BRIGADIER GENERAL PETR TOMÁNEK ON THE NEW MINDSET, PEOPLE AND CAPABILITIES SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE CZECH AIR FORCE
The Czech Air Force is entering one of the most consequential periods in its modern history. Yet for its newly appointed commander, the decisive challenge goes far beyond acquiring new aircraft and technologies. In an exclusive interview with ACE, Brigadier General Petr Tománek explains why the transformation of air power must begin with a change of mindset–and why readiness, adaptability and investment in people will ultimately determine its success.
General, you are taking command of the Czech Air Force during one of the most extensive modernisation programmes undertaken by the Czech Armed Forces since their establishment. What do you consider your main priority for your first months in office?
I see the first months in office primarily as a period of ensuring continuity while also clearly setting priorities for the years ahead. The Air Force is currently in the midst of an extraordinarily demanding modernisation process, but our fundamental mission remains unchanged: to protect the airspace of the Czech Republic and to be a reliable part of NATO’s collective defence.
I consider it essential to maintain the combat readiness of our existing capabilities, to continue smoothly with the projects already underway–particularly in the areas of air defence, command and control, helicopter and transport aviation, and preparations for the F-35–while at the same time devoting maximum attention to our people.
Equipment can be acquired, but it takes years to develop an experienced pilot, technician, air defence operator or command-and-control specialist. One of my main priorities will therefore be personnel stabilisation, training and the creation of conditions that enable our people to manage both current operations and the introduction of a new generation of equipment.
I plan to visit all Czech Air Force units. I want to speak with commanders and service personnel. They must know and understand our priorities and where we are heading. For me, it is important to receive feedback and to understand the “reality” of everyday service.
My goal is for the Air Force to be modern, ready and resilient.
Your professional career has been closely connected with tactical aviation and Čáslav–from the MiG-21 and L-39, through commanding the 212th Tactical Squadron, to commanding the 21st Tactical Air Force Base. How does this experience influence your view of the role of the Air Force today?
I have had the opportunity to observe the development of our air force from various positions, from pilot to air base commander. As a result, I know very well that the true strength of an air force does not rest solely on its aircraft, but on an entire system comprising people, training, logistics, support and command.
I flew aircraft that represented different generations and different eras of Czech military aviation. This experience showed me how essential it is to be able to adapt to changes in the security environment and to technological development.
Today, the Air Force is no longer only about the pilot in the cockpit. It is part of an interconnected system that includes sensors, air defence, the cyber and information environments, unmanned systems and NATO’s allied networks.
That is precisely why I see the future of the Air Force as a combination of traditional airmanship and modern multi-domain operations.
For international readers, Czech military aviation is often associated primarily with airspace protection, Gripen fighters and allied missions. How would you describe the main tasks and significance of the Czech Air Force within NATO today?
Protecting the airspace of the Czech Republic naturally remains one of our fundamental tasks. However, today’s Czech Air Force fulfils a much broader role.
We are fully integrated into NATO’s allied air and missile defence system and contribute to the Alliance’s collective defence. The Air Force protects the airspace of both the Czech Republic and NATO within NATINAMDS, the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System.
It is not only about two JAS-39 Gripen aircraft being held on alert. It is an entire system involving air-surveillance, command-and-control and support units. Our aircraft regularly protect the airspace of the Baltic states and Iceland. Our helicopters have been contributing to the protection of Polish airspace for almost a year.
We possess transport and helicopter capabilities that enable the movement of forces, humanitarian assistance, medical evacuations and support for special operations.
Command-and-control, surveillance and air-defence systems are also a very important part of our capabilities, enabling information sharing and coordinated operations within NATO. Our role is therefore not solely national. The Czech Air Force is part of an allied team that collectively ensures the security of the Euro-Atlantic area.
The Czech Air Force is regarded as a reliable NATO partner.
Czech tactical aviation is preparing for the transition to the F-35, while the Gripen will maintain the required capabilities until 2035. What do you believe will be the most challenging part of this transition: equipment, infrastructure, training, personnel or a change in mindset?
If I had to select one area, it would be the change in mindset.
Equipment can be purchased, infrastructure can be built and personnel can be trained. All of this is demanding, but these are, to a certain extent, measurable processes. The F-35, however, represents much more than a new aircraft. It is an entirely new way of conducting air operations, based on information connectivity, data sharing and a high level of integration with other components of the armed forces and with our allies.
It will therefore not simply be a matter of transitioning from the Gripen to the F-35. It will be a transformation of the entire system. We must prepare pilots, technicians, operational planners and commanders for an environment in which the ability to work with information will be just as important as flying skills themselves.
At the same time, we must fully maintain the capabilities of the Gripen until 2035 and guarantee the protection of Czech and allied airspace.
I am nevertheless convinced that Czech military aviation has sufficient experience, professionalism and motivation to manage this historic transformation successfully and enter a new era of its development.
You have previously stated that the F-35 extends beyond the Air Force itself and will have an impact on the entire Czech Armed Forces. What specifically will this change mean for command, data sharing, cybersecurity and joint operations across different domains?
The F-35 is not merely a new combat aircraft. It is part of a complex system that fundamentally changes the way armed forces obtain, process and share information. The introduction of a fifth-generation aircraft therefore cannot be understood as an Air Force project, but as a transformation project for the entire Czech Armed Forces.
The F-35 will function as a sensor and an information node capable of connecting data from various sources and providing it to commanders and units in real time. This places greater demands on command-and-control systems, the data connectivity of the individual services and the ability to use information effectively in decision-making.
In the future, the ability to integrate operations in the air, land, cyber and information domains into a single common operational picture will become increasingly important.
Cybersecurity is closely connected with this. Modern platforms depend on secure data transmission and the resilience of information systems. Protecting data, communications networks and critical infrastructure is therefore becoming as important as protecting the aircraft themselves.
In this respect, the F-35 moves us towards a higher level of digitalisation, interoperability and multi-domain operations.
The Air Force is also introducing new capabilities in transport and helicopter aviation, particularly the C-390 Millennium and the H-1 system. How will these platforms change the ability of the Czech Armed Forces to support national and allied operations?
Both platforms represent a significant qualitative leap in our capabilities.
The C-390 Millennium substantially expands our strategic and operational airlift capabilities. It enables the faster transportation of personnel, equipment and materiel over long distances, support for humanitarian operations, medical evacuations and the fulfilment of tasks within NATO.
At the same time, it introduces new capabilities such as air-to-air refuelling, support for special operations and aerial firefighting. As a result, we will be able to respond more rapidly, more independently and with greater reach, both at home and abroad.
The H-1 system, comprising the Viper and Venom helicopters, provides us with modern combat and multirole helicopter capabilities that are fully compatible with NATO standards. Their common logistics base, high degree of interoperability and the experience gained during their deployment on the Alliance’s eastern flank significantly increase our ability to support land forces, special operations and allied units.
Taken together, these projects are moving the Czech Armed Forces away from regionally oriented capabilities and towards a modern force capable of rapid deployment across the entire Alliance.
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the extraordinary importance of air defence, drones, electronic warfare and the ability to respond rapidly to new types of threats. What are the main lessons the Czech Air Force is drawing from these developments?
The conflict in Ukraine has substantially changed the way we view the future battlefield. It has provided many new findings. However, it is very important to say that the conflict in Ukraine has its own specific characteristics and limitations.
NATO possesses capabilities that we can describe as Air Power. This is a set of capabilities that makes it possible to penetrate air defences and strike deep behind an adversary’s lines. It involves superiority across all domains, the ability to obtain data and the ability to plan complex operations.
I would define the fundamental lessons from the war in Ukraine as follows:
- The modern battlefield is extraordinarily saturated with sensors, electronic-warfare systems, unmanned systems and various types of missile threats.
- Quantity can also be quality. Put simply, we need not only modern equipment, but also sufficient numbers. Sometimes it is better to focus on production volume rather than solely on high-tech solutions.
- The necessity of innovation and adaptation. The speed at which new technologies are introduced and countermeasures are developed is accelerating incredibly. Something that is modern and effective today may become outdated and ineffective within days or weeks.
The decisive advantage is not an individual weapon, but the ability to learn rapidly, innovate and adapt to changing battlefield conditions. Adaptability will be one of the key factors determining the success of future air forces.
In one of your previous interviews, you said that “the Air Force is a team effort” and that stabilising the workforce and recruiting specialists represents a major challenge. How do you intend to retain and develop the people who will have to manage both current operations and the arrival of a new generation of equipment?
People are undoubtedly the most valuable capability the Air Force possesses. Aircraft, radars and helicopters can be acquired, but an experienced pilot, technician, air traffic control specialist or air-defence operator cannot be developed within a few months.
I want to continue changing the culture of the Air Force. My priority will therefore be to create conditions that allow service personnel to develop professionally and to remain in service over the long term.
This means a high-quality education system, modern training–including simulation technologies–a clear career perspective and appropriate conditions for performing their duties. The development of new capabilities must be accompanied by the development of the people who will operate them.
At the same time, we must consider generational renewal. We are already preparing the specialists who will operate the F-35 systems in ten years or more. Investment in personnel is therefore not an addition to modernisation, but a fundamental precondition for it.
Investing in personnel also means taking an active approach towards the younger generation. My dream is to establish a system for supporting young people similar to what we see in the United Kingdom or Sweden–the “Air Cadets” system. To introduce aviation and the military to young people.
The Air Force has always been the result of the teamwork of thousands of professionals from many different specialisations. My ambition is for every one of them to know that their work has meaning and that they are an important part of the defence of both the Czech Republic and the entire North Atlantic Alliance.
Interview by: Katerina Urbanova
Photo credit: MgA. Jan Schejbal
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