Czech defense firm Excalibur International and Turkey’s state-owned defense company Aselsan have formed a European-based joint venture aimed at expanding their international market presence.
The partnership will focus on developing solutions across critical capability areas, including air defense, electronic countermeasures, munitions, and border security systems. Among the first initiatives under the collaboration is the planned integration of Aselsan’s flagship Korkut 35-millimeter self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system onto the Czech Republic’s domestically produced Tatra Force 6×6 wheeled logistics vehicle.
The companies stated that the combined platform will be marketed to customers beyond Central and Eastern Europe as a fully capable alternative to comparable European systems currently in service.
Production activities under the joint venture will be distributed across facilities operated by Excalibur’s parent group, Czechoslovak Group, located in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Korkut and Tatra Force Platforms
Aselsan’s Korkut turret was developed as a replacement for the Turkish Armed Forces’ aging M42A1 Duster self-propelled air defense cannons. The system features a dual 35-millimeter gun configuration, is capable of 360-degree rotation, and can be integrated with a command-and-control vehicle. It delivers a firing rate of approximately 1,100 rounds per minute and can engage aerial targets at distances of up to 4 kilometers.
The Tatra Force, also designated as the T-815-7, is a heavy-duty military truck designed as a multipurpose platform for transporting heavy equipment. Beyond logistics and artillery roles, the vehicle can be configured as an armored personnel carrier or anti-mine protected platform, depending on operational requirements.
Measuring 9 meters in length and weighing 13,300 kilograms, the Tatra Force is powered by a 400-horsepower Tatra T3C-928-90 V8 air-cooled turbocharged engine, enabling a top speed of 115 km/h and an operational range of up to 750 kilometers.
