Czech Excalibur Army opens office in Ukraine to launch production of 155mm ammunition

Czech company Excalibur Army, part of the Czechoslovak Group (CSG) defense holding, has announced the official opening of its representative office in Kyiv. The arms supplier says in a press release that this will strengthen local cooperation, optimize logistics, and allow for the launch of joint production of defense products in Ukraine.

Excalibur Army has played a key role in supplying weapons and military equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Since then, the company has delivered over a thousand units of ground equipment to Ukraine, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery systems and rocket launchers, as well as over two million units of large-caliber ammunition.

The opening of an office in Kyiv will allow the company to expand its presence in Ukraine and deepen cooperation with Ukrainian partners in the defense and industrial sectors. The representative office will handle order processing, documentation, and technical consultations.

"Despite the fact that more than two-thirds of our sales in 2024 fell to NATO countries, Ukraine has become one of the most important markets for the Czechoslovak Group - it provided 42.8% of the company's total turnover. But Ukraine is not just a country that receives aid. It shapes modern warfare. That is why we strive for a true partnership - one that involves technology transfer, licensing and joint production. We see this not only as support for an ally, but as an investment in a safer, more resilient Europe," said CSG spokesman Andrey Chirtek.

The key area of the company's work in Ukraine will be the joint production of artillery ammunition, in particular 155 mm shells. The project is being implemented in partnership with the Ukrainian company Ukrainian Armored Equipment LLC. The corresponding memorandum of cooperation was signed in 2024, and the launch of production is planned for 2025.

Ukrainian Armored Vehicles noted that thanks to Czech partners, they have gained access to experience, advanced technologies, and licensed solutions. The company declares its readiness to produce over 100,000 shells of various types of 155 mm caliber and 50,000 shells of 105 mm caliber, as soon as it receives a state order.

"This is a large-scale program for the production of ammunition according to NATO standards, which provides for licensed production of various calibers in Ukraine. At the initial stage, more than 50% of production will be localized, and in the future this figure will increase to 80%. Our Czech partners guarantee the supply of critical components - this is a real game changer for the Ukrainian defense industry," said Vladyslav Belbas, director of Ukrainian Armored Equipment.

The industrial and technology group CSG, owned by Czech entrepreneur Michal Strnad, focuses on the development and production of products, systems and technologies in the defense, aerospace, automotive and other sectors. The group's key production facilities are located in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Italy, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Excalibur Army spol. s ro is the largest defense industry enterprise in the Czech Republic and a key member of CSG. Its main specialization is the development, production and modernization of ground military equipment.

By the way, more about the production of shells in our country can be found in the text of Defense: Ammunition and contract famine. What about Ukrainian production of 155-mm ammunition?