For a decade, Czech military documents have pointed to the same problems: shortages of soldiers, equipment and infrastructure, as well as delays in the modernisation of the armed forces. Despite increased defence spending, many key capabilities remain undeveloped, and experts warn that the process of change is moving too slowly.

“Over the past two decades, the Czech Republic has spent around CZK 600 billion less on defence than it had previously committed. This has created a significant debt to its own armed forces, which the government is only gradually paying off. Military procurement contracts, however, translate into real combat capabilities only after several years. Despite increased investment in military modernisation and efforts to improve the recruitment of professional soldiers, a number of obstacles remain on the way to achieving the goal.”

This was the assessment of the Czech armed forces in last year’s Report on the State of Defence of the Czech Republic.

The problems identified included a shortage of soldiers, a lack of legislation enabling a rapid and effective response to international security threats, neglected military infrastructure and insufficient equipment.

Following the preparation of the classified report, last year’s Concept for the Development of the Czech Armed Forces(KRSZRC 2035) was also published. It outlines the desired state of the military by 2035 and provides a more detailed picture of the current condition of the armed forces.

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The Czech Army Is Not Ready for Conflict

The report identifies both strengths and weaknesses in the armed forces. Among its advantages, it lists NATO membership, experience from international missions, the training of soldiers, and reduced technical and material dependence on Russia. The weaknesses are considerably more concerning.

“The low level of personnel staffing in the Czech Armed Forces, an unfavourable age structure and limited capacity to ensure long-term personnel stability. Limited ability to provide air defence of Czech territory using its own resources and to conduct precision strikes over long distances. (…) Insufficient mobile and operational reserves of equipment and ammunition, including precision-guided munitions. Limited capabilities and capacity of combat support and operational support elements, mainly due to the slow pace of replacing and modernising equipment and materials. (…) Fixed infrastructure does not meet the required standards for supporting allied forces on Czech territory. (…) Force protection does not sufficiently reflect the changing nature of modern armed conflicts.”

In practice, this means that the Czech Armed Forces are not adequately prepared for an international conflict in terms of personnel, equipment, bases or infrastructure.

The 2025 assessment uses almost identical arguments to the evaluation published by the military ten years earlier. In other words, over the past decade, the armed forces’ key weaknesses have changed only marginally.

Funding Remains a Long-Term Problem

Years of underinvestment have meant that the situation has improved only slightly. Last year, the previous government set a target of allocating at least two percent of GDP to defence, the minimum commitment under NATO guidelines. However, a subsequent NATO audit found that the originally reported figure above two percent had been overstated. According to NATO estimates, the Czech Republic spent 1.85 percent of GDP on defence in 2025.

Although 2024 and 2025 brought the highest levels of defence spending and both years came close to the two-percent threshold, the Czech Republic nevertheless ranked last among NATO members. Together with Slovenia and Albania, it was among the alliance members investing the least in defence. The document identifies inadequate funding as one of the main threats.

“Failure to maintain the financial framework necessary to ensure defence and continued underfunding of the Czech Armed Forces” is identified in the document as one of the main risks.

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The Heavy Brigade Is Still Not Ready

Nevertheless, the plans of the past decade were highly ambitious. In 2018, then-Chief of the General Staff Josef Bečvář described the Czech Armed Forces as a force based on “balanced capabilities”.

“This means moving from light manoeuvre units, through medium forces, to a fully capable heavy element, whose formation will be completed with the rearmament of the 7th Mechanised Brigade. The procurement of multi-purpose helicopters is also part of this concept,” Bečvář said at the time.

Subsequent reports suggest, however, that only a small part of these plans has been achieved. KRSZRC 2035 once again identifies completion of the heavy mechanised brigade – specifically the 7th Mechanised Brigade – as one of the military’s top priorities. The same goal already appeared in the previous Concept for the Development of the Czech Armed Forces 2025, published in 2015.

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Too Few Soldiers

Personnel shortages are among the Czech military’s biggest challenges. Although recruitment campaigns are gradually increasing the overall number of soldiers, official assessments remain far from optimistic.

In addition to low staffing levels, the document points to structural and qualitative shortages. In practice, this means that the army is struggling not only with a shortage of personnel, but also with a lack of adequately trained and prepared soldiers. The Czech Supreme Audit Office reached similar conclusions in a report published in March last year.

Despite almost CZK 1.8 billion being invested in the modernisation of military training facilities between 2019 and 2024, auditors found that they still do not provide adequate training capacity, either in terms of throughput or equipment, limiting the effectiveness of military training.

“Repeated postponement of investments and frequent changes in priorities also lead to inefficient use of public funds. For example, delays in the construction of garages in Přáslavice and Bučovice will require newly delivered infantry fighting vehicles to be temporarily stationed in Vyškov. Their crews will have to travel several dozen kilometres on a regular basis, increasing transport and logistics costs,” the auditors wrote, also criticising the efficiency of spending on training facilities.

“The Czech Armed Forces still lack a sufficient number of modern simulators and training systems, as well as ensuring their interoperability within NATO. These technologies are a key element of comprehensive training while reducing costs,” the report states. The authors also warned that the army’s recruitment strategy may prove unsustainable.

“Failure to meet recruitment targets means that any sudden increase in the number of new soldiers would overload the capacity of existing training centres.”

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Experts Also Point to Personnel Shortages

Academic defence experts reach similar conclusions. They note that although the available data are not encouraging, the military’s actual combat readiness could only be verified under conditions of armed conflict.

In a May interview with public broadcaster iRozhlas.cz, defence expert Zdeněk Petráš of the University of Defence stressed that a significant part of the military’s actual capabilities remains classified for obvious reasons. He also emphasised that the structure of military equipment represents only part of the overall picture, particularly given the Czech Republic’s logistical role within NATO.

“We see competition from the civilian labour market, demographic trends and growing demands for soldiers with advanced technical qualifications. A strong economy does not necessarily support recruitment – quite the opposite. Recruiting highly qualified personnel capable of strengthening the armed forces can be easier during periods of economic and social difficulties,” Petráš said.

Jan Ludvík of the Institute of Political Studies at Charles University expressed a similar view in 2024.

“Those who remained in the professional military after compulsory military service was abolished are now reaching retirement age. Many soldiers are leaving the service, while the army simultaneously needs even more personnel than before. It therefore faces the challenge of retaining those who want and are able to continue serving, while attracting new recruits at the same time. So far, this has not been fully successful,” Ludvík told iRozhlas.cz.