From May 28th to 30th, the International Defence and Security Technology Exhibition (IDET 2025) took place, once again confirming its status as one of the most important events in the field of defence and security in Central Europe. The significance of this year’s edition was underscored by the participation of high-ranking officials not only from the Czech Republic but also from abroad. The opening speech was delivered by the President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Petr Pavel.

Over the course of the three-day event, new business opportunities and strategic partnerships were actively discussed, and several pre-negotiated agreements were successfully finalized. IDET 2025 also addressed key current topics such as space defence and the use of 3D technologies through a series of expert conferences.

esc Aerospace – Defence was represented at the fair by its Executive Directors, doc. Jan Roháč and Ing. Richard Sysala, highlighting the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation and technological advancement in the field of defence and security. Exhibition was an opportunity to meet with potential partners, exchange ideas, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.

Ing. Richard Sysala and doc. Jan Roháč

On May 23, 2025, SAB Aerospace hosted the IOSHEX Industry Day to mark the successful completion of the KP-1 milestone in Phase B1 of the IOSHEX project. The event brought together key stakeholders from the European Space Agency (ESA), project partners, and aerospace industry professionals to celebrate this important achievement and outline the future direction of the IOSHEX mission.

Keynote addresses were delivered by Lanfranco Zucconi, President of SAB Holding, and Fabio Caramelli, IOSHEX Project Manager at ESA, both of whom emphasized the innovative nature of the project and the strong partnership that underpins it. The technical program was led by Jakub Vlčák, IOSHEX  Technical Manager, and Boris Bellan, IOSHEX Project Manager.

Executives from esc Aerospace were also in attendance. Their presence reflected the strong commitment of the private sector to advancing European capabilities in on-orbit servicing and experimentation.

In light of today’s evolving security landscape, the recent conference brought forward essential conversations about Europe’s path toward greater defense autonomy and industrial resilience. The conference provided a platform for open discussion on strengthening cooperation among European defense companies, making effective use of offset programs, and building resilient and independent supply chains. Current security challenges highlight the importance of a strong technological foundation and cross-border collaboration within Europe. The Czech defense industry plays a key role in this landscape, and the conference offered an opportunity to forge new partnerships, share expertise, and actively contribute to joint European initiatives.

Our Executive Officer, doc. Jan Roháč, presented ESC Defence as a strong example of a Czech company operating in the defense industry that actively participates in European Defence Fund (EDF) projects. ESC Defence was among the first companies in the Czech Republic to successfully engage in these initiatives. The presentation highlighted the company’s achievements, involvement in EDF projects, and served as a platform for networking and strengthening international cooperation.

credit: FB Ministry of Transport

On April 8-11, 2025, a business mission to South Korea focused on space technology was held. The visit began at the R&D center of Nara Space, followed by a business forum aimed at fostering both business and academic collaboration. Dedicated business mission to South Korea can bring together key players from the space industry to explore collaborative opportunities in one of Asia’s most dynamic innovation hubs. The mission aims to strengthen ties between companies, research institutions, and government bodies, with a focus on satellite technology, launch services, space data applications, and emerging aerospace technologies. By fostering both commercial and academic partnerships, the initiative seeks to accelerate joint projects, enhance knowledge exchange, and support the growth of a competitive and sustainable space ecosystem.The mission was attended by Ondřej Šváb from the Ministry of Transport, and ESC Aerospace was represented by its CEO, Richard Sysala.

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CEO Richard Sysala

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(CEO for Space Ing. Petr Suchánek)       credit: ESA/Motion3

The Future Innovation and Research in Space Transportation programme (FIRST!)—an initiative under ESA’s STS Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP)—is designed to identify and support innovative, high-potential technology disruptors that can benefit the future of European space transportation. The goal of programme ESA FIRST! is to accelerate technology de-risking by means of rapid prototyping and testing. Mentioned programme finds promising technologies through an open competition procurement process.

On 2nd April 2025, breakthrough technological proposals in space transportation were celebrated at ESA’s FIRST! Awards Ceremony in Paris, attended by the CEO for Space, Ing. Petr Suchánek. The submitted proposal was on the topic of Engine Electrification, Sensors and Intelligence.  Celebrating these disruptive concepts reflects a shared vision: to lead with innovation, reduce technological risk through rapid prototyping, and accelerate Europe’s journey toward independent, sustainable, and advanced space access. We are proud to be part of this dynamic transformation and look forward to continue collaboration with ESA and the broader space community.

On 3rd and 4th April, an information event for industry was held under the patronage of ESA, dedicated to the upcoming ESA Council at Ministerial Level (CM25) in November. The event took place in Noordwijk, Netherlands. Programme Directorates presented their current plans and considerations for the CM25 programme proposals and were engaged in dialogue with industry representatives. The objective of the event was to inform industry, gather feedback to refine the proposals, support decision-making at CM25, and enhance implementation after the conference. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher welcomed 530 participants, including representatives from startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, midcaps, and major system integrators. The event was attended by the CEO – Richard Sysala on behalf of ESC.

The Institute of Physics at the Silesian University in Opava and the Czech Astronomical Society have released a press statement highlighting an upcoming astronomical event. On Saturday, March 29, 2025, a partial solar eclipse will occur, which will be observable from Central Europe. Although the eclipse will not be total, conditions will be very favourable for viewing it.The Czech Republic will be on the outskirts of the visible zone – besides North America, the eclipse will be observable across most of Europe and parts of Asia. The eclipse will be most pronounced in Canada, with a 94.8 per cent partial eclipse in northern Quebec. On our territory, the eclipse will take place around midday, with the Sun over 40° above the horizon.. At its maximum phase, the Moon will cover up to 22% of the solar disk, most of it in northwestern Bohemia. The maximum of the phenomenon will occur between 12:15 and 12:23 CET, depending on the observer’s position. It will end around 13:00.

🚀🌍 We were honored to attend the Space Industry Days in Prague, an exceptional event that highlighted the growing collaboration between the Czech Republic and Italy in the space sector. Held at the Official Residence of the Mayor of Prague, the event began with a warm welcome from the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic, who provided an insightful overview of Czech space activities, setting the stage for the event.

Key highlights included a presentation on TASI’s space programs and a deep dive into Italy’s expertise in Observation and Navigation, as well as its contributions to Space Services in Science, Exploration, and Telecommunications.

A special thank you to the Ministry of Transport and the Italian Embassy for making this event a success. Our director, Richard Sysala, was there representing us and fostering valuable connections in the industry.

ESC AEROSPACE delivers Mechanisms Drive Electronics for reusable Space Rider

Member of ESC Aerospace met representatives from ORBEX during European Launcher Challenge Information Days in Prague. The interest in creating the European supply chain is in response to the call from ESA – European Launcher Challenge.