Arlo Bailey

08/01/2024

M3 Grant

07/31/2024

Extra 300 SR

07/31/2024

BAHNA 2023

07/31/2024

T-34/85

07/31/2024

SD-76/42 (SU-76M) // The pictured vehicle is apparently the only survivor of the Czechoslovakian army vehicles and is now part of the collection of the Military museum Lešany. It was preserved at the Military Academy in Brno where it was used for training of foreign students. It was trasferred to the state institution that runs the Lešany museum in 1968 and after years of being displayed in the Lešany museum's indoor exhibition, it was restored to running condition in 2020.

07/30/2024

07/30/2024

BAHNA 2023 // Mi-171ŠM

While the first helicopters of the Mi-8/17 family (NATO code name: "Hip") appeared in the Czechoslovakian army service already in 1967, the pictured machine is a deep modernization of one of the 16 Mi-171Š (Mi-171Sh) helicopters the Czech Republic received in 2005 from Russia as part of the settlement of outstanding debts of the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation.

Mi-171Š is an export variant of the Russian Mi-8AMTSh. Compared to the older Mi-17's the Czech Air Force still operates, these have an upgraded engines, a new large doors on the right side and additional armour around cockpit area and the engines. Part of these machines are also equipped with a rear hydraulic ramp in contrary to the usual clamshell doors. But in addition to that, the Czech Mi-171Š went through a several modernization programs thrughout their service, after which these machines are often designated as Mi-171ŠM.

The one in the picture is one of the Mi-171ŠM (ramp version) earmarked for "Special Operation Air Task Unit" (SOATU). At first, such machines have been modernized to the so-called "SOF II standard", which includes for example a new communication and navigation systems, installation of coutermeasures against ground-to-air and air-to-air missiles, a new multifunction displays in cockpit, and more. Some of the machines also received nose-mounted electro-optical and infrared multisensor surveillance system Star Safire III with weather-radar, as well as mounting for 7,62mm Dillon M134D-H rotary machine guns. The modernization then continued in the last years with better ballistic protection of the cargo area, upgrade of the cargo area to be compatible with NATO pallet system as well as installation of a new crane with greater capacity. Eventually, the rest of Mi-171ŠM helicopters, which are not desiganted for the SOATU, will be modernized to the same-level standard as well.

These upgrades would enable the Czech Mi-171's to continue operating at least until 2035, when they were originally expected to be phased out, but the new security situation in Europe after the major escalation of War in Ukraine changed the plans and now there are talks abour their retirement already in 2030. The CH-47F Chinook is being talked about in military circles as a possible replacement of the Czech Mi-171's, although it is not the only one.

07/30/2024

Dingo 2 CZ // After returning from the mission in Afghanistan, 12 vehicles were then transferred to the 252nd Air Defence Missile Battalion, where they serve as means of transport for the RBS-70 man-portable air-defense system.

07/30/2024

VPV // Number of VPVs were exported to several countries, including East Germany (designated as MTP-BMP), Tunisia or Soviet Union (designated as BREM-Ch. Sometimes, you can bump into "BREM-4" designation, which seems to be due to similarity of the letter "Ch" in Cyrillic alphabet (Ч) with number 4, but the official one is just BREM-Ch). The Soviet Union also developed its own BMP based ARV version designated as BREM-2.

07/29/2024

Mi-24V (Mi-35) // Despite the life-cycle of the last delivered Mi-24's to the Czech Air Force would enable their service well after 2026, the major escalation of the War in Ukraine accelerated their planned retirement as number of the remaining Czech Hinds were donated to Ukraine and the rest to local museums. The last flight farewell took place in October 2023 at their former air base in Náměšť nad Oslavou, so taking the following pics from summer 2023 was one of the last opportunities to see the Czech Air Force Hinds flying.

Luckily, in the Czech Air Force, the Mi-24's were not replaced by multipurpose helicopters as was originally planned, but the Czech government decided to acquire aircrafts from the United States H1 program, which is a fleet of AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters, and thus combination of an attack and utility aircrafts.

07/29/2024

VT-72B // With significant reduction of tanks in the Czechoslovak and subsequently in the Czech Army, the number of ARVs in active service also decreased. And with modernization of three VT-72Bs to VT-72M4CZ standard in 2006-2007 (to achieve unification with modernized T-72M4CZ tanks), there is only a few VT-72Bs remaining in the Czech Army service.

07/29/2024

LOV 50 B // In the Czech Army, the LMV platform is also used for number of other variants, like "LOV Zdrav" (MedEvac) or S-LOV-CBRN (CBRN reconnaissance and monitoring).