ZVS Holding Marks the Launch of Its First Large-Caliber Ammunition Production Line and Announces Expansion of Tatra Vehicle Production in Slovakia Following a Record Contract Award
At a ceremonial event held today, ZVS Holding, a joint venture between the Slovak Republic and the CSG Group, officially launched a new artillery ammunition filling line, known as a “screw-type filling line,” in Dubnica nad Váhom. This is the most advanced line of its kind in Europe and will significantly contribute to achieving CSG’s goal of increasing total large-caliber ammunition production capacity to more than one million rounds per year. On this occasion, CSG, together with the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic, also announced another major development project—the expansion of Tatra vehicle production in Slovakia.
Back in December 2024, upon the conclusion of a contract for the procurement of Tatra vehicles in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic required that production of Tatra vehicles for the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (AF SR) be localized in Slovakia to the greatest possible extent. For this purpose, a new production facility was established in Moldava nad Bodvou.
Today’s event also included a joint announcement by CSG and the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic regarding the expansion of Tatra vehicle production at the Moldava nad Bodvou facility, where more than 300 new jobs will be created in the coming years. This decision follows the recent conclusion of a record contract for the delivery of 4,000 T-810 M military vehicles, valued at more than USD 1 billion over four years, awarded to Tatra Defence Slovakia by a customer from Southeast Asia. Production will be carried out by MSM Land Systems, which operates the manufacturing facility in Moldava nad Bodvou. Both companies are part of the CSG Group.
“We are very pleased to announce today two developments of fundamental importance for the Slovak defence industry and the economy as a whole. The first is that ZVS Holding, jointly owned by the Slovak state and the CSG Group, is launching a new large-caliber ammunition production line—the most advanced in Europe—which will significantly increase the company’s production capacity. The second is the award of a record contract for 4,000 Tatra vehicles to Tatra Defence Slovakia. The vehicles will be produced in Moldava nad Bodvou, where this project will create more than 300 new jobs. In doing so, we are fulfilling our commitment to developing the Slovak defence industry while simultaneously supporting employment in regions where it is most needed,” said Robert Kaliňák, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic.
“The opening of the new filling line represents a major milestone in the long-term development of ZVS Holding. It is an important step toward our goal of exceeding an annual production capacity of one million large-caliber ammunition rounds within the CSG Group and its ammunition division, the MSM Group, which includes ZVS. Together with the transfer of Tatra vehicle production to Slovakia, this project further confirms CSG’s strategy of strengthening the capacities of the Slovak defence industry and developing joint Czech-Slovak industrial projects with high added value,” said Jan Marinov, CEO of the CSG Defence Division.
Jakub Krchňavý, CEO of ZVS Holding, added: “The screw-type filling line, the most advanced of its kind in Europe, represents a technological breakthrough that will allow us to significantly increase ammunition production capacity and fully utilize the potential of the Slovak Republic in supplying allies with ammunition under the recently announced Slovak Ammunition Initiative. Ammunition production in Dubnica and Tatra vehicle production in Moldava nad Bodvou are part of a single story of growth, modernization, and technological investment.”
The new filling line, commissioned in Hall 507 of the ZVS Holding factory in Dubnica nad Váhom, significantly increases production capacity for 155 mm artillery ammunition. It is a highly automated screw-type system enabling the filling of ammunition calibers ranging from 81 mm to 155 mm. Construction of the line took one and a half years, with total investments in the production line and supporting infrastructure amounting to nearly EUR 100 million. The facility is equipped with modern safety systems and enables two-shift operation throughout the entire week. This project further strengthens ZVS Holding’s production capacities in response to growing demand for artillery ammunition in Europe and a framework agreement with the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic worth up to EUR 58 billion, which is part of the Slovak Ammunition Initiative.
Through these projects, Slovakia confirms its position as a leading European hub for the production of modern artillery ammunition and a significant manufacturer of Tatra military vehicles, further strengthening Czech-Slovak industrial cooperation and the overall defence ecosystem.
Czechoslovak Group (CSG) is a global industrial and technology group owned by Czech entrepreneur Michal Strnad, focused on the development and production of strategically important products and technologies in the fields of defence, aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and other advanced sectors. CSG operates key production capacities across Europe and worldwide, and its members include companies such as Excalibur Army (land systems), Tatra Trucks (vehicles), MSM Group (artillery ammunition), and others. The Group employs more than 14,000 people and continuously invests in the growth and technological development of its companies.
