Czech Army plans to fast-track AI, quantum technology, and military innovation

The Czech Army wants to speed up the testing and adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing applications, and 3D printing, as military leaders seek to keep pace with rapidly changing warfare.

Chief of the General Staff Miroslav Hlaváč outlined the plans in an interview with the Czech News Agency (ČTK) published Thursday, October 15.

The military wants to incorporate faster innovation into its updated development strategy, potentially reconsidering procurement procedures and legislation that can slow the introduction of new equipment.

Hlaváč said traditional military procurement processes are increasingly unsuitable for technologies that can become outdated within months or even weeks.

While fighter jets and tanks are purchased for decades of service, software, drones, and other emerging systems require a different approach.

He pointed to the war in Ukraine, where technologies and tactics that were effective just a month earlier may no longer meet battlefield requirements.

The army therefore wants greater flexibility to experiment with new systems, assess their effectiveness, and introduce successful technologies more quickly.

Hlaváč also suggested that existing procurement rules may need to change, arguing that purchasing advanced fighter aircraft such as the F-35 should not follow the same procedures as acquiring software.

The military's interest extends beyond unmanned vehicles. Artificial intelligence could help process large quantities of information and support decision-making, while quantum technologies could have applications in encryption.

3D printing is another area under consideration as the military looks for technological solutions to operational challenges.

The proposed changes would also create opportunities for cooperation between the military, defense companies, and civilian universities.

At a security conference in Brno last week, Hlaváč announced that the army's senior leadership had approved a new innovation system that includes a framework for military experimentation.

The initiative is expected to involve defense industry representatives and a dedicated experimental unit bringing together professional soldiers and members of the active reserve.

The army also hopes to attract students from civilian universities, potentially allowing young specialists to contribute to the development and testing of military technologies.

Hlaváč stressed that modernization is not limited to major purchases such as fighter aircraft or tanks. Hundreds of smaller projects, including the digitalization of command and control systems, are essential to ensuring that new equipment functions effectively.

Delays in these supporting systems could undermine larger modernization programs, he warned.

The government is scheduled to consider the army's updated development strategy on October 19. The document is expected to outline the military's development priorities through 2040.

For now, the faster adoption of AI and other emerging technologies remains a strategic objective rather than a completed overhaul of military procurement.