Czech army plans to acquire 3,000 drones by 2028

The Czech military plans to acquire around 3,000 drones by 2028 as part of its modernization drive, Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna (Motorists) said during an international communications exercise in South Bohemia. According to the minister, five public tenders are currently underway to secure the equipment. He added that NATO data shows Czechia among the fastest modernizing armed forces. Zůna stressed a broader goal of replacing human labour with advanced technology on the battlefield. He also noted that while Czechia is unlikely to play a major role in large-scale conflicts, it aims to build a highly sophisticated, technology-driven military. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said defence spending has increased significantly year-on-year, while debate continues over whether the country meets NATO’s 2 percent GDP target.