CSM Industry has signed a framework agreement worth up to 497 million euros ($557 million) with Slovakia’s Ministry of Defence to supply military engineering systems under the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program.
The agreement covers the potential delivery of the company’s UDS (univerzálny dokončovací stroj) engineering systems, a wheeled excavator platform used by military units for tasks such as digging trenches, constructing defensive positions, building obstacles, and preparing logistics routes.
According to the company, the UDS system is “among the most capable wheeled engineering excavator systems of its kind in Europe.”
Beyond military applications, it can also be used for disaster response, flood recovery, landslide mitigation, and infrastructure restoration.
CSM Industry CEO Tomáš Maroš said the framework is a “strong endorsement of the capabilities of the Slovak defense and engineering industry.”
“The inclusion of the UDS system within the SAFE program creates opportunities not only for Slovakia, but also for other EU member states seeking proven and rapidly available engineering capabilities,” he said.
The company said it is also developing additional mobility solutions, including mobile bridge systems and pontoon bridges for military and civil emergency operations.
SAFE Program Drives EU Defense
The EU’s SAFE program is a financing mechanism with a total capacity of up to 150 billion euros ($174 billion) designed to support defense acquisitions and strengthen the European defense industrial base.
Launched in May 2025, a key feature of the framework is that other EU member states can join existing agreements without launching separate procurement procedures.
In May, the European Commission approved Poland’s request for 43.7 billion euros ($51.4 billion) in defense loans under the bloc’s financing mechanism.
Earlier, in March, the commission approved defense financing for Czechia and France, allocating 2.06 billion euros ($2.3 billion) and 15.09 billion euros ($17.3 billion), respectively.
