The only Czech manufacturer of jet engines has doubled its production capacity and plans to acquire another company in the Czech Republic.

This was reported by Seznam Zprávy.

“This year, based on the development of the international situation, there will be significant further growth throughout the group. Investments totaling CZK 700 million have already been approved and allocated for technology and development,” PBS Group CEO Petr Kadner told SZ Byznys.

According to the publication, in December 2024, the company successfully tested a jet engine assembled from Czech parts in the United States. In February this year, the company announced that it would build a new plant in the US state of Georgia to produce engines primarily for the US market and Ukraine.

The company is also expanding its production site in Velka Biteš, in the Brno region. The production of aerospace equipment will take up another workshop there. In addition, PBS Group is already looking for additional production facilities.

“PBS Group is currently accepting offers to negotiate the acquisition of another plant in the Czech Republic. We expect our total capacity to double this year, and even more if we get government support,” Kadner stated.

According to the director, they expect the total capacity to double again in 2025, and even more if government support is received.

According to him, Ukraine is not the only country that is interested in this, but the urgency of deliveries there is the highest.

PBS Group and Ukraine

In June 2023, it became known that the Czech company PBS had agreed with a Ukrainian company to establish commercial and production cooperation on the new AI-PBS-350 engine.

“The agreement is aimed at creating a framework for commercial development and cooperation in the production of a new AI-PBS-350 turbojet engine, which will be a joint product,” PBS representatives said.

Declared characteristics of the AI-PBS-350:

• Maximum thrust: 3,400 Н
• Weight: 51 kg
• Outer diameter: 298 mm
• Length: 706 mm
• Power output: 5.0 kW

In December 2024, it was announced that the development of the AI-PBS-350 jet engine had been completed and its production had been launched.

The start of mass production of these engines at the company’s facilities in Velka Biteš (Czech Republic) is expected in the first half of 2025. Initially, the production volume will reach dozens of units per year, with further reaching the planned volume of hundreds of units.

As the company noted at the time, the deliveries of AI-PBS-350 are possible “already today” as their production is deployed at Ukrainian enterprises. When asked about the possibility of exporting the engines to foreign customers, the company replied that Ukraine’s needs are a priority.