Czech Armed Forces Development Concept

Key Chapter Title List

1. Foreword by the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces
2. Background
3. Strategic Starting Points
4. Impact of Security Environment Developments on the Military
5. Concept for the Employment of the Czech Armed Forces
6. Resources
7. Current State of the Czech Armed Forces
8. Target Force 2030
9. Command and Control of the Czech Armed Forces
10. Services of the Czech Armed Forces
11. Czech Armed Forces Participation in International Capability Development Cooperation
12. Strategy for Achieving the Desired End State
13. 2025 Milestone
14. 2030 Milestone
15. Assumed Requirements for the Strategy to Achieve the Required State
16. Personnel
17. Financial Requirements
18. Potential Risks Affecting Concept Implementation
19. Compatibility Assessment with the Government-Mandated Defence Concept
20. Concept for the Active Reserve of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic
21. Mobilization Concept of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic
22. Concept for Operational Readiness of the National Territory of the Czech Republic
23. Concept for Civil Defence Preparedness of the Czech Republic
24. Conclusion

Document Introduction

This report, "Czech Armed Forces Development Concept 2030," is a core strategic policy document reviewed and authorized by the Government of the Czech Republic through Resolution No. 758 on October 31, 2019. The document is legally binding and aims to provide clear policy guidance for the transformation and development of the Czech Armed Forces until 2030. Its core mission is to plan the development of the armed forces under a peacetime establishment, ensuring they can be effectively built into a wartime structure to address increasingly complex and uncertain security challenges.

The document is built upon Czech national security interests and defence principles, directly following the "Czech Armed Forces Development Concept 2025," and adheres to the fundamental capability-building principles established in the "Long-Term Defence Outlook of the Czech Republic 2035." The Concept clearly states that the Czech Armed Forces will maintain an all-volunteer professional system, with the active reserve force as an important component of its structure. The core development objective is to establish a balanced force structure centered on an Army (encompassing heavy, medium, and light capabilities) with high readiness and multifunctionality, supported by the Air Force, Special Forces, Cyber Forces, Territorial Forces, and sufficient combat support and service support capabilities. Among these, establishing a heavy brigade by 2025 is listed as a key priority.

To achieve the Target Force 2030 state, the document outlines a detailed phased strategy and milestones. Key development pathways include: enhancing force flexibility, adaptability, and readiness levels; strengthening capabilities to counter asymmetric and hybrid threats; building new capabilities such as Cyber Forces; accelerating the procurement and modernization of new equipment for the Army and Air Force, particularly prioritizing the comprehensive re-equipment of the 7th Mechanized Brigade's main equipment. In the command and control domain, a transition to a three-tier system (strategic, operational, tactical) will be implemented, and the General Staff will be reorganized for greater efficiency. In personnel development, the focus is on increasing the strength of combat units and the active reserve force.

The document emphasizes that a flexible and efficient armaments acquisition process is a key prerequisite for capability development, aiming to ensure the armed forces obtain modern materiel, equipment, and services that meet interoperability requirements. International cooperation, particularly with Visegrad Group countries, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the United States of America under the Framework Nations Concept, will be actively promoted to foster capability development. Simultaneously, the Concept prudently assesses the resource framework required to achieve the objectives, including personnel and financial needs, and systematically analyzes potential risks that could affect the Concept's implementation.

This Concept ultimately aims to shape a strong, proud, well-trained, and modernly equipped 21st-century armed force, ensuring it can effectively fulfill its core mission of defending national territory and serve as a capable part of a strong alliance in responding to potential conflicts. The document includes detailed annexes, such as force organizational charts, capability development plans, and major strategic projects, providing a concrete roadmap for the Concept's implementation.