The Czech Ministry of Defense is currently working on a budget for the year that proposes cuts totaling 21 billion CZK compared to previous projections. As a result, several modernization contracts will be curtailed, significantly impacting companies associated with billionaire Michal Strnad. This financial decision is particularly interesting given the strained relationship between Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Strnad. This month marks the one-year anniversary of a visit by the then-Prime Minister Petr Fiala and former Defense Minister Jana Černochová to a military training site near Žatec. They inspected how the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade was training for combat operations and assessed the state of their equipment. Attention was drawn to the Pandur II armored vehicles, which are midway through their operational lifespan and require urgent decisions about their future. During the visit, soldiers provided clear recommendations regarding the modernization of existing equipment, highlighting that upgrading the Pandur II vehicles either financially or technologically does not make sense. Instead, the military should acquire over 250 brand new vehicles. The contract for this endeavor, worth tens of billions, is being pursued by domestic company CSG as well as Finnish manufacturer Patria, indicating a competitive environment in the defense sector in Czechia.