Challenges to national defence in contemporary geopolitical situation

This paper investigates the problem of constructing predicted estimates for dynamic systems described by difference equations under uncertainty. In particular, the Richardson Arms Model is considered for two competing countries, which can be used to describe the dynamics of their armaments. The main attention is paid to the case when the armament level of one of the countries under consideration is partially unknown. The function describing this level belongs to given compact and convex sets, while the values of the system variables are known only at certain discrete moments of time. An approach is proposed to find the optimal strategy of the first country, which guarantees the achievement of a given result with the maximum uncertainty value with respect to the second country. Analytical relations for determining the maximum values of uncertain quantities are obtained and substantiated. The developed approach is based on the use of properties of convex sets, vector representations, and methods of analysis of dynamic systems. A number of statements and their consequences are proved, which ensure the efficient calculation of estimates in the presence of additional restrictions on the system parameters. The proposed approach can be applied to modeling and analyzing processes of population dynamics, information dissemination, and other socio-economic systems in conditions of incomplete information regarding the state of the system.

This paper analyses projections of defence expenditure in the Bucharest Nine (B9) countries in the context of NATO’s new commitment from the 2025 Hague Summit. Based on historical data and national declarations, we model two scenarios for development through 2035: the baseline trend and national ambition. The results show significant polarization within B9 countries. While the countries of the northeastern flank (Poland, the Baltic states) are accelerating toward 5.5% of GDP, the countries of Central Europe and the Balkans are converging more toward the baseline level of 3.5%. The study identifies the fiscal limits of this transformation and structural differences in the implementation of the new alliance goals.).

Pre-impregnated composite materials are strategic enabling inputs for contemporary UAV manufacturing. This paper evaluates prepreg technology trends and export-control implications between 2021 and 2024, using documentary analysis of industrial disclosures, EU dual-use reports, Wassenaar control lists and Czech export-control documentation. The findings show a coupled technological-regulatory trajectory: thermoset and thermoplastic prepregs, OOA processing and AFP/ATL automation advanced alongside stricter compliance governance under Regulation (EU) 2021/821.

Staff shortages are a global problem in the aviation sector. Women constitute an underutilized talent pool for air transport. The aim of the study was to assess the gap between expectations and reality of the educational offerings of the Aviation program at the War Studies University in the context of preparing students for entering the aviation labour market from the perspective of the respondents' gender. The SERVQUAL method was used. Female students perceived a greater discrepancy between their expectations of their studies and their practical experience, although these differences were generally small. A significantly greater disparity was noted in the evaluation of the Aviation program and its content directly applicable to the aviation labour market. This research was conducted as a pilot study.

The issue of preventing major chemical accidents has been dealt with in the Czech Republic (and in the former Czechoslovakia) for a long time. The first law on this issue was already issued in 1999 on the basis of the European directive SEVESO I from 1982. Many serious chemical accidents from abroad and in the Czech Republic are well known and documented in the professional literature. The new valid law on the prevention of major accidents from 2015 also deals with the protection of the population in emergency planning zones. The implementation of these measures and the level and quality of population protection in emergency planning zones is different. The modelling of emergency impacts also helps to increase the protection of the population in the named zones. A whole range of different SW products and tools are used for this, in the Czech Republic they are mainly the domestic SW tools TerEx and ROZEX-Alarm, or the freely available American ALOHA. Some calculations in the article on the most hazardous industrial toxic gases, toxic vapors or toxic aerosols show how serious a safety issue it is from the point of view of population protection in emergency planning zones. These security issues are discussed in detail in the professional article. In the draft part, the authors present their own previously unpublished set of real, thought-out and justified new or improved measures to increase safety in emergency planning zones in case of possible chemical accidents. Unfortunately, it must be noted that the area of "population protection" is not covered by a separate law in the Czech Republic, while in Slovakia such a law has existed since 1994.

In 2021, the South Moravia region of the Czech Republic was dealing with the aftermath of tornado. This extraordinary event, which is not very frequent in the Czech Republic, was associated with the implementation of a considerable amount of efforts aimed at rescue, liquidation and subsequent recovery work. Using this emergency as an example, it can be stated that it is evident that climatic and meteorological conditions are changing significantly in connection with global climate change and are also affecting the territory of the Czech Republic. It is therefore very realistic to expect that the occurrence of emergencies associated with surprising and often difficult to predict emergencies will become more and more common, and it is therefore necessary to constantly prepare, not only at the level of public authorities, but also at the level of school facilities. The main body of the article focuses on the specification of proposals and measures that could be taken in any municipality affected by such or similar emergencies. Not only the proposals related to the implementation of recovery (technical) works, but also to the protection of the population, especially in the field of its education, have been elaborated in detail. Increasing the level of education and preparedness of the population can make a significant contribution to better managing the impact of emergencies of the same or similar nature.

Physical fitness is a key element of military readiness. This study compared performance in the 12-minute run and upper-body strength tests between University of Defence students and active-duty soldiers from Land Forces, Air Forces, and the Airborne Regiment (data 2023–2025, age 20–30 years). University of Defence students significantly outperformed Land Forces and Air Forces personnel in the 12-minute run in both sexes. In upper-body strength, students achieved comparable or slightly better results than Land and Air Forces. The Airborne Regiment remained a distinct elite group, recording the highest performance in all disciplines. Performance was highly stable across the three-year period. The results indicate that military university students demonstrate physical fitness levels comparable to or exceeding those of regular active-duty soldiers, while still falling short of the standards of the Airborne Regiment.

This study evaluates heavy-metal contamination in soils affected by military activities using training areas as proxies for conflict zones. Soil samples from a shooting range and a grenade range were analyzed using XRF and FAAS after mineralization. High concentrations of Cu, Ni, and Pb were detected, with extreme Pb levels at the shooting range exceeding preventive values. The results support the use of military training sites for developing remediation strategies applicable to war-affected regions. The study provides a relevant proxy-based approach to assess contamination under restricted field conditions and highlights contamination specificity linked to military activities.

The paper examines the economic determinants of military modernisation within the Central Northern European Military Mobility Area (CNE MMA) from 2010 to 2024. Using correlation analysis and linear models for panel data, the paper investigates the relationship between Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and expenditures on military equipment and infrastructure across eight member states. Furthermore, the article defines the roles of individual states within the military mobility capability across European territory. A significant contribution of this work, which distinguishes it from existing literature in the field, is the assessment of the specific relationship between economic growth and defence infrastructure investments. While most research focuses on aggregate military spending, this study isolates infrastructure investment as a critical enabler of strategic mobility. The findings reveal a significant infrastructure decoupling in major powers like Germany and Poland, where equipment procurement crowds out infrastructure investment despite rising budgets. Conversely, frontline state like Lithuania demonstrates synchronized spending. The study concludes that current prioritisation of equipment over infrastructure creates strategic risks for rapid force deployment. The primary contribution lies in the disaggregated analysis of dual-use infrastructure within the CNE MMA framework, providing actionable insights for balancing fiscal allocation to ensure logistical resilience in contemporary geopolitical conditions.

The paper examines the economic and institutional determinants of the defense industry in the transformed security environment, emphasizing the sector’s importance for national defense. It assesses the implementation of the European Union (EU) Defense Industry Program in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, focusing on implementation challenges, the role of multinational firms, and issues surrounding dual-use technologies. The research question asks which economic determinants influence program implementation and contribute to the EU’s economic and political security. The Program’s establishment within the EU’s first defense industry strategy marks a pivotal milestone for enhancing preparedness and the competitiveness of Europe’s defense technology and industrial base. Methodologically, the study combines qualitative and quantitative approaches.