German Military Adopts Czech-Made CZ P13 Pistols

The German Army has selected the Czech manufacturer Česká zbrojovka to replace its current service pistol, the HK P8.

According to Hartpunkt, citing reliable sources, the Czech company CZ emerged victorious in the final round of the competition, outperforming Slovenia’s Arex and Austria’s Glock to secure the contract to supply the new P13 pistols.

Victory in this competition will allow the Czech manufacturer to produce up to 186,000 pistols for Germany, matching the number of servicemen expected to carry them. Of this total, 62,000 units are expected to be part of a fixed contract.

According to the media, cost was the decisive factor in the selection process – after reviewing the technical documentation and verifying that the weapons met the Bundeswehr’s requirements. No practical trials or shooting tests were conducted as part of this tender.

The planned contract will be a framework agreement lasting seven years. Under its terms, up to 186,000 sets of new pistols will be delivered, with 62,000 guaranteed. Each set will include a 9×19 mm pistol and an officer’s holster. The weapons are intended for use as either primary or secondary arms, with an effective shooting range of up to 50 meters.

The official announcement of the winner is expected by the end of 2025, after which the supply of the new weapons to Bundeswehr units will begin.

It is worth noting that Czech-made firearms are becoming increasingly popular worldwide, primarily due to their affordable price and high reliability, which has been proven through use in the war in Ukraine.

Militarnyi previously reported that in February 2021, the Czech arms manufacturer Česká Zbrojovka acquired 100% of the shares of the American company Colt’s Manufacturing Company.

As a result of this strategic move, CZG gained significant additional manufacturing capacity in the United States and Canada and expanded its global customer network.

Additionally, the Czech RSBC Group acquired the Austrian firearms manufacturer Steyr Arms.