Excalibur International of the Czech Republic and Turkey’s state-owned defense company Aselsan have announced the creation of a Europe-based joint venture designed to strengthen their global defense footprint.
The cooperation agreement will focus on developing integrated solutions in key domains, including air defense, electronic warfare and countermeasures, munitions, and border protection systems. One of the first planned projects is the integration of Aselsan’s Korkut 35-millimeter self-propelled anti-aircraft system onto the Czech-built Tatra Force 6×6 wheeled logistics platform.
The partners said the combined system will be positioned for international customers beyond Central and Eastern Europe as a competitive and fully capable alternative to comparable European platforms.
Manufacturing and associated production activities under the joint venture will be distributed across facilities operated by Czechoslovak Group, Excalibur International’s parent company, located throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
System Profiles
The Korkut air defense turret was developed by Aselsan to replace the Turkish Armed Forces’ legacy M42A1 Duster systems. It features twin 35-millimeter guns, full 360-degree rotational coverage, and the ability to operate in conjunction with command-and-control vehicles. The system delivers a firing rate of approximately 1,100 rounds per minute and can engage targets at ranges of up to 4 kilometers.
The Tatra Force (T-815-7) is a multi-role military truck platform designed for heavy transport and battlefield support operations. In addition to logistics and artillery missions, it can be configured as an armored personnel carrier or anti-mine protected vehicle. The platform measures 9 meters in length, weighs 13,300 kilograms, and is powered by a 400-horsepower V8 turbocharged engine, providing a top speed of 115 km/h and a range of up to 750 kilometers.
