Ukroboronprom and Czech VOP CZ sign agreements to produce, maintain, design armored hardware

MOSCOW. Feb 8 (Interfax) - Ukraine's Ukroboronprom state-owned defense company and VOP CZ, the Czech manufacturer of military hardware, have signed documents on cooperation in the field of armored hardware.

"On February 6, the Ukroboronprom state-owned company and the VOP CZ company, the Czech producer of military hardware, reached agreements in the field of armored hardware and signed relevant bilateral documents with a concrete plan and schedule for their implementation," Ukrainian media said on Wednesday, citing Ukroboronprom's press service.

The sides' priorities include the production, maintenance and joint development of armored hardware and creating chains to supply components and products.

Thus, "the agreements reached with VOP CZ are elements of the agreement on establishing a joint defense cluster with the Czech Republic that was signed by Ukroboronprom and AMOS at the end of last year," the press service said.

In general, cooperation involves the production of military equipment, an increase in the production of ammunition of various calibers (both at existing facilities and at newly created facilities in safe areas), the development of service centers for maintenance and repairs of weapons and military equipment, as well as cooperation in the field of high technologies, including the establishment of joint research centers, it said.

Kiev believes that the deepening of cooperation with the Czech Republic in the defense sector will facilitate Ukraine's further integration with NATO's defense industry. Ukroboronprom already has a number of agreements on cooperation with more than ten NATO member countries.