The Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine and the Czech companies COLT CZ and Česká Zbrojovka discussed the licensed production of the Bren-2 and the development of a new assault rifle.

Herman Smetanin, Minister of Strategic Industry of Ukraine, announced this.

The meeting took place during a business trip to the Czech Republic, accompanied by Oleksandr Kamyshin, the President’s advisor on strategic issues.

“We intend to strengthen this partnership by transferring production capabilities for semi-automatic weapons to Ukraine. In the long run, our goal is to develop a new Ukrainian assault rifle,” the statement reads.

Ukrainian officials also met with PBS, OMNIPOL, LPP, and AMOS representatives.

“I thank the Czech defense companies for their partnership with Ukrainian counterparts. We are already seeing the first results of this cooperation, and I hope we will be able to share them soon. In the meantime, we are working on implementing the agreements reached,” Smetanin noted.

It is reported that in 2024, Ukraine launched the licensed assembly of Czech Bren-2 assault rifles. Today, Ukrainian facilities can produce 400 units per day.

The agreement with Česká Zbrojovka, which provides for the localization of assembly and, in the future, full production of NATO-standard assault rifles in Ukraine, was signed on July 16.

The rifles are assembled from Czech components on Ukrainian production lines owned and maintained by Ukroboronprom.

The partnership with Česká Zbrojovka helps enhance the supply of modern firearms for Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

Military units and law enforcement agencies worldwide use the CZ Bren-2.

In Ukraine, the assault rifles are manufactured under the brand name Sich.