Czech defense firms New Space Technologies (NST) and Excalibur Army have signed a strategic cooperation agreement at the Eurosatory 2026 defense exhibition to jointly develop the Meander special-purpose military vehicle. Under the terms of the agreement, NST—a subsidiary of the Krill B.P. holding group—will lead the technical development, engineering, and manufacturing efforts, which includes fabricating the initial prototype and managing subsequent serial production. Excalibur Army, a prominent member of the Czechoslovak Group (CSG) holding, will leverage its extensive industrial base and market reach to define the military, operational, and end-user requirements for the platform. The initial three-year framework establishes a long-term collaborative structure encompassing joint engineering design, technical data exchange, validation testing, and coordinated marketing to domestic and international defense customers.
The Meander program is designed to deliver a highly versatile, multi-purpose amphibious tracked vehicle optimized for personnel and cargo transport, logistics support, fire support, and air defense missions in contested environments. Derived from NST’s proven Kalan amphibious tracked utility vehicle platform, the Meander features a specialized, ship-like lower hull design engineered to minimize hydrodynamic drag and maximize carrying efficiency during water operations. The platform is engineered to support a maximum gross vehicle weight of 33 tons, including a substantial 13-ton payload capacity. Mobility parameters for the tracked platform include a maximum road speed of 50 km/h, an off-road speed of 35 km/h, and a water swim speed of 12 km/h.
By utilizing a wide-tracked configuration, the Meander addresses critical mobility requirements for cross-country operations by significantly reducing ground pressure and enhancing traction in adverse terrain. The design specifically mitigates the mobility risks associated with the severe muddy conditions characteristic of transitional seasons in Eastern Europe, where melting snow frequently immobilizes traditional wheeled heavy logistical transport. The platform effectively bridges the operational capability gap between high-capacity heavy tactical trucks and specialized amphibious vehicles, allowing modern armed forces to sustain heavy logistical throughput and deploy heavy weaponry across restrictive, water-logged terrain that would otherwise deny access to conventional armor.
The signing of this agreement represents a concerted effort to leverage the complementary engineering and commercial strengths of both Czech defense enterprises to capture emerging market demand for highly mobile tactical logistics. The joint program aims to deliver a platform capable of meeting the evolving expeditionary and territorial defense requirements of both the Army of the Czech Republic and export customers facing demanding geographical constraints. Development is currently proceeding toward the project’s first major technological milestone, with the completed Meander prototype scheduled to be officially unveiled to international defense delegations at the Future Forces Forum in Prague, set to take place from October 21–23, 2026.
