Czech Republic will start selection of manufacturers to replace BVP-2 IFV.

In the summer this year, Czech Defense Ministry will start the selection of manufacturer for the supply of 200 tracked armoured vehicles personnel carrier (APC) for an amount of 53 billion crowns (about 2.57 billion U.S. dollars), said Defense Minister Karla Slechtova during a press conference on Thursday, March 22, 2018.

Czech Army BVP-2 tracked armoured infantry fighting vehicle (Picture source Army Recognition)

According to a plan of the Czech Ministry of Defense, the winner of the tender would be known by the end of 2018 or at the beginning of 2019. The new tracked APC will replace the Soviet-designed BVP-2s, a copy of the Soviet-made BMP-2 in service for decades with the Czech army.

Three international manufacturers have proposed their vehicles Local to replace the BVP-2 including General Dynamics European Land Systems from United States with the Ascod, British Company BAE Systems with its CV90 and Rheinmetal from Germany with the Lynx and Puma manufactured by German Companies KMW and Rheinmetall.

Czech Defense Ministry plans to spend more than 150 billion crowns (about 7.28 billion U.S. dollars) to modernize its armed forces by 2026.

During IDET the defense exhibition in Czech Republic that was held in May 2017, the three competitors has shown their vehicles, and the four vehicles have performed fir trial tests after the trade fair.

The BVP-2 is the Soviet-made BMP-2 produced under license in Czech Republic, the production of the Russian BMP-2 started in the years 70 and was first seen in public during the parade held in Red Square, Moscow, in November 1982.

The BVP-2 is fitted with a two-man turret armed with a stabilized 30 mm cannon 2A42 and a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun mounted to the left of the main armament with 2,000 rounds. Mounted on the turret roof between the gunner's and commander's hatches is a launcher for an AT-4 SPIGOT or AT-5 SPANDREL ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) which has a maximum range of 4,000m.