7.5.2025
Czech Ground Based Air Defence in NATO spotlight: Anniversary conference discussed the future vision and current challenges
The Defence Ministers of the countries united in the so-called Coalition of the Willing and the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) met in Brussels to discuss further support of Ukraine. While the Coalition of the Willing primarily addresses the question of a possible military engagement in Ukraine in case a truce or peace is negotiated, the UDCG addressed Ukraine’s urgent needs in regard of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s (AFU) support. That includes the supplies of artillery ammunition, which are the focal point of the Czech ammunition initiative. Defence Minister Jana Černochová represented the Czech Republic at both events with Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces Lieutenant General Karel Řehka.
Held in Brno, Czech Republic, on April 23-24, 2025, the 25th International Air and Missile Defence Conference confirmed an excellent reputation the Czech Republic enjoys in NATO and beyond. This traditional specialist forum, organised under the auspices of the Czech Air Force Commander Major General Petr Čepelka, attracted a record-high attendance of more than 130 experts from 12 countries, including representatives of NATO nations’ armed forces and representatives of key defence industries.
“This conference is not just about sharing information – it is a venue generating new ideas and a common vision of the defence of NATO airspace. The Czech Republic has always sought to enrich these discussions with expertise, experience and clear commitment to be an active and reliable Ally,” General Čepelka outlined in his opening remarks.
High credit in NATO and in industry
Its level of expertise, continuity and currency made this conference one of the leading forums of the kind. This year’s edition was highly appraised especially thanks to the attendance of senior NATO representatives, including Brigadier General Heinz Volker Samanns, the Head of the Joint Air Power and Space Staff (JAPSSE) at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. BG Sammans underlined the importance of a fully functioning Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) for NATO’s cohesion as well for credible deterrence and defence.
“The IAMD is the cornerstone of NATO’s collective deterrence and defence posture. A strong IAMD system provides NATO with early warning, freedom of manoeuvre – particularly for our land forces, a rapid response and, at the end of the day, protection of forces as well as the civilian population,” Brigadier General Samanns said.
Israeli experience and new generation defences
One of the most inspiring presentations was that of retired Brigadier General Shachar Shohat of Israel. Leveraging on his rich experience, he introduced the Israeli approach to layered air defence that accentuates flexibility, speed, and embracing artificial intelligence. His vision of the modern battlefield resounded with the need for a dynamic approach to new types of threats – including drone swarms and hypersonic missiles.
NATO IAMD and modern warfare
The presentation named “The Importance of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence for Deterrence and Defence” sent out a clear message – the IAMD is not an optional component but rather a key pillar of NATO’s defence. The following block named “Next-Generation Air Defense in Modern Warfare” underscored the need to employ automation, AI and fast integration of sensors in the looped environment, where every second matters.
Czechia and the GBAD vision
The Czech Armed Forces were represented by Lieutenant Colonel Jaroslav Sekanina of the MoD Force Development Division, who presented a ground-based air defence development strategy for the next 5 to 15 years. He accentuated the modernisation of the very short-range air defence system, fielding of new short-range, medium-range and long-range capabilities and the ambition to build missile defence capabilities in the future.
“Planning missile defence is not just a question of technologies – it demands a clear political-military and expert debate, whose first step has just been made by the means of this conference,” LTC Sekanina alluded to the vision of the Czech Armed Forces Chief GBAD Officer Colonel Jaroslav Daverný.
LTC Sekanina underscored the need to prepare the systems for operations in multinational environments in terms of interoperability, mobility and capability to engage low-flying and hard-to-detect targets and preparedness for ballistic threats. The way ahead for the GBAD embraces the integration of new technologies, deepening interoperability in NATO and provision of robust command and control. This panel also discussed the personnel and viable drone warfare solutions, while unmanned aerial systems represent one of the greatest contemporary threats.
From biomimetics to 3D radar: Technologies as the answer
The conference panels which focused on technical aspects offered new perspectives. The presentation on defence operations in GPS restricted environments pointed out alternative navigation and electronic protection methods. Presentation on biomimetics and unmanned aerial systems demonstrated inspiration by nature in the design of more capable platforms.
The AXON company introduced the DEDRONE – a system using AI for the detection and neutralisation of drone threats. European perspectives on legislation and tactical specificities of UAS and C-UAS, including detection using 3D radars in complex environments were also offered to the audience.
Day 2: Electronic Warfare and Interoperability
The second day started with the panel named “Tailored Air Defence Solutions”, followed by a contribution on the integration of electronic warfare with air defence using the JREAP-C and LINK-16/TDL protocols. A high premium was placed on real time data sharing and quick decision-making loops in the field.
The conclusion of the conference featured a presentation on using drones for measuring emission and radiation signatures of GBAD systems – the key tool for enhancing survival and efficiency in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Lessons from NATO as well as from academia
The conference speakers included Lieutenant Colonel Rostislav Růžička, who formerly served as deputy commander of the 252nd Air Defence Missile Battalion of the Czech Armed Forces 25th Air Defence Missile Regiment, and has been recently posted in the staff of the 1st German Netherlands Corps. He described an effective integration of GBAD and land forces in the HQ 1GNC, which enables a swift response to the changing threats.
The University of Defence and its representatives introduced an analysis of the war in Ukraine from the GBAD perspective. Rector-commandant of the University of Defence Colonel Jan Farlík pointed out the 25-year tradition of the conference and highly valued the effective cooperation between the academia and the military.
Future direction
The final discussion summed up the key messages: flexibility, mobility, adaptation and innovation including AI. The need to plan capabilities early and quickly – including potential missile defence – is an integral part of the objective force much like the need for a multidomain approach.
This year’s anniversary edition confirmed the Czech Republic’s position as a recognised specialist leader and opened a new phase in planning the defence of airspace in the quickly changing world.
- For more pictures see this page.