MILITARY ENGINEERS OF THE CZECH ARMED FORCES

With population 10,5 million, the Czech Republic´s Armed Forces strength is „only" 22.000 in uniform. Military engineers are important part of the Armed Forces and adequately to this fact they have approximately 1.250 members in total. The Czech Republic has been a member of NATO since 1999 which has had influence on its missions and tasks. Based on the Legislative Act, Num. 221/1999, the main tasks of the Armed Forces are:

preparation for defence of its territory against external aggression;

execution of tasks issued from international treaties and obligations of the Czech Republic regarding mutual defence;

international cooperation based on mutual agreements;
support to peace and security activities, participation in peace support and peace keeping operations, rescue and humanitarian activities;

participation in military exercises together with foreign Armed Forces on the territory of the Czech Republic or abroad.

It is assumed that the Armed Forces will operate as a part of multinational coalition forces, mostly under NATO/EU umbrella. The facts above determinate the focus of MILENG support provided to Land Forces, Air Forces, the logistics, HNS on the Czech territory, national Integrated Rescue System and support to NATO, EU and UN operations.

Organisation and structure of MILENG

Military Engineers consist of specialists on different levels of command, an engineer regiment in the structure of Land Forces, other MILENG units, MILENG education and training institutions and individual specialists within NATO structure. The 15th Engineer Regiment is the main MILENG asset. It consists of HQ, 151st Engineer Battalion, 153rd Engineer Battalion, EOD Centre of Technical and Information Support. The main capabilities of the regiments are to:

plan, manage, command and control execution of engineer combat support and general support engineer tasks;

prepare and provide MILENG Task Forces to provide MILENG support to the Armed Forces;

prepare and provide MILENG units (TFs) for NATO, EU and UN operations;

manage and control education and training of EOD specialists and provide C-IED training for all units;

manage and control of provision of MILENG assets in support to humanitarian and rescue tasks as a part of national Integrated Rescue System.

Engineer support will be provided through assignment and deployment of both organic engineer units and engineer battalion task force (BnTF), or engineer company task forces (CoyTF) with rotations.

Other MILENG units within Armed Forces

Generally, each manoeuvre battalion (armoured /mechanized infantry) has one MILENG combat platoon with primary mission to provide combat engineer support to the battalion. In addition to the units above, there are few MILENG units (platoons, squads) across the Armed Forces providing general engineer support to its organization (ADA Bn, CBRN Bn, ART Bn, SOF, training facilities etc.).

MILENG education and training institutions

MILENG training is executed in two lines - military engineer officers training and military engineer specialists training (basic MILENG training, NCOs, specialists/operators etc.). Military engineer officers (above 95%) are graduated from the University of Defence in Brno where MILENG education is provided by two departments - the Department of MILENG Technologies (mostly infrastructure focus) and the Department of Combat Engineering. Engineer specialists, started from basic engineer skills up to MILENG equipment operators and NCOs, are educated and trained at Training Command – Military Academy in Vyskov where MILENG training is provided by Department of Engineer training and Department of EOD training . Based on requirements, some officers and NCOs are further educated/trained abroad in different courses.

Individual specialists within NATO structure

Traditionally, CZE Armed Forces have its MILENG specialist at JF HQ Brunssum, MILENG COE, EOD COE and C-IED COE.

Experiences from deployments

For last two decades, Military Engineers have taken part in many operations and provided MILENG support to national or NATO contingents. Some examples of deployments:

Bosnia and Herczegovina – MILENG combat platoon;

Kosovo – Engineer battalion;

Afghanistan – EOD teams, MILENG specialists.

CZE Armed Forces´ MILENG Equipment

CZE AF´s ME employ a broad scale of equipment and material to execute spectrum of MILENG tasks. As examples might be mentioned:

Mobility support equipment - Truck bridge-layer (MLC 50 on chassis of Tatra), Pontoon Bridge Set (MLC 70), AVLB (MLC 50).

Counter-mobility support equipment - mine launchers, antitank mines,

Sustainment support equipment - Mine detectors, EOD Robots, RTG.

General Engineer support equipment - Engineer Excavators, Dozers, Loaders, Small engineer machinery, Diving sets.

Procurements plans

In order to keep up with requirements on modern equipment and to be able to execute all tasks, the plan (based on available resources) is to procure following material (equipment) within the next 15 years:

Floating bridging set (MLC 80);

Bridge truck-layer (MLC 70);

modern engineer ammunition;

EOD material;

material for search tasks;

modern earth moving equipment;

modern camouflage materiel and sets;

vehicles and material for route clearance tasks;

areal denial equipment/sets;

Engineer Armoured Combat Vehicles;

AVLB (MLC 70);

deminers;

mobile shelters.

To strengthen engineer support capability, a high priority will be placed on acquiring and introducing advanced engineer systems and material for road realignment and maintenance, establishing clearance in roadblocks, crossing watter obstacles, installation of road blocks, building protective structures and provide improvised explosive disposal , including using robotic systems.

​MILITARY ENGINEERS OF THE CZECH ARMED FORCES