The army needs more money for research and development. The new government seems to be aware of this
In the programme statement of the new government, the chapter on defence policy states that it will place emphasis on building a prepared, technologically advanced and professional Army of the Czech Republic as an integral part of the security system, based on the principle of building total forces. Technological maturity should then be supported by investments in defence research and new technologies, including the development of autonomous systems, advanced electronics and modern weapon platforms and the necessary related infrastructure.
It sounds completely logical and it should be added that a window of opportunity is certainly opening up here at a time when investments in defence are becoming one of the key priorities of the European Union and, of course, of the Czech Republic. This is also reflected in the increase in the defence budget. However, if the Ministry of Defence wants to keep up with the most advanced armies, trends in defence development, the defence and security industry, as well as the science and research sector in the Czech Republic, it is necessary to conceptually start the departmental research and development. And there is definitely a lot of catching up to do here.
A look at the defence budget shows that less than half a billion crowns are allocated to research and development. In practice, this means that we do not reach even a third of the average level within the North Atlantic Alliance. Can this fact not tie the hands of the defense, for example, in cooperation with top scientific workplaces in our country?
Here it is possible to recall a truly hussar stunt that the now newly elected Rector of CTU, Professor Michal Pěchouček, managed some time ago. Thanks to his research and grants from the US Army and Air Force, he managed to build a state-of-the-art AI center on the grounds of our largest technical university. And next to it, the Office of Naval Research of the US Navy also operates. It is its only branch in the country that does not have a sea.
There is certainly no doubt that the development of artificial intelligence can play a crucial role in the development of defence technologies. Development here is moving forward very quickly. The good news for the Czech Republic is that the private sector is very active here. For example, a new subdivision of CSG AI has been established within CSG Aerospace, which belongs to the CSG industrial technology group, which aims to gradually bring together companies and solutions that use artificial intelligence.
Two companies have newly become part of the subdivision: Tendrio and JATISmro. The first, thanks to the use of artificial intelligence, significantly shortens the evaluation of tender documentation, the second serves as an extension of special systems for planning corporate resources, and significantly streamlines the repair of aircraft and other heavy means of transport, such as ships or trains.
It can also be beneficial for streamlining the planning and management of the Ministry of Defence. This is exactly what he often fails to do. After all, if he planned smartly and didn't invent
unsolvable assignments, the second tender for the purchase of wagons for the transport of heavy army cargo would not have failed.
Closer cooperation with the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, for which CZK 450 million from the increased defence budget is to be allocated, is also a step in the right direction. Now it is important that these funds also serve effectively for the implementation of projects contributing to the declared goal – the creation of a technologically advanced army.
From the defined priorities of the Government's Programme Statement in the field of defence, it can be deduced that the new government coalition is aware of the importance of supporting science, research and innovation in the defence sector. This should be one of the priorities for the new Minister of Defence.
Miloš Balabán, Lidové noviny Daily