | 12[54] | leased from the Swedish Air Force[55] | |
Transport | ||||||
Let L-410 | Czech Republic | utility | L-410UVP[56] | 6[54] | two L-410FG used for surveillance[56] | |
Airbus A319 | France | VIP transport | A319CJ | 2[57] | ||
CASA C-295 | Spain | cargo / transport | C-295M | 6[54] | ||
Helicopters
| ||||||
Mil Mi-17 | Soviet Union | utility | 17/171 | 20[54] | ||
PZL W-3 | Poland | utility | W-3A | 10[54] | ||
Bell AH-1Z | United States | attack | 3[54] | 7 on order[54] | ||
Bell UH-1Y | United States | utility | 2[54] | 8 on order[54] | ||
Trainer Aircraft
| ||||||
Aero L-159
|
Czech Republic | jet trainer | L-159T1/T2[58]
|
8[54] | ||
JAS 39 Gripen | Sweden | jet trainer | JAS 39D | 2[54] | leased from the Swedish Air Force |
Notes
- ^ Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky in full, literally the "Air Force of the Army of the Czech Republic"
References
- ^ "Equipment Size in 2023" (PDF). army.cz. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "Vzdušné síly povede generál Petr Čepelka. Jeho prioritou je nábor specialistů a modernizace".
- ^ Kopecký, Josef (8 May 2023). "Pavel jmenoval Koudelku generálem. Zeman to blokoval a mluvil o "čučkařích"" (in Czech). Mafra. iDnes.cz. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ "The White Paper on Defence" (PDF). The Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2013.
- ^ "NATO Defence Expenditure: 2009 – 2013" (PDF). Gov.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ^ a b c Čadil, Jan (7 August 2013). "The Czech Air Force". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2013: 6.
- ^ "Live firing beyond the Arctic Circle". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2012: 32.
- ^ "Czech anti-aircraft defence radars". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2013: 50.
- ^ "W-3A Sokol helicopters in the Czech Air Force service". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2012: 43.
- ^ "NKÚ: Vláda nezdůvodnila potřebu pronajmout gripeny" (in Czech). Rozhlas.cz. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Kauza gripenů po 12 letech končí, za údajnou korupci nikdo obviněn nebude" (in Czech). Ceskatelevize.cz. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "|". Ceskenoviny.cz. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ "Czech Helicopters over the Negev Desert" (in Czech). Army.cz. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ Čadil, Jan (6 August 2014). "The Czech Air Force". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2014.
- ^ "Professional Army". army.cz. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ "Czech Air Force Modernization". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ a b "|". Ceskenoviny.cz. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ "Armáda zvažuje nájem či nákup až osmnácti stíhaček". Lidovky.cz. 24 March 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ "České strategické dokumenty". Army.cz. Archived from the original on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ "I am happy that the Gripens carry on". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2014: 18.
- ^ "Czech Military To Buy Helos, Vehicles, Radar". DefenseNews. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ^ "Czech Military To Purchase Helicopters, Vehicles, Radar". Defense World. Digitalwriters Media. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ^ Fiorenza, Nicholas (21 June 2019). "Czech Republic plans to procure C295s and upgrade T-72M tanks". Jane's Defence Weekly.
- ^ Stratilik, Ondrej (29 August 2019). "Czech Air Force to buy 12 Bell helicopters". janes.com. IHS Jane's.
- ^ Jennings, Gareth (16 December 2019). "Czech Republic orders H-1 helos". janes.com. IHS Jane's.
- ^ Špačková, Zuzana (2 September 2020). "Czech Armed Forces say farewell to Yak-40 aircraft". army.cz. Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Ukončení provozu letounu Challenger CL - 601 - 3A". maa-cze.army.cz (in Czech). Czech Ministry of Defense. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Ve Kbelích bude při zahájení sezóny vystaven vládní Challenger". vhu.cz (in Czech). Military History Institute Prague. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ Adamowski, Jaroslaw. "Czech Republic buys Israeli Spyder air-defense weapon for $627 million". DefenseNews. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ Fiorenza, Nicholas. "US to gift H-1 helicopters to Czech Republic". Janes. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ a b c Cyprisová, Vlastimila (23 November 2023). "Generál Řehka jednal se svým slovenským protějškem generálem Zmekem na vrtulníkové základně v Náměšti nad Oslavou". acr.army.cz (in Czech). Czech MoD. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ Rodin, Kristin (17 September 2023). "Bell announces delivery of H-1 helicopters during NATO Days 2023". Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ Adamowski, Jaroslaw. "Czech Republic selects F-35 as next fighter jet". DefenseNews. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ Jason, Hovet (27 September 2023). "Czech government approves plan to buy 24 F-35 jets". reuters.com. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Poland, Czechia to protect Slovakia's airspace". dw.com. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Cross Border training". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2014: 40.
- ^ "Tigers in Czechia are Twenty". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2011: 25.
- ^ "Czechs are flying with the AWACS". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2011: 12.
- ^ "The Task Force Hippo in the second year". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2011: 18.
- ^ Mikulka, Zdeněk (19 February 2010). "Střelby z palubních zbraní vrtulníků Mi-171Š v Afghánistánu". Zahraniční mise. Ministerstvo obrany. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
- ^ "Czech AMT reinforcement in Afghanistan". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2011: 40.
- ^ "In Baltic successfully again". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2013: 44.
- ^ "Czech C-295M at Sinai". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2014: 12.
- ^ "MEDEVAC helps abroad". Czech Air Force Yearbook 2014: 46.
- ISBN 978-80-89169-41-2.
- ISSN 0024-1156.
- ISSN 0024-1156.
- ISBN 978-80-89169-35-1. Archived from the originalon 14 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- ^ Pivoňka, Michal (25 September 2023). "New MADR 3D radars: a clear technological shift for the entire radiotechnical army of the Czech Armed Forces". czdefence.com. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ LOM PRAHA s.p. "Výroční zpráva 2013". Lompraha.cz. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ EVici webdesign s.r.o. "LOM PRAHA". Lompraha.cz. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Czech government signs Gripen lease extension". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
- ^ ISSN 0024-1156.
- ^ "A-319CJ AIRBUS - Transport Aircraft". Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ^ "Aero Vodochody delivers third L-159T2 aircraft to Czech Republic". airforce-technology.com. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
Bibliography
- Brown, Alan Clifford. The Czechoslovak Air Force in Britain, 1940–1945 (PhD Thesis). University of Southampton, Faculty of Arts, School of Humanities, 1998, 237 pages. [1]
- Cejka, Zdenek (August 2001). "Courrier des Lecteurs" [Readers' Letters]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (101): 2. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Cejka, Zdenek (January 2001). "Les Nieuport Techécoslovaques" [The Czech Nieuports]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (94): 38–47. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Cejka, Zdenek (February 2001). "Les Nieuport Techécoslovaques". Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (95): 42–47. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Kudlicka, Bohumir (August 2001). "Des avions français en Tchécoslovaquie: les unités de chasse sur Spad" [French Aircraft in Czechoslovakia: The Fighter Units with Spads]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (101): 52–56. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Kudlicka, Bohumir & Cony, Christophe (April 2001). "Des avions français en Tchéchoslovaquie" [French Aircraft in Czechoslovakia]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (97): 47–49. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Titz, Zdenek; Davies, Gordon and Ward, Richard. Czechoslovakian Air Force, 1918–1970 (Aircam Aviation Series no. S5). Reading, Berkshire, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1971. ISBN 0-85045-021-7.