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A War Gaming in the Context of a Computer Simulation of CombatReviewed - ResearchJiří Černý, Vladimír Vráb, Jan ZezulaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2023, Vol. XXXII. (LXIV.): 82-95 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.32.2023.03.082-095 The war game is a respected tool for commanders' decision-making. Its preparation, execution, and evaluation of results require precise organization and a considerable time commitment. However, the time aspect is a limiting factor in the current dynamic era to a rather objectified evaluation of the variants of operation execution. The article does not describe the process of wargame preparation, it focuses on the execution phase, where it presents the use of a particular simulation system in wargames and under which theoretical conditions the results of combat simulation can be considered valid. It also evaluates the time efficiency of its use in a wargame. It has been experimentally verified that the tested simulation system can be used for a wargame especially in the accelerated simulation mode. The configuration of the computing system was also verified, which allowed a substantial acceleration of the simulation run of the wargame scenario. |
Strategic Communications: From a Reactive Fight Against Disinformation Towards Comprehensive Use in Support of National Security and DefenceReviewed - ReviewVendula DivišováVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2022, Vol. XXXI. (LXIII.): 34-53 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.31.2022.02.034-053 The concept of strategic communications rose to prominence especially with the events linked to the Crimea annexation and Russian intervention in Eastern Ukraine. As such it has been mostly related to the reactive fight against disinformation and propaganda or other elements of the hybrid campaign. This paper aims to point to the much broader potential for the tool of strategic communications in support of goals in the realm of national security and defence, while it is understood as proactive efforts and specific mindset using the information effect to advance national interests. Based on the literature review, benefits of strategic communications beyond hybrid campaigns are identified also in the fields of foreign military operations, counterinsurgency, counter-terrorism, deterrence and crisis management. It describes the informational, particularly, the cognitive, dimensions of these security threats as well as of the measures to counter them. |
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The Operating Environment and Selected Functionalities of Intelligence Support in the Czech Armed Forces - Opportunities and ChallengesReviewed - ResearchPetr Hlavizna, Radovan Vašíček, Daniele BrugioniVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2023, Vol. XXXII. (LXIV.): 155-170 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.32.2023.04.155-170 The article presents selected functionalities of intelligence support in the Czech Armed Forces, which are addressed in the context of opportunities and challenges of the future operating environment. Its aim is to formulate, in parallel reflection with the current approaches of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the possibilities of implementing intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electromagnetic warfare in national conditions. Military practice is presented with a direction on how to respond to changes in the nature of the operational environment, including changes in the physical and non-physical domains of the battlespace to which all components of modern military forces must adapt while maintaining the necessary interoperability. The article is a response to differing and often not entirely correct understandings of the issue, which can be found even among specialists. It summarizes what has been learned so far and suggests where the discussed functionalities should go. |
Modern Battlefield and Necessary Reflection in Military Leader's Education and TrainingReviewed - ResearchPavel Zahradníček, Martin Botík, Luděk Rak, Jan HrdinkaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2023, Vol. XXXII. (LXIV.): 110-122 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.32.2023.04.110-122 The article describes attributes will influence character of modern warfighting and presents the basic approach to prepare commanders and leaders of "new generation". The operational environment describes determinants and characteristic of today's and future warfighting. Technological development as booster, change the tools and the procedures but not the nature of war. Level of training and leadership quality multiplies combat power. The key findings and recommendations support fundamental idea of ability to lead and manage hybrid systems in volatile multi-dimensional environment, using various tools and sources, appropriate to specific environment and specific tactical level mission, stressed in last chapter as result of this study. The article´s aim is support discussion, which directions we will adapt currently ongoing or newly creating study programs, preparing new generation of warriors - leaders. |
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Review of the Author´s Monography - Pavel ZůnaNonreviewed - OtherAntonín Novotný, Richard StojarVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2022, Vol. XXXI. (LXIII.): 121-124 The book Paradigms of Military Tactics, compiled by Pavel Zůna, deals with the principles of fighting at the tactical level on more than 300 pages. |
Bloody years of the Jewish Insurgency in British Mandatory Palestine 1939-1948: From the White Paper to the State of IsraelReviewed - ReviewĽubomír Zvada, Jiří LachVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2022, Vol. XXXI. (LXIII.): 121-136 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.31.2022.03.121-136 This review article focuses on Jewish insurgency under the British mandate for Palestine from 1939 to 1948. The Jewish guerrilla campaign represents a successful case study in the field of the research on small wars and insurgency, proxy wars. The authors analyze the early phase of the British Mandate in 1918-1939, referred to as the prelude to the subsequent Jewish uprising; a period when Jewish paramilitary groups including the Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi emerged and developed, emphasizing their ideological underpinnings, operational and tactical strategies of warfare, and the material capacities that these organizations possessed. The authors primarily emphasize the period from the initiation of the White Paper in 1939 until the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948. British restrictions on Jewish immigration and the beginning of the Second World War stimulated the Jewish forces to a massive terrorist campaign against the British resulting in an unprecedented Zionist victory. |
Czech Defense Policy in the Light of Strategic CultureReviewed - ResearchVladimír Karaffa, Cyril SvobodaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2025, Vol. XXXIV. (LXVI.): 3-23 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.34.2025.01.003-023 The article analyzes key aspects of the development of the Czech Republic‘s defense policy since 1989, with a focus on the role of strategic culture. It examines historical, political, and social factors that have shaped the Czech Republic‘s approach to defense and security issues. Special attention is given to the transformation of the Czech Armed Forces, the transition to a professional military model, and responses to changing geopolitical threats. The analysis also considers public perceptions of the military, the influence of historical narratives on strategic culture, and the attitudes of political elites toward defense matters. The article highlights the importance of strategic culture as an analytical framework for understanding long-term trends and the evolution of defense policy, while suggesting potential avenues for future research in the Czech context. |
Challenges for Teaching Foreign Languages (French, German, Russian) at the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic in the Current Geopolitical SituationNonreviewed - OtherLadislav Baumgartner, Iveta Macháčková, Zbyněk Rektořík, Jana TomšůVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2024, Vol. XXXIII. (LXV.): 129-144 The language training within the Ministry of Defence [MoD] of the Czech Republic is primarily focused on English. However, in accordance with the Concept of Personnel Training for the Needs of the MoD, the MoD provides language training in other foreign languages as well. The language teaching is the responsibility of the Language Centre of the University of Defence Brno [CJV UO] and includes English, French, German and Russian. The aim of this article is to compare the activities of the CJV UO with similar language centres in the defence departments of Germany, Austria and France and to present the teaching of French, German and Russian within the MoD through examples of good practice. In the context of the current geopolitical situation, the teaching of French, German and Russian becomes more important, and the CJV UO responds flexibly to the demands of the MoD regarding the provision of the teaching of these languages including professional language and electronic teaching support. |
Perspectives of Clausewitz’s Center of GravityReviewedJán SpišákVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2025, Vol. XXXIV. (LXVI.): 70-84 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.34.2025.01.070-084 The center of gravity in military affairs represents a dominant element of military art, used in the planning and conduct of military operations. The doctrine defines it as the main source of power that provides the actor with his strength, freedom of action and/or the will to fight. This article examines Clausewitz’s concept of center of gravity through selected philosophical perspectives and clarifies its significance in military theory and practice. It presents the doctrinal development of the concept, discusses its context, and concludes that the concept of the center of gravity remains a key doctrinal and practical element of operational art. |
Possibility of Supporting the Activity of Infantry Units with Combat Unmanned Ground Systems During an Attack OperationReviewedJan Hrdinka, Jan Nohel, Jan Zezula, Jan MazalVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2025, Vol. XXXIV. (LXVI.): 120-135 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.34.2025.01.120-135 The article discusses the possibilities of joint deployment of combat unmanned ground vehicles with combat infantry units. It summarizes the deployment of these assets in past and present military operations, including the presentation of deployment experiences available from public sources, and examines the joint deployment of an infantry squad with an unmanned ground combat platform during an attack operation. Using a constructive simulation, it presents the results of the deployment of an infantry squad during an attack operation with and without the support of a combat unmanned ground vehicle. As part of the discussion, he develops the ideas necessary for the cooperation of the unit with an unmanned vehicle. The aim of the article is, among other things, to open a debate in the professional community about the possibilities of effective use of unmanned ground systems to support the activity of combat units in military operations. |
Palestine in a Vicious Circle of Violence, Wars and Terror (1948-2023)Reviewed - ResearchJan EichlerVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2024, Vol. XXXIII. (LXV.): 36-55 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.33.2024.02.036-055 This article deals with one of the most explosive areas of the world today, which is the Near and Middle East (NMEA) and especially the territory of historical Palestine, where the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (IPC) has been going on for a long time. The text deals primarily with historical and military factors and is written as a historical explanatory analysis. It focuses on the most significant historical events and explains the ways of functioning and the consequences of the processes that have been taking place there for a long time. |
Resistance Operating Concept as a Tool for Increasing the Resilience of the StateReviewedRadek Dubec, Eva Nezvalová, Markéta LickováVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2024, Vol. XXXIII. (LXV.): 3-19 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.33.2024.04.003-019 The article describes the issue of implementing the Resistance Operating Concept as part of a comprehensive approach to ensuring the defense of the state and its resilience. The basic conditions necessary for the introduction of that instrument are sought, and a comparative analysis of selected European countries that started to build a resistance movement is carried out. The article further describes the strategic definition of the resistance movement in the conditions of the Czech Republic, the legislative definition of the resistance movement and its anchoring in the framework of mental law, and the connection of the resistance movement to individual phases of the conflict. It analyzes the relationship of the resistance movement to individual phases of the conflict and categorizes the actors of the resistance movement, their roles and the methods used. In conclusion, it defines the necessary conditions for the implementation of the resistance movement into the security and defense system of the state. |
The Experience of Counterinsurgency Operations Should not be ForgottenReviewed - ReviewRoman KopřivaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2016, Vol. XXV. (LVII.): 86-99 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.25.2016.04.086-099 On the introduction, the article focuses on clarifying the place and role of counterinsurgency in current military operations. It also deals with the principles of counterinsurgency and their doctrinal comparison within some advanced armies and the NATO. The aim is to highlight some findings related to principles that should be changed,added in doctrine and incorporated into the training of the ACR troops. The result of the analysis and comparison of individual principles with own experience of the author from the mission in Afghanistan are recommendations given for the troop training in the theatre. The implementation of the proposed measures in preparation of the Czech Army units may improve the effectivenessof counterinsurgency in military operations. |
Characteristics of Forcible Entries into Objects and an Experimental Assessment of the Potential Impact of Fragments Scattering on Training Safety when Using Fence ChargeReviewed - ResearchOta Rolenec, Pavel Maňas, Tibor PalasiewiczVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2024, Vol. XXXIII. (LXV.): 147-166 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.33.2024.02.147-166 The article focuses on the characteristics of forcible entries into objects and the term "breaching", which is often used interchangeably with this activity. The article further addresses the issue of fragments scattering when using a charge to overcome chain-link fences. The introductory chapter describes the execution of training in this field using the exercise facilities that are built for this purpose in military training areas. When conducting explosive forcible entry training, the safe distance for intervening teams and non-participants is determined using given formulas. The purpose of the simulation, mathematical calculations and experiment was to assess the extent to which fragments scattering occurs during explosive overcoming of these fences and whether the procedures used to determine the safe distance for non-participants are sufficient. |
Civil War in Myanmar. Causes, Actors, DevelopmentReviewedMiroslav NožinaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2024, Vol. XXXIII. (LXV.): 91-104 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.33.2024.04.091-104 The civil war in Myanmar has been going on for more than seven decades. After the military coup in February 2021, it has undergone significant structural changes and gained new momentum. The causes of the conflict lie in the inability of different ethnic and political groups to find a way to coexist within a single state entity and the autonomisation of the military. The main actors in the war in Myanmar today are the military junta and its supporters, the democratic opposition and ethnic organisations. After the coup, the strength of the resistance movement and its operational capabilities are growing. However, this growth has its limits, given the continued disunity of opposition forces, the technical superiority of the Myanmar army and the strengthening of its numbers through compulsory conscription. |
Review of the Author´s Monography - Jiří FidlerNonreviewed - OtherJan EichlerVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2024, Vol. XXXIII. (LXV.): 145-148 The personality of the seventh Czechoslovak president, army general Ludvík Svoboda, is well known to older generations, younger generations are aware of him because of the controversies of recent times. Although there are many biographies of Svoboda, they are mostly determined by the time of their creation and the effort to avoid naming the problems of the time. |
Yomkippur War from the Perspective of Czechoslovak DiplomacyReviewed - ReviewEva TaterováVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2023, Vol. XXXII. (LXIV.): 3-23 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.32.2023.04.003-023 This study presents the perspective of Czechoslovak diplomacy on the events of the Yom Kippur War (1973) in the context Czechoslovak foreign policy towards the Arab-Israeli conflict in early 1970s. The research is based on so far rather underexplored archival sources. Despite Czechoslovakia's declared unequivocal support for the Arab side of the conflict, Czechoslovak Middle Eastern policy since the mid-1950s was not entirely unconditional in relation to the Arab countries. Internal documents of Czechoslovak government occasionally revealed criticisms of Arab representatives. The Yom Kippur War represented a significant moment in this regard, as it was a military confrontation initiated not by Israel but by the Arab coalition, posing a challenge for Czechoslovak propaganda. Simultaneously, this armed conflict presented an opportunity for Communist Czechoslovakia to further deepen its relations with its Arab allies. |
The UN and NATO as the Main Pillars of the International Security Architecture with a Focus on the Middle East RegionReviewed - ResearchYvona Novotná-ŠabackáVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2024, Vol. XXXIII. (LXV.): 18-35 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.33.2024.02.018-035 This study provides a summary overview of the creation and the activities of the international security architecture in the form of their two main pillars, i.e. the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the Near and Middle East region. Within the framework of international security relations, this is a very unstable and conflictual region, where this instability has lasted practically since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The global UN, its overall activity and importance, especially humanitarian and peace-building activities not only for the Near and Middle East region, is very beneficial, through out the Cold War period up to the present day. As a security organization, NATO is among the most important global actors influencing current international security relations. Through their activities, both of these organizations represent a essential means of ensuring world peace and security. |
From Plan Gideon to Plan Tnufa: Israeli defense strategy and the buildup of the Israeli Defense Forces in the wider context of the Middle East after the Arab SpringReviewed - ResearchĽubomír Zvada, Jiří LachVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2023, Vol. XXXII. (LXIV.): 24-44 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.32.2023.04.024-044 Based on the content analysis method, this study analyzes the first ever published security strategy of the Israel Defense Forces, which was published in 2015. The main objective of the paper is not only to present the circumstances of its creation and discuss the main objectives of this strategic security document, but also to outline the broader geopolitical context from which it emerged. The authors argue that the document primarily emphasized two areas - the use of force and capacity building of the Israeli military. Among other things, the publication of the strategy was intended to have a deterrent effect. In the conclusion, the authors compare the Gideon Plan and its follow-up, the Tnufa Plan, and point to the considerable importance that consensus among political and military elites has in the implementation of such a document and reflect on what lessons and inspiration can be drawn from this case in our geographic space in the process of formulating or reformulating strategic security documents. |
Analysis of Taiwan Guerilla Potential - A Real Possibility or a Naive Notion?Reviewed - ReviewRichard OubělickýVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2023, Vol. XXXII. (LXIV.): 35-49 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.32.2023.01.035-049 Existing research about China and Taiwan deals primarily with bilateral relations, military doctrines, etc. They don't pay much attention to the consequences of the potential China-Taiwan war. The article examines conditions for emerging and activity of guerillas with paramilitant signs in the case of China's domination over Taiwan. The analysis is based on the present general, socio-economic, political, geographical, and technological environment. A substantial part of the analysis is also argumentation about the potential of urban guerilla. The article is based on data, pieces of information, polls and academic and analytical texts relevant to the main research questions. Those questions are the potential for emerging, sustainability, and effectiveness of guerilla. The article comes with findings, that argue the relatively high potential for the emergence of guerilla primarily because of the suitable environment in Taiwan and possible effectiveness and sustainability based on existing variables, which can however also limit this potential. |
Arson Attacks in Israel - History and Options for the Elimination of Inincendiary BalloonsReviewed - ReviewAlena Slavíková, Martin Křepský, František Racek, Antonín NovotnýVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2024, Vol. XXXIII. (LXV.): 130-146 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.33.2024.02.130-146 The article concerns the issue of arson attacks in Israel.The issue of terrorism in Israel is quite broad, given that it is a very common phenomenon here and Israel deals with terrorism on a daily basis. The paper therefore focuses on incendiary balloons, a weapon that repeatedly caused fires around the Gaza Strip between 2018-2023. It examines their history, their design, outlines the possibilities of their elimination, the advantages and disadvantages of possible technical solutions, and a reflection on the future of their usage. |
Weapon System Acquisition Process Utilizing Design Simulation as Decision SupportReviewedJan Drozd, Josef ProcházkaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2024, Vol. XXXIII. (LXV.): 37-50 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.33.2024.04.037-050 The selection of optimal weapon systems is crucial for national defense. Traditional empirical methods struggle to address the complexities of modern warfare. This article explores the potential of constructive simulation for informed decision-making in this domain. Simulating tactical operations with complex variables, such as terrain, enemy actions, and system interoperability, provides valuable insights into weapon effectiveness. This enables the optimization of acquisitions in line with strategic goals. Design simulation allows for the exploration of factors difficult to test comparison of armament configurations, analysis of enemy tactics, and optimization of unit composition and deployment, saving costs and time. Simulation enables the safe exploration of even high-risk scenarios. |
Comparison of Approaches Towards Electronic WarfareReviewed - ReviewPetr HlaviznaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2018, Vol. XXVII. (LIX.): 78-104 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.27.2018.04.078-104 The article examines the different approaches of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United States Armed Forces towards Electronic Warfare, the military activity in the Electromagnetic Environment. All reference materials used for this analysis, including the specifics of the Army of the Czech Republic's approach toward the subject area, were obtained from unclassified military sources. It describes, explains and visualizes the individual approaches, and by their comparison it identifies and subsequently emphasizes cases of divergence, including non-compliance in established Czech terms, definitions and abbreviations. It highlights the obsolescence of the still valid military publication Electronic Warfare in the Army of the Czech Republic, the use of which, in its current form, has already been deemed as unfounded and counterproductive. It presents proposals and recommendations for unification of approach towards the Electronic Warfare issues within the Army of the Czech Republic, in order to ensure consistency with the current North Atlantic Treaty Organization policy related to activities in the Electromagnetic Environment. It contributes to better understanding of doctrinal views on the role of Electronic Warfare in execution of combat support tasks in contemporary military operations, thus creating preconditions for elimination of associated misunderstandings in terms of the Army of the Czech Republic. |
Strategic Surprise and Implications for State DefenseReviewed - ResearchRadek Dubec, Roman JandaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2023, Vol. XXXII. (LXIV.): 140-154 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.32.2023.04.140-154 The article is based on a study carried out as part of the Long-Term Organizational Development Plan project by the Center for Security and Military-Strategic Studies of the University of Defense entitled "Armed Conflict". As part of the study, the issue of strategic surprise was analyzed and assessed, the aim of which was to find causal mechanisms and connections between the security of state defense and the phenomenon of surprise in the conditions of the 21st century. The article deals with the issue of surprise and its impact on state defense security. It describes strategic surprise as a principled aspect with implications and impacts on state defense. It examines the issue of surprise as a principle of military art in the context of contemporary strategic thinking. |
Current Approaches of the Czech Republic, the EU and NATO to Hybrid ThreatsReviewed - ResearchMartin HavlíkVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2022, Vol. XXXI. (LXIII.): 3-16 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.31.2022.02.003-016 The article discusses the current approach of the Czech Republic to the phenomenon of hybrid threats and analyses the fundamental shortcomings that determine the effective management of these threats. As part of a comprehensive approach, the text is supplemented by the current view of the European Union and NATO on addressing the issue of hybrid action by hostile actors. A summary comparison of the approaches of the Czech Republic, the European Union and NATO points to the need for mutual institutional synergy among these entities. Although the current approaches of the mentioned subjects are relatively sufficiently doctrinally anchored, the absence of a complex and especially practically functioning apparatus and specific operational tools that would be able to face a wide range of hybrid threats persists. |
Does the government's defence funding bill really only create an unenforceable political commitment?Reviewed - ReviewJan KudrnaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2023, Vol. XXXII. (LXIV.): 23-34 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.32.2023.02.023-034 The article is devoted to the draft law on defence financing, which aims to oblige the government to allocate an amount of at least 2% of GDP to defence in every draft law on the state budget. During the inter-ministerial comment procedure, the Supreme Audit Office expressed doubts whether the draft means anything more than an unenforceable political commitment in relation to the Chamber of Deputies". The article convincingly demonstrates, with the help of legal argumentation and interpretation of the Constitution of the Czech Republic, the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies, as well as the established case law of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic, that if approved, the Chamber of Deputies will also be bound by the Defence Financing Act when approving the state budget. To do otherwise would violate constitutionality. |
The Information War in Ukraine as a Part of the Military StrategyReviewed - ReviewJan MěřičkaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2022, Vol. XXXI. (LXIII.): 21-37 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.31.2022.01.021-037 This paper assesses the information war in Ukraine in the context of the military strategy. An influence of the information operation (disinformation and deception) presents the strategic tool. The author pragmatically analyses the information war from the military art perspectives and as a part of the strategy used for support of the combat operations. He identifies phases of the information war in the context of the war. The author expects and confirms the opinion that the information war is led by both external actors (the USA and the Russian Federation). Their top representatives are involving in the information war because they support their own interests. This paper has been written as a neo-realist case study. The balance of power concept is in accordance with the used theory, as well as with the key interests of the external actors. |

