Czech Special Forces to Receive New British Supacat Armored Vehicles
Czechia’s Ministry of Defense has announced the acquisition of 18 Supacat HMT Extenda light armored vehicles for the army’s special forces.
They will be supplied by the Czech defense company LPP, with acquisition and integration of weapons, communications, and other systems to be carried out by the state-owned VTÚ.
The chassis will cost 32.6 million pounds ($44 million), while systems acquisition and integration, based on technical evaluation, are valued at 810 million Czech koruna ($39 million).
The Supacat Extenda vehicles will replace aging Land Rover platforms and be operated by the Czech Army’s 601st Special Forces Group.
“The acquisition of Supacat vehicles is an important step towards ensuring the mobility of special forces and their readiness to perform operational tasks in accordance with national and alliance doctrine and assigned capability development goals,” Chief of the General Staff of the Military of the Czech Republic, Karel Řehka, said.
“At the same time, it replaces the current light combat vehicles of special forces, whose replacement has been necessary for many years.”
New Armored Vehicle
Built by British military vehicle manufacturer Supacat, the HMT Extenda was selected over 13 other contenders in a feasibility study conducted in 2020-2021.
Selection criteria included maximum mobility and cross-country capability in extreme terrain, high load capacity for multi-day independent operations, a modular design for rapid mission-specific adaptation, and the ability to be transported by air.
The need for a new vehicle arose as the current Land Rover Defender 110 Special Operations Vehicle was deemed inadequate for modern operations, with limitations including insufficient carrying and transport capacity, low protection, and an outdated design.
This assessment was based on experience in Afghanistan, Mali, and other countries.
Supacat HMT Extenda
The vehicle offers superior mobility, protection, payload, and firepower, and can be rapidly converted between 4×4 and 6×6 configurations by adding or removing a third axle.
The 4×4 version supports up to 2,100 kilograms (4,629 pounds), with the 6×6 configuration increasing payload capacity to 3,900 kilograms (8,598 pounds), enabling it to carry diverse mission-specific equipment.
It can be fitted with optional mine blast and ballistic protection kits, enhancing crew survivability in hostile environments.
A standard Extenda seats four personnel, with the Mk2 variant capable of carrying six.
It has a maximum speed of 120 kilometers/hour (75 miles/hour) and offers a road range of up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).
Moreover, the vehicle serves as a standard special forces platform for the UK, USA, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, New Zealand, and Ukraine, and is being adopted by other NATO countries and partners, providing extensive logistical support and interoperability during joint operations.
