Czech Special Forces increases strategic reach with 18 British-made Supacat HMT Extenda vehicles.

On September 3, 2025, the Czech Ministry of Defence confirmed the purchase of 18 British-made Supacat HMT Extenda vehicles for the 601st Special Forces Group, replacing long-serving Land Rover Defender 110 SOV platforms and supplementing the light logistic role previously covered by Tatra trucks.
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The Supacat HMT family is in service with allied special operations forces in the United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, New Zealand, and Ukraine, with adoption underway in other NATO and partner states. (Picture source: British MoD)

The Czech government approved the acquisition following an earlier agreement by the ministerial collegium, and parliament has supported the decision. LPP, the exclusive distributor of Supacat vehicles in the Czech Republic, will supply the chassis, while the Military Technical Institute (VTÚ) will conduct technical evaluation and integrate all required systems. The entire program responds to the operational needs of the special forces to replace obsolete vehicles, extend logistic autonomy, and align with national and alliance doctrines.

The contract is divided into two parts: acquisition of the chassis and technical upgrades. The bare chassis, supplied by LPP, is valued at 32.6 million GBP excluding tax. VTÚ’s integration of weapons, communications, electronics, protection, and other mission systems will cost 810 million CZK excluding tax. Depending on the calculation method, the total program is estimated at 1.76 billion CZK excluding tax or about 2.16 billion CZK including VAT. More than half of the cost is linked to integrated subsystems, accessories, training, and spare parts to ensure long-term operability. Officials note that splitting the contract guarantees control over sensitive equipment and keeps classified details within the national framework. The process is conducted in accordance with Czech procurement law, which allows a direct approach to a single supplier where no alternative system can provide the required capability.

The selection of Supacat HMT Extenda followed a feasibility study carried out in 2020–2021 that examined 14 vehicle types from nine manufacturers. The evaluation criteria included maximum mobility and cross-country ability in difficult terrain, payload sufficient for multi-day independent operations, modular design adaptable to different missions, and full compatibility with air transport. The study concluded that only the Supacat platform satisfied all requirements. Earlier Land Rover Defenders lacked carrying capacity, protection, and up-to-date construction, limiting their utility in operations such as Afghanistan and Mali. The decision to adopt the open Supacat vehicle is based on the continued need for platforms that allow immediate situational contact and responsive firepower, even as the special forces maintain both open and closed vehicle fleets depending on mission and environment.

The chosen model for the Czech Army is the HMT 600 in 6×6 configuration, selected for its higher payload of around 3,800 to 3,900 kilograms compared to smaller 4×4 platforms. The modular design allows reconfiguration between 4×4 and 6×6 layouts to balance speed and carrying capacity. This variant possesses a gross vehicle weight up to 10,500 kilograms, with internal fuel tanks around 200–230 liters providing operational ranges of 700–1,000 kilometers. The vehicles can reach maximum speeds of 120 km/h and have ground clearance between 180 and 485 mm. Suspension is based on an independent air system with variable ride height designed to reduce crew fatigue during long missions. The platform can be transported by rail, sea, and underslung beneath CH-47 Chinook helicopters, and it fits into larger airframes such as the Embraer C-390, which Czechia is introducing into service, though it cannot be carried by the CASA transport aircraft.

VTÚ’s work will determine the combat configuration of each vehicle. Planned integrations include heavy machine guns, 40 mm automatic grenade launchers, and medium-caliber weapons, depending on mission requirements. Although specific details are classified, comparisons illustrate that an M2 heavy machine gun with accessories costs about 50,000 USD, and specialized 12.7×99 mm NATO ammunition, such as Raufoss Mk 211 HEIAP, can cost around 1,000 CZK per round. Other possible equipment mentioned in open sources includes 40 mm Mk47 grenade launchers, 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, and potentially anti-tank guided weapons or man-portable air defense missiles. Additional systems may include encrypted communications, satellite and beyond-line-of-sight links, electronic warfare and counter-drone measures, laser warning, smoke launchers, navigation back-ups, sensors, and reconnaissance or attack drones. VTÚ will also provide certification and testing to ensure compliance with national and NATO standards.

From an international perspective, the Supacat HMT family is in service with allied special operations forces in the United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, New Zealand, and Ukraine, with adoption underway in other NATO and partner states. This provides the Czech Army with access to an existing support network and interoperability during combined operations. The order is considered Supacat’s first export of the Extenda Mk3 variant, with the company presenting the platform at DSEI 2025. Industrial participation is emphasized, as the establishment of domestic service and maintenance capacity is expected to strengthen Czech defense industry involvement and reduce reliance on foreign support. Earlier memoranda between Supacat, LPP, and VOP CZ confirm plans for cooperation in integration, maintenance, and supply chain activity inside the country.