VOP CZ TAROS V4

History

VOP CZ, a strategic state-owned enterprise of the Czech Ministry of Defence, began its involvement in unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) development in 2013. The TAROS family — an acronym for TActical RObotic System — regroups a series of development and production platforms. Several TAROS-derived UGVs were delivered to the Czech Army for testing in mid-2020.

The TAROS V4, the fourth generation of the family, was first publicly presented at the Future Forces Forum in Prague in October 2022. Compared with the V3, the V4 introduced improvements in propulsion, driving systems, autonomous driving logic, and more efficient batteries with an improved power management system. At that presentation the platform was described as fully finished with the autonomy package in finalisation, and the system was expected to be ready for customer presentations in early 2023.

On 21 October 2026, VOP CZ unveiled the TAROS V4 equipped with the Australian EOS Slinger counter-drone system at Future Forces Forum 2026 in Prague, demonstrating a mobile counter-drone configuration on a robotic platform designed to reduce soldiers' exposure to forward aerial threats.

Specifications

The TAROS V4 uses a 4×4 wheeled configuration with amphibious capability. Dimensions are 2.83 m × 1.78 m × 1.85 m (length × width × height). Combat weight is 1,850 kg. Maximum speed is 15 km/h on a paved road, 10 km/h on a dirt road, and between 1 and 5 km/h on difficult terrain or in autonomous mode. The vehicle is powered by a 341 Ah battery pack providing a 40 km range; a serial hybrid configuration with an on-board diesel generator extends that range.

Regarding payload, figures differ between reporting periods: at its 2022 public presentation the V4 was listed with a 350 kg payload, while Czech Ministry of Defence reports cited in 2026 state that the fourth-generation TAROS can carry up to 1,000 kg.

Design

TAROS V4 is an autonomous robotic vehicle with advanced autonomous control and guidance functions enabling continuous operation in complex and hazardous environments. The modular architecture allows the mission to be determined by the fitted payload, with applications spanning reconnaissance, surveillance, logistics, protection of critical infrastructure using various weapon systems, and potentially combat support. Individually steerable wheels provide circular turning, lateral crab movement, and a reduced turning radius in addition to conventional driving.

Program Status

As of the 2026 presentation, the TAROS V4 with EOS Slinger is a displayed system concept rather than an operational system. Structural loads, recoil management, electrical power requirements, stabilization, data interfaces, communications, and fire control integration would all require validation before the configuration could be considered fully qualified for operational service. A successor model, the TAROS V6, is in development.

Related Equipment

The EOS Slinger is an Australian-developed counter-drone engagement system built around the Bushmaster M230LF 30 × 113 mm cannon. It combines the cannon with 30 mm proximity-sensing ammunition, an Echodyne 4D targeting radar, a wind sensor, and EOS proprietary stabilization and pointing technology. EOS states the system weighs less than 400 kg and can track and engage moving drones beyond 800 m. The EchoGuard radar detects Phantom-class drones at more than 1 km and Matrice 600-class targets beyond 1.4 km, creating a sensor-to-effector sequence in which a target can be detected before reaching the kinetic engagement zone.