13/01/2026
The Military Repair Enterprise (VOP CZ) has obtained an important certification authorizing it to weld German and Western-made military equipment. It is already carrying out its first orders for the German defense contractor KNDS.
Thanks to its successful completion of the DIN 2303 / Q3 certification process, which represents the highest level of welding for ground-based military equipment, the state-owned enterprise can now manufacture a wide range of various military welded components of German and generally Western origin. The entire certification process took approximately one year and included a comprehensive audit of welding processes conducted by German experts, the production of test weldments, and their subsequent ballistic testing at certified testing facilities of the German Army. The process also included specialized training for VOP CZ welders and other specialists.
The state-owned enterprise is already fulfilling its first orders for the German military market through KNDS, for which it welds armored cabins for IVECO GTF3 vehicles. At the same time, VOP CZ is in talks with other German defense companies regarding potential future orders in the field of military product welding. Over the course of this year, the company plans to focus a significant portion of its welding capacity specifically on the German defense market, in which it sees long-term strategic potential.
Looking ahead, VOP CZ plans to establish a so-called large welding center, where orders for the production of military welded components for several concurrently implemented projects would be centralized. In connection with this, the company expects to hire nearly 100 new welders and personnel in other support roles.
Obtaining this certification has also placed the Czech state-owned enterprise among the world leaders in the field of military welding and, at the same time, significantly strengthened the role of the Czech defense industry as a key supplier to the European defense sector.
“This is a very important milestone for us. We are strengthening our capabilities in the field of military welding, and at the same time, this step places us among the world’s suppliers of military weldments, for which there is high demand in Europe. This is already confirmed by the first inquiries for this highly specialized type of welding. Moreover, this is very good news for our industrial region as well, as it will create a number of new jobs,” said VOP CZ Director Ing. Vlastimil Navrátil, MBA.