CZ Yearbook 2019 /eng

80 | | 81 weapons whose number desig- nation was not exactly catchy... And so it was that the CZ 805 from Uherský Brod got a new name – the CZ 805 BREN. Now, it was necessary to ensure the new guns would show that they were worthy to bear this famous name. A learning curve In line with modern trends, in the f irst phase, CZ launched the development of a modular automatic firearm in two basic proposed versions: the first one was to use the 5.56×45 NATO and 7.62×39 mm calibres (with the 6.8 SPC coming later); the second one 7.62×51 mm NATO or 300WSM. Moreover, the guns were to be modular as far as calibre and barrel length/style, in accordance with the required tactical or logistic needs. The next step was fundamen- tally influenced by the Czech Army requirements who had decided that for its partial rear- mament, they would only pur- chase assault rifles and carbines in 5.56×45mmcalibre. Thus, this calibre became the standard for the first generation of the new assault rifles fromUherský Brod, that is for the CZ 805 BREN A1/ A2 models. Looking back f rom the per- spective of today, it was quite the learning curve for both CZ and the Czech armed forces. For CZ, they were developing and preparing for production a new category of f irearm. Though they had extensive ex- perience manufacturing the 7.62mm vz. 58 service rifle, that production had ceased long ago and the technologies used for its manufacture were no longer preferred. With modern technologies in place and the 5.56×45 cartridge as the rifle’s basis, manufacturing was prov- ing challenging. Much was rid- ing on the success of this plat- form, as evidenced by themany worldwide f irearms manufac- turers who have attempted to field 5.56×45 rifles only to have their reputations impacted in varying degrees. As for the Czech armed forces, they had to relearn how to pro- cure f irearms that meet their needs. From defining the cor- rect requirements to testing and evaluation of samples to tak- ing delivery of the finished fire- arms and equipping troops with them – they had to put in place new processes for all of this. So, whenon the 18thMarch 2010 a contract with the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic was signed to supply the CZ 805 BREN A1 rifles, CZ 805 BREN A2 carbines and CZ 805 G1 un- derslung grenade launchers in 40×46 mm cal., it was just the f irst step on a long and hard journey to a truly perfect rifle. The CZ 805 BREN rifles and car- bines entered serial production in 2011, making use of highly advanced technologies. Even in this respect the return of the Uherský Brod company to sup- plying the armed forces meant a radical turning point, as the new CNC milling and turning centres were soon being used for other projects and contrib- uted to the arrival of the latest, exceptionally successful genera- tion of CZ firearms. Where usage experience is con- cerned, it is no secret that after the first models were delivered, some grievances arose. These were partly caused by the users themselves, especially due to incorrect handling and insuffi- cient cleaning, someminor ones were dealt withby themanufac- turer at its own expense. More- over, experience from practical use and from combat was used to further improve themodels. Therefore by 2013, the CZ 805 BREN rifles and carbines evolved to models generally considered to be of very high quality, a belief enforced by suc- cess in export. Yet in the mean- time, further changes were tak- ing place in CZ. Between generations Around that time, the company saw more and more product managers with experience from active duty in the armed forc- es. In addition, there emerged a new generation of designers who felt at homewith advanced sophisticated development methods and who used them to design products with the needs and requirements of the end users inmind. This new crowd first came up with the idea for the CZ 807 as- sault rifle, still partially based on the original 805, which Česká zbrojovka entered into a num- ber of tenders abroad. The re- quirements asked for a truly multi-calibre weapon, using the 5.56×45 mm NATO and 7.62×39 mm calibres as standard. The company’s model enjoyed the most publicity in tenders in In- dia and Pakistan. Incidentally, in relation to the latter, informa- tion about a variant using the 7.62×51 mm NATO calibre, was published for the first time in November 2016. The 807 turned out to be an excellent rifle, able to compete with similar products from re- nowned foreign manufactur- ers. Thanks to this, the model enjoyed very good commercial success in 2016 and 2017, but once again, another significant change was coming. The CZ BREN 2 Since 2006, CZ has gained a lot of experience with the develop- ment, testingandcombat useof assault rifles. In the end, it tran- spired that the original concept of the CZ 805 could not offer any more significant improvements. But at the same time, the com- pany product managers and designers became convinced that with their know-how, they would be able to create a new model, several steps above the previous BRENs. They were pro- posing to create a new model series that shared little with the current guns. It turned out that the company confidence was not exaggerated and the risks were undoubtedly worth it. Thenewmodelwasbrieflycalled the CZ 806, though it was soon renamed the CZ BREN 2. Under this name it entered serial pro- duction in 2016, in the first phase just for the Czech armed forces who, after thorough testing, de- cided to complete their rearma- ment with this particular model in 5.56×45mmNATO calibre. Everyone who has had the op- portunitytotryout theCZBREN 2 and compare it to the original CZ 805 BREN agrees that it was the right choice. The ten years of experience between the design of the two is well evidenced. Not to mention the fact that over the past decade, technologies and manufactur- ing processes have moved on too, which is of course reflected in the user parameters and du- rability of modern firearms. Currently, the BREN 2 models are regarded as one of the fin- est short-stroke piston rifles in the world. In the 5.56×45 mm NATO version it might not be so obvious, as the competition really is strong. It is a different matter for the 7.62×39 mm var- iant. This cartridge has been around for many years but it doesn’t change the fact that the Soviets had done a great job and that today, it is popular for use against targets with ballistic protection. As thedecisionof the GIGNunit previouslymentioned at the beginning of this article clearly shows, there is probably no equal rival for the CZ BREN 2 in this calibre at the moment. Speaking of the French tender – their requirements were excep- tionally demanding, since their guns must shoot reliably with special subsonic cartridges and with a silencer. It therefore comes as no sur- prise that BREN 2 rifles have be- gun garnering more and more success abroad. For instance, in March 2018 it was announced that a licence agreement had been signed involving the CZ BREN 2 rifles as well. Under this agreement, Hungary will pro- duce CZ firearms for their own armed forces. Bearing a name synonymous with the Czech pride in arms manufacture, the current BREN rifles combine the most ad- vanced firearms manufacturing technology, functional design driven by experience in modern combat and the ergonomics ex- pertise of the CZ brand into one of the most premiere service rifles in existence.