Ceská zbrojovka, a subsidiary of Colt CZ Group SE (“Colt CZ”, the “Group” or the “Company”), signed an Agreement of Intent with “Ukrainian Defense Industry” (“Ukroboronprom”) for the assembly of the CZ BREN 2 rifles in Ukraine. The project’s goal is to equip the Ukrainian armed forces with a proven, high-quality standard NATO firearm, enhancing their operational capabilities. CZ BREN 2 is a modular NATO standard rifle that provides high compatibility with other NATO member countries, as well as durability, accuracy and caliber modularity that makes this rifle a versatile weapon for military and law enforcement units. Whereas the 805 Bren was designed to a specific set of requirements set out by the Czech military, the Bren 2 is a clean-sheet design. With a bevy of changes, the most noticeable is sure to be the strict weight-loss regimen that the Bren 2 has undergone. With a trimmed-down aluminum receiver and a lower made from carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, the result is a robust but substantially lighter gun.
The CZ BREN 2 rifles are used by the Army of the Czech Republic, French National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN), Portuguese Army, Polish Border Guard, Romanian Gendarmerie, Ukrainian Armed Forces and other professional customers worldwide. The transfer of technology project of the CZ BREN 2 rifles in Ukraine was showcased as a key initiative at the First International Defense Industry Forum (DFNC1) in Kyiv. The forum, held at the end of September 2023, was a collaborative effort by the Ukrainian Ministry of Strategic Industries, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, drawing participation from 252 companies across more than 30 countries.
“The technology transfer from NATO member states marks a pivotal moment for our company, driven by successful international cooperation and ongoing defense reforms. This initiative is a crucial step towards establishing an Arsenal of the Free World within Ukraine,” said Herman Smetanin, CEO of the Ukrainian Defense Industry, on the importance of this agreement.
“We are honored to support Ukraine’s efforts to adopt NATO standard equipment and increase the capability of its defense industry. This first step towards a full-scale transfer of technology project for the CZ BREN 2 rifle is a direct consequence of its successful deployment on the battlefield in Ukraine by the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” said Jan Zajíc, CEO of Ceská zbrojovka.
Colt CZ Group (Colt CZ) is one of the leading producers of firearms and ammunition for military and law enforcement, personal defense, hunting, sport shooting, and other commercial use. It markets and sells its products mainly under the Colt, CZ (Ceská zbrojovka), Colt Canada, CZ-USA, Dan Wesson, Spuhr, swissAA and 4M Systems brands. Colt CZ Group is headquartered in the Czech Republic and employs more than 2,000 people in its production facilities in the Czech Republic, the United States, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, and Hungary. Colt CZ is owned by ?eská zbrojovka Partners SE from 75.4%, with the remaining 24.6% being a free float.
