Autor fotografie: redakce|Popisek: LEV at Future Forces 2024
During the Future Forces 2024 exhibition, we had the opportunity to speak with Tomas Vališ, CEO of V Solution. V Solution is the exclusive representative of Arquus in the Czech Republic and we talked mainly about the LEV light strike vehicle, which Arquus has developed together with Military Technical Institute (VTÚ).
The LEV vehicle is based on the French Sabre type, which is based on the Sherpa Light platform. The Sabre was developed for special forces and is characterised by its exceptional carrying capacity, autonomy and armament, offering a response to any threat. In cooperation between Arquus and the VTU, and in accordance with the requirements of the Czech Army, a version designed specifically for paratroopers and meeting the technical requirements of the 43rd Regiment has been developed for a new light strike vehicle to replace the existing and outdated Land Rover Defender 130 Kajman. The tender was cancelled in 2023 and the acquisition project was postponed to 2030 according to the Czech Armed Forces Development Concept 2035, but this does not make the need to modernise the armament of the paratroop regiment any less urgent.
Can you introduce us to Arquus and V Solution?
V Solution is the exclusive representative of the Arquus brand on the Czech and Slovak market. Arquus carries more than a century of tradition and history, not only, but especially in the arms industry. It represents brands such as Renault Truck Defence, Panhard, ACMAT Defence, but also historical brands such as Latil, Somua, Auverland or Berliet. Berliet is well known in the Czech Republic with regard to the licensed production of the A 20, A 30 Avia, which were known in France as Renault Super Goelette. As a brand dealing exclusively with wheeled armoured vehicles, we have been working with and operating in the Czech market since the mid-1990s. The first major project we carried out here started in the then Roudnice engineering plant. It was a medium off-road truck ROSS R 210.12 VV 6x6, which was based on the French military vehicle MIDLUM. This project was successfully completed in cooperation with Tatra in Kopřivnice, and to this day these vehicles form a rather important part of the logistics support of the Czech Army, and not only of the Czech Army.
We have been working on a number of projects in cooperation with VTÚ, which has been our partner since the second half of the 1990s. In recent years, we have deepened this partnership into an industrial partnership. In the past, we have cooperated with VTÚ on the aforementioned 6x6 medium-duty off-road vehicle project, but we have also worked together, for example, on the modernisation of the BRDM-2 vehicle. This is still used to this day within the Ministry of the Interior for special occasions. These vehicles can be seen on various unfortunate occasions, such as the explosion of the ammunition depot in Vrbětice, etc. We are building on this rather long history. I personally had the opportunity to be there from the second half of the 1990s.
Another important project that we are presenting at Future Forces is a vehicle based on the Sherpa Light. That's a wheeled platform that has several different applications, from armored vehicles, APC, ambulance, and of course a vehicle developed for special forces. We have completely rebuilt this vehicle, which is here on the stand, together with VTÚ according to the requirements of the Czech army. VTÚ, as our industrial partner, not only intervened in the construction of the vehicle, but is also fully responsible for the overall integration of the vehicle, whether it is communication elements, weapon systems, camouflage, i.e. all the elements that are based on the requirements of the Czech Army as well as full support during its life-cycle.
The French original is called Sabre, you probably know that. This vehicle is called LEV. Commercially it is interesting because the Czech version of the abbreviation is the same as the English version, in Czech it is LehkéEvropskévozidlo, Light European Vehicle in English, which is not often seen. And there is another reason why it is called LEV. As the vehicle was being developed, the working group came up with the idea of naming the vehicle after the call sign of the Czech Army operating in Afghanistan at the time, which was Lion, or Lev in Czech. These are the reasons that led us to the commercial name of this type, which we present here.
However, this project is not only directed towards special forces, but somehow paratroopers are also involved.Respectively, the vehicle also has a variant of the light strike vehicle that is in demand by the 43rd Airborne Regiment.The tender has been cancelled in the past, but the renewal of the paratroopers' armament is envisaged.What are the differences between the two versions, for special forces and for paratroopers?
It is very difficult to talk directly about the requirements of the special forces. I have to say that in terms of the basics of the platform, the differences are not very significant. However, there are obviously different communication elements, there is different electronic equipment and there are different requirements for the vehicle's weapon systems. As such, the LEV has responded to the parameters given in the light strike vehicle tender you mentioned. The changes were related to the modification of the hull to increase the number of firing positions, the placement of different communication technology and other means. Also, additional requirements for the towing capacity of the trailer or the possibility of transporting it using sling load under the helicopter. The vehicle is ready for airlift and other logistics transport capabilities as required by the Czech Army and as standard within NATO.
Is the product as such ready, or is it still under development in some way at this stage?
The product is ready. Of course, different derivatives and versions are always envisaged. It is standard in our industry that minor modifications are made in response to the requirements of individual departments.
From your perspective, how do you see the further development of the Czech Light Strike Vehicle project, which has been put on hold, postponed for up to ten years in the framework of the 2035 Concept.Do you expect the next government, or maybe even this government, to revisit it under the pressure of the need to re-equip the airborne regiment, as the Army has talked about in the past?
Of course we hope and firmly believe that, but it is not for us to assess priorities, whether it is national defence or acquisition. We believe that our job is to have the product ready so that we can respond to demand from the Army when it is needed. We are ready for that, given our capabilities, whether they are manufacturing or our partner's capabilities, so that we can deliver vehicles immediately. That brings me back to your question on the completeness of the project and the vehicle. We are ready.