The impact of technology on the conduct of military operations. This was the topic discussed on Tuesday 9th April in the Auditorium of the University of Defence by the participants of another in a series of panel discussions organised by the Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies of the University of Defence (CBVSS). The event was moderated by the Vice Rector for Internal Management and Quality of the University of Defence and Head of the Defence Analyses Department of the CBVSS, Col. Dr. habil. Ing. Pavel Foltin, Ph.D., who guided the audience through a number of different aspects related to the issue of technology in the military and moderated the discussion of the four panelists.

Mgr. Jaroslav Galba, a researcher at the Department of Defence Analyses CBVSS, spoke first about modern technologies in relation to the development of the conflict in Ukraine and how they affect the operational environment there. Then Col. Ing. Jiří Hrazdil, MSS, from the Capabilities Planning Section of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, presented how the military perceives the issue of technology in its development and in its conceptual documents. The President of the Association of Defence and Security Industries of the Czech Republic, RNDr. Jiří Hynek, shared his insight into the capabilities of the domestic defence industry, as well as his experiences and insights from Ukraine, and the first part of the discussion was concluded by the contribution of the Head of the CBVSS Course Management Department, Mgr Lukáš Dyčka Ph.D. He focused on the conceptualisation of what the term „modern weapon“ means and whether existing or morally obsolete technologies can be successfully used in the conditions of modern warfare.

In the ensuing discussion with the audience, the panellists answered questions about the adaptability of industry or the establishment of experimental units. They also addressed the issue of fossil fuels in the use of military technology and robotics in general.

The series of panel discussions organised by the CBVSS will not end with this event; next month, on 15 May, interested parties will be able to exchange views on the subject of unmanned vehicles. Details, dates and registration will be announced on this website in due course.