Czechoslovak Group

The Czechoslovak Group (CSG), formerly Excalibur Group,[2] is a Czech industrial-technological holding company encompassing over 100 companies with over 14,000 employees worldwide. Headquartered in Prague, CSG operates in several sectors including defense, aerospace, ammunition, automotive, and railway industries.[5] Since January 2018, the owner of the Czechoslovak Group is Michal Strnad, the son of the founder, Jaroslav Strnad. In 2025, Michal Strnad stated that his aim is to grow the Czechoslovak Group into the second largest European defense manufacturer.

While bulk of the CSG's operations is based in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, CSG also operates factories in Germany,[6] Greece, India, Italy, Serbia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. In 2024, the company became one of the world's largest manufacturers of small arms ammunition through acquisition of The Kinetic Group.

In 2024, 78% of CSG's revenue originated from defense-related manufacturing, with small arms ammo manufacturing contributing further 11.3%. CSG exported its products to over 70 countries, with 50% of the CSG's revenue realized in NATO states and 42% in Ukraine (23% of CSG's revenue in 2023, 41% in 2022).

History

Notable developments

Wartime deliveries

Supplies to Iraq

During the War in Iraq (2013–2017), CSG became an important supplier of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles used by the Iraqi Government against ISIS.[14]

Training of Afghani pilots

During the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), CSG trained pilots of the Afghan National Security Forces on its fleet of Black Hawk helicopters.[15]

Supplies to Ukraine

During the Russo-Ukrainian war, CSG has been one of the leading European suppliers of defense and defense-related products to Ukraine, especially through the Czech Ammunition Innitiative, through which the Czechoslovak Group delivered 1 million artillery shells in 2024 alone (partially through its own production, partially by re-imports and refurbishments).[16]

Before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, a number of Ukrainian arms developments were using Tatra 817 chassis, including 2S22 Bohdana howitzer, Bureviy rocket artillery system and R-360 Neptune cruise missile. Following the invasion, deliveries to Ukraine comprised 41% of CSG's revenue in 2022, 23% in 2023 and 42% in 2024.[17] CSG's most notable sales to Ukraine include:[18][19][20][21]

Artillery and ammunition deliveries from multitude of its factories (see table below)
T-72 Avenger main battle tanks
BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles
RM 70 Vampire and BM-21 MT STRIGA multiple launch rocket systems
DANA M2 and DITA self-propelled howitzers

Supplies to Iraq

During the War in Iraq (2013–2017), CSG became an important supplier of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles used by the Iraqi Government against ISIS.[14]

Training of Afghani pilots

During the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), CSG trained pilots of the Afghan National Security Forces on its fleet of Black Hawk helicopters.[15]

Supplies to Ukraine

Partnerships and collaborations

CSG cooperates with multiple other defense manufacturers, e.g. KNDS on Nexter Titus and Leopard 2A8[22], with Steyr-Daimler-Puch on Pandur II (8×8),[23] or with Israel Aerospace Industries on radar technology (through CSG'S Retia subsidiary).[24][25][26]

Kinetic Group purchase controversy

In October 2023, CSG announced a deal to purchase the ammunition business The Kinetic Group (which includes companies such as Remington Ammunition) from the US company Vista Outdoor.[27][28][29][30] Vista's sale to CSG became a focus of political controversy in the USA, as it was protested by the senator and later vice-president JD Vance,[31] senator John Kennedy, representative Clay Higgins and National Sheriffs' Association.[32]

former name	EXCALIBUR GROUP a.s. (2014–2016)
type	Public
industry	Arms, automotive and aerospace industry holding company
hq location city	Prague
hq location country	Czech Republic
owner	Michal Strnad (84,8%)
revenue	€ 5.2 billion
revenue year	2024
net income	€ 1,4 billion
net income year	2024
equity	€ 31,3 billion ($ 37 billion)‡R1R‡
equity year	2026
num employees	over 14.000 (incl. subsidiaries)
num employees year	2024
footnotes	‡R2R‡‡R3R‡‡R4R‡

History

20th century

21st century

Notable developments

Wartime deliveries

Supplies to Iraq

Training of Afghani pilots

Supplies to Ukraine

Supplies to Iraq

Training of Afghani pilots

Supplies to Ukraine

Partnerships and collaborations

Kinetic Group purchase controversy

Notable holdings

External links

References