Meopta, a Czech manufacturer of precision optics, has secured a major role in one of Europe's key defense programs. The company will handle the full production and testing of the UTAAS system, a unique sighting technology for CV90 infantry vehicles made by BAE Systems, and supply the armed forces of the Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, and Slovakia.

Meopta has signed contracts running through 2030 with Saab, a global defense and security company, to deliver more than five hundred periscope assemblies. The subcontract covers production of key components for the UTAAS fire control system used in CV90 armored vehicles, with Meopta and Saab acting as subcontractors to BAE Systems.

According to Sales Director Rudolf Kodytek, the contract builds on a long history of cooperation with the Czech Armed Forces. Meopta has previously supplied products including the ZN4 Lynx night vision sight, the NV-Mag 3A night vision attachment for assault rifles, the ZD 5x40 day sight with backup collimator for light machine guns, and the CDND-1 combined day/night driver's device for Pandur combat vehicles. The UTAAS production order is described as a natural continuation of this cooperation.

The Universal Tank and Anti-Aircraft Fire Control System (UTAAS), developed by Saab and manufactured at Meopta, is designed for the modernized CV90 platform, an infantry vehicle with a long track record in active combat deployment. Its modular, integrated technology enables direct fire capability: the gunner can aim independently of the vehicle's movement while the fire control system automatically adjusts the barrel, allowing faster firing than with conventional sighting technology and giving the CV90 a significant tactical advantage.

Meopta's involvement in BAE Systems' CV90 program for the Czech Army could also open the door to further business opportunities. CEO Jan Vymazal called the contract not only significant for Meopta but strategically important for the entire Czech defense industry, citing the sector's growth potential and the company's long tradition as a manufacturer of military and sporting optics. The five-year contract is expected to bring stability to Meopta's defense segment and create room for further opportunities going forward. According to the company, the order is worth several hundred million Czech koruna annually.

Source: https://www.meopta.com/cz/novinky/meopta-startuje-velkou-armadni-zakazku/
Prepared by: CzechTrade Foreign Office in the Netherlands