Tatra Defence Vehicle will present the new Czech combat vehicle Pandur 8x8 EVO at IDET 2025

The unveiling and christening ceremony of the new Czech-developed and Czech-manufactured Pandur 8x8 EVO, which will take place in Exhibition Hall P at CSG stand 094, will be attended by top officials of the Ministry of Defence, representatives of the Czech defence industry and other invited guests. In addition, TDV will for the first time also exhibit other Pandur family vehicles on the exhibition areas near Hall P. These will be upgraded versions of the Pandur II 8x8 with new combat turrets designed for fire support of ground troops and for air defence. TDV will thus present the possibilities that the Pandur 8x8 platform offers not only to the Czech Armed Forces but also to foreign customers in the future. Export orders are a priority for the manufacturer, with hundreds of vehicles in demand on the world market. Thanks to this, it could flexibly adapt production to the potential needs of the Czech army.

The development of the Pandur 8x8 EVO was carried out in close cooperation with GDELS, a leading European manufacturer of ground military equipment and vehicles, which is the European arm of the US General Dynamics group. From GDELS, CSG has previously obtained a licence to develop and produce an eight-wheeled variant of the Pandur platform, which it has successfully used for projects in the Czech Republic and abroad.

Economic benefits of the domestic development and production of Pandur 8x8 EVO vehicles

The Pandur 8x8 EVO represents a completely new generation of armoured vehicle, bringing major upgrades to meet the demands of the modern battlefield. It is the result of the work of TDV's developers and specialists and was designed with the needs of the Czech Army in mind, while taking into account the export potential of this fully Czech-manufactured platform. For the first time ever, the production of a weapon station has been transferred to the Czech defence industry thanks to cooperation with an Israeli partner.

Moreover, a domestic product brings huge benefits to the Czech economy. "EY's latest study shows that if the Czech Armed Forces were to include Pandur 8x8 EVO vehicles in their armament, every crown invested by the Czech state in this project would be multiplied 2.4 times in the Czech economy. The projected total economic benefit of the project for the Czech economy therefore far exceeds the expected investment, with the share of domestic companies in the project reaching at least 67% of the purchase price of the equipment," said Tomáš Mohapl, CEO of TDV.

Regarding potential deliveries for the Czech Army, Tomáš Mohapl said, "The development of the vehicle and the transfer of production of some components meant significant investments for us, which would not have been possible if the vehicle did not have a significant export potential. But this is also beneficial for potential production for the Czech Army. A Czech manufacturer means security of supply and service even in international crisis situations. While foreign suppliers can offer maximum assembly in the Czech industry, we are full developers and manufacturers."

At the same time, there is the potential to increase the overall economic benefit for further vehicle orders from both domestically and abroad. Involving domestic industry in export orders would significantly boost domestic employment as well as multiply the economic benefits of the initial investment and allow domestic firms to further invest in production capacity. The Pandur 8x8 EVO is also proof that the Czech defence industry has the capacity and technological capability to develop and produce state-of-the-art combat systems, while at the same time offering the Czech military the facilities and support to operate this type of equipment throughout its life cycle.

Modern technology and armament of the new Czech armoured vehicle

"The Pandur 8x8 EVO is characterized by a high level of ballistic and mine protection that fully meets the requirements of today's armies for vehicles of this category, and has not only top-notch electronic and communication equipment, but also, for example, a situational awareness system. This is based on artificial intelligence technology and enables vehicle crews to better perceive the overall situation on the battlefield, assess combat situations and at the same time provide early warning of threats," explained Radomír Smolka, TDV's director of research and development.

The design of the Pandur 8x8 EVO platform allows for the production of various versions of the vehicle, from combat, command and communications, to fire support, air defence and engineer vehicles, etc. At IDET 2025, the Pandur 8x8 EVO will be presented in the version of a wheeled infantry fighting vehicle (KBVP) with an unmanned weapon station with a 30mm gun. This weapon station will be manufactured in the Czech Republic thanks to the transfer of technological know-how from an Israeli partner to TDV.

The main armament consists of the Mk.44S Bushmaster II 30 mm automatic gun with electric stabilisation. Other armament consists of a coupled machine gun and a pair of Spike anti-tank missiles in a separate launcher. The weapon station is equipped with fully stabilised opto-electronic commander's and gunner's sights with automatic target tracking function, both sights also include a high-resolution day TV camera and a thermal imaging camera for night or adverse weather conditions, the commander's sight also has a panoramic view.

Lessons from the Ukrainian battlefield

During the development of the vehicle, TDV engineers also applied actual experience from the battlefield in Ukraine. The Pandur 8x8 EVO is able to effectively defend against drones through its own cannon, which can use various types of programmable ammunition, as well as through the Iron Fist system, which can effectively destroy not only the anti-tank missiles it was originally designed against, but also attack drones. The Iron Fist system is capable of detecting incoming threats using radar sensors with electronic beam deflection, which can also be supplemented by infrared detectors or an active jamming system. Threat elimination is carried out by the system via a pair of rotating double defensive munitions launchers mounted on the weapon station. The reinforced power pack ensures high mobility of the vehicle, which can quickly escape from the threatened area. The vehicle is also equipped with its own unmanned drone, which can act as a reconnaissance vehicle or guided munition.