Unmanned systems unit based in Prostějov received colours and honorary name from the President

Author: by Jana Deckerová

In the company of Defence Minister Lubomír Metnar and the Chief of General Staff General Aleš Opata, the President of the Czech Republic attended the ceremony hosted by the 53rd Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare Regiment in Prostějov. On this occasion, the President conferred the honorary name of Major General Josef Duda on the 533rd Unmanned Systems Battalion.

In the premises of the Prostějov garrison, President Miloš Zeman was welcomed by Defence Minister Lubomír Metnar and the Chief of General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, General Aleš Opata. The commanding officer then gave report to the President as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. The ceremony proceeded with the national anthem and, once the order of the President was declared on the presentation of the colours and conferment of honorary name on the 533rd Unmanned Systems Battalion, the Castle Guard carried in the new colours to be decorated with a streamer by President Zeman.

“Generals are sometimes said to prepare for the past war. I am very glad that this does not apply to Czech Generals, because what we are making today is an important step to introduce 21st century armaments into the inventory of the Czech Armed Forces“, President Zeman stated and congratulated the unit on the new colours and honorary name, and pronounced that unit would proudly honour the legacy of Major General Josef Duda, whose name the battalion has borne since then.

After the ceremony, President Miloš Zeman was keen to review the static display of the equipment of the 533rd Unmanned Systems Battalion and engaged in lively discussions with the servicemembers.

Unmanned systems – an integral part of today’s armed forces

Soldiers were also addressed by Defence Minister Lubomír Metnar, who emphasised that unmanned systems were a part of building a 21st century armed forces. “That is why the 533rd Unmanned Systems Battalion was formed in Prostějov in January this year, as a component of the 53rd Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare Regiment. At the moment, the unit operates surveillance drones, the highest value of which offers the Scan Eagle, which Czech service personnel used in Afghanistan for surveillance already from 2015," Defence Minister Metnar informed.

Minister Metnar underscored that operating the unmanned vehicles, the Czech Armed Forces has pursued the path chosen by all advanced armed forces. In 2023-27, the Minister plans to expand the battalion’s equipment with tactical drones serving as weapons delivery platforms. “Our servicemembers use tactical drones not only for surveillance but also in combat operations. Thanks to that technology, we protect the life of our men and women in uniform and do not expose them to the opposing forces directly,” Minister Metnar added.