Challenges to national defence in contemporary geopolitical situation

Airfield infrastructure represents a critical element of national defence and a key enabler of NATO Host Nation Support (HNS). Modern conflicts demonstrate that airfields are priority targets, and even limited damage to runways can significantly disrupt air operations. NATO standards, particularly STANAG 2929 and AATMP‑03, therefore define Airfield Damage Repair (ADR) as a mandatory capability enabling rapid restoration of airfield functionality. This paper analyses ADR as an essential component of HNS and assesses the current state of ADR capability in the Czech Republic. Based on NATO doctrinal requirements and national research outcomes, the study highlights existing capability gaps and outlines key measures necessary to ensure compliance with alliance obligations and to enhance national and collective resilience.

The article deals with the issue of the energy efficiency in military camps. The military camps are mostly built during military deployments in case of exercises or missions. As different kinds of temporary structures are typically used to shelter large part of the camps’ facilities, the area of improvement for better energy efficiency lies mainly in the utilization of energy efficient devices, machines and pieces of equipment that are used by deployed personnel. The resulting lower energy consumption does not only bring lower financial and logistical burden to the military units but also contribute to the lower environmental impact of military activities. And ultimately, lowering energy use, especially fossil fuel, may result in cleaner environment and significantly affect health of deployed personnel. Overall, there are many benefits brought by energy efficient devices and equipment in several overlapped areas in military camps and their surroundings.

National competitiveness is a multisided concept that includes a system of indexes, indicators, criteria, conditions and factors of development, mechanisms of its improvement. Competitiveness consists of a number of components that supplement each other and ensure steady economic growth, improving the welfare of the population. These are: science and education, innovation and investments, various infrastructure, real economy sector, small business, various services, natural and human resources. The objective of necessity to perform reforms at the regional level and the natural increase of the role of the regions in reforming the economy are predetermined by the fact that the ability of state bodies, ministries and departments to influence the course of reforms is gradually limited, and the new market mechanism is not working enough effectively yet. This shows the necessity of determination of the role and place of the region in the economic space, its potential possibilities and development prospects.