The exhibition of CSG and TATRA TRUCKS at the IDET 2023 brought a number of premieres.

The exhibition of CSG and Tatra Trucks at the IDET 2023 brought a number of premieres. This year, the IDET fair celebrated 30 years since it was first held. Since then, it has undergone many changes, and the most recent one, held on May 24 to 26, 2023, welcomed the largest number of exhibitors during its entire existence. For many years, companies of the Czechoslovak Group holding and also the Tatra Trucks company have been among them.

This year, they were presented as part of the largest ever exhibition at the fair, both in halls P and F, as well as on outdoor areas and on the polygon of dynamic demonstrations.

The biggest event that concerned the Tatra Trucks company was Wednesday’s ceremonial unveiling of the new generation of the Tatra Force model line, which is the mainstay of Tatra production portfolio for the defense segment, rescue system, as well as for special superstructure builders, construction industry and mining, etc. Tatra presented new trucks in the world premiere as part of the PYROS trade fair, which was running concurrently with the IDET fair in Brno, in a design for firefighters together with the THT Polička company, the producer of a new firefighter superstructure for the trucks.

The next generation of the Tatra Force series mainly received a newly designed cabin in both short and long versions with a number of safety features, a new cabin interior with a digital dashboard and new electronic systems. There will also be a choice of innovative electronically controlled air-cooled eight- and twelve-cylinder Tatra engines with an output of up to 340 kW in the first case and up to 440 kW in the second case. The offer will also include liquid-cooled Cummins engines as well as electronically controlled Tatra transmissions or automated or automatic transmissions from renowned foreign manufacturers.

Tatra Trucks together with Tatra Defense Vehicle (TDV) company exhibited the Tatra Phoenix truck in the container loader version with extended chassis and armored cabin at IDET 2023 as well. The armoured cabin was developed and is manufactured by TDV. The truck had its Czech exhibition premiere in Brno, a similar truck was exhibited in a heavy tractor version for the first time last year at the Eurosatory fair in France. In addition, the armored Tatra Phoenix was nominated for the Golden IDET award, which it also won in its category. During the ceremonial announcement, the award was taken over by Tatra Trucks CEO Lukáš Andrýsek together with Tatra Defense Vehicle CEO Tomáš Mohaple and Radomír Smolka, director of research and development of Tatra Trucks. The Golden IDET award was also won by the Starkom mobile tactical communication jammer displayed in the AČR exhibition, in the production of which Tatra Trucks and TDV are also involved.

Another important event for the TDV company also took place on the first day of the IDET 2023 in the exposition of the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic and the Czech Army. Visitors and media representatives witnessed the symbolic handing over of the keys to the new TITUS armored vehicles, which the Czech Army began to include in its armament. According to the contract, TDV is to hand over 62 of these vehicles in three versions to the army, and serial production is currently in full swing. The handover of the keys took place at one of the first delivered TITUS in the KOVS (communication) version, another TITUS was exhibited at the CSG stand, in this case it was the MKPP (fire support coordination point) version.

The premiere of the new Czech ReCas anti-drone system created by Retia company took place in the CSG exposition, to the great interest of journalists and visitors. This year, Retia is celebrating 30 years since its foundation, and ReCas is its next significant initiative in the field of anti-aircraft systems. ReCas represents an advanced and complex anti-drone solution that is modular, allowing various components to be included in the two basic parts of the system – sensor part and effector part. The cornerstone of the sensor part of the system is the 3D ReGuard radar, also developed and manufactured by Retia. It is a very compact radar, which, thanks to its technical parameters, is ideal for systems of protection against unmanned vehicles at long distance.

The Excalibur Army company brought to Brno several exhibits that have not yet been seen in the Czech Republic. In addition, its representatives signed memorandum of understanding with representatives of the Turkish TÜBİTAK SAGE institute, mainly concerning land-based missile systems using guided missiles of the Kuzgun family, which are produced by the Turkish state institute. The memorandum represents the basis for the possible development of various weapon systems. Excalibur Army could develop combat systems using Kuzgun guided missiles, and TÜBİTAK SAGE could, thanks to the cooperation, have at its disposal vehicle platforms produced by the Excalibur Army company.

At IDET, Excalibur Army exhibited a Morana self-propelled howitzer on a Tatra chassis with a 155 mm cannon corresponding to NATO standards. Morana had its world premiere only last year at Eurosatory in Paris, it was its Czech premiere at IDET. Another interesting novelty was the Treva-30 recovery and evacuation vehicle, also on a Tatra chassis. Similar to the Morana howitzer, the Treva-30 has an armored cabin created by Excalibur Army designers and is equipped with a powerful winch system and a crane with a capacity of up to 30 tons.

Also for the first time in the Czech Republic, the Patriot 4×4 armored vehicle was presented to the public in a version with resistance of level 4 according to NATO standards. The Patriot is also built on the Tatra chassis and has already found its customers in, for example, Poland, South-East Asia or the Middle East. In the future, it could also appear in the armament of the Czech Armed Forces, if the army were to demand this type of equipment.

For the first time ever, visitors to IDET also had the opportunity to see the Dita self-propelled howitzer and the AM-70 EX bridge vehicle in action during dynamic demonstrations on the show area. Dita also demonstrated simulated firing from its 155 mm cannon and the capabilities of its Tatra chassis, while the AM-70 EX crew showed flawless control of the vehicle when laying a collapsible bridge deck that can also carry standard NATO tanks, which will soon appear in the armament of the Czech Army.

This year, the 17th IDET international trade fair for defense and security technology hosted 551 exhibiting companies from 29 countries. According to data from the organizers of the fair, 30,000 visitors viewed the exhibition over the course of three days, and a number of official delegations from 35 countries around the world took part in it. In terms of area and number of exhibits, the joint stand of the Czechoslovak Group holding company and Tatra Trucks was among the largest, next to the Czech Army exposition.