Exhibition on future military systems opens

Prague, Oct 17 (CTK) - Future military systems, such as special underwear and other outfits, new arms, unmanned aerial vehicles and defence against hackers, are displayed at the 10th Future Soldier exhibition that Czech Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra and chief of staff Petr Pavel opened in Prague yesterday.

"The exhibition focuses more on the current and future trends than on the tradition, not only in the narrow military sense as far as technical equipment is concerned but also in view of new types of threats," Vondra (senior government Civic Democrats, ODS) told reporters.

The display of the Defence Ministry and the military offers a new reconnaissance version of the Pandur armoured personnel carrier (APC) and other novelties used by Czech soldiers.

Vondra also pointed to the presentation of the pilot training centre in Pardubice, east Bohemia, which is a Czech contribution to the NATO concept of "smart defence."

"We are completing a multinational centre for the aviation training of pilots either of helicopters or other types of aircraft in the future," he recalled.

Over 100 firms from 22 countries participate in the exhibition held at the Prague Letnany trade fair grounds.

yesterday it is open to experts only, while the public can visit it on Thursday and Friday.

The display presents brand new types of communication devices as well as new systems for firing support and the protection of people, vehicles and facilities.

"The exhibition concentrates on the future, which is also what the (Czech) military wants," Pavel noted.

The event can help the military directly communicate with the defence industry and inform producers about its concrete demands also within NATO cooperation.

One of yesterday's highlights was a simulated hacker's attack by computer expert Andras Kabai from Hungary. One firm showed many ways of modifying or enciphering harmful programmes not to be detected by anti-virus protection.