TÜBİTAK SAGE, which develops the KUZGUN guided modular ammunition family, and the Czech company Excalibur Army, which produces many different platforms of 4×4 and 8×8, laid the foundations of the cooperation first time at SAHA EXPO 2022. Two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the IDET 2023 fair held in Brno, Czech Republic. The signature represents the two companies’ cooperation in developing of land weapon systems.
The partnership will focus on land missile systems using the KUZGUN guided missile family. It will also enable the developing of possible joint weapon systems for third-party customers. The Czech Defence Company will be able to develop combat systems using KUZGUN-guided modular ammunition, while TÜBİTAK SAGE will have vehicle platforms produced by Czechs.
Commenting on the memorandum of understanding, Chief Executive Head of Excalibur Army Jaroslav Skála said, ““We very much welcome the signing of the memorandum, because cooperation with TÜBİTAK SAGE will bring an expansion of our portfolio in the area of weapon systems with guided missiles and smart weapons. These can suitably complement our range of artillery systems and strengthen our position as a leading Czech manufacturer of land combat vehicles. At the same time, we can offer to the Turkish partner vehicles with high standards in terms of performance, driving characteristics, as well as ballistic and anti-mine protection,”
TÜBİTAK SAGE Business Development and Marketing Manager Tunca Selbes stated that they are proud of TÜBİTAK SAGE’s cooperation with Czech companies and said, “We are proud of the partnership we have established with Excalibur Army. We can create highly effective weapon systems with our KUZGUN missiles and Excalibur Army’s platforms, which are amongst the best in the world. We hope the memorandum of understanding we signed will begin our cooperation with the Excalibur Army and other Czech companies.”
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye, Defence Industries Research and Development Institute (TUBİTAK SAGE) is Turkiye’s R&D institution specialising in the design, development, production and testing of guided and unguided munitions systems, critical subsystems and strategic system platforms to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces and national/international defence industry organisations. Excalibur Army, owned by the Czechoslovak Group holding company, manufactures and supplies heavy military vehicles, spare parts, weapons, ammunition and other military equipment. It focuses mainly on the development, manufacture, service, overhaul and modernisation of modern military vehicles, including significant upgrades of land forces’ military systems.
