Montenegro Becomes First Military to Adopt Czech CZ BREN 3 Rifles

Montenegro has become the first country to introduce the Czech-made CZ BREN 3 assault rifle into military service, following the arrival of an initial shipment under a €24.2 million government-to-government defense agreement with the Czech Republic.

The first shipment, consisting of several hundred small arms, arrived at Podgorica Airport on October 2 aboard a Czech Air Force Embraer C-390 Millennium transport aircraft. It marked the aircraft's first cargo mission since entering Czech service.

According to the Czech Ministry of Defence, thousands of CZ BREN 3 rifles are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026, alongside hundreds of pistols, sniper rifles and submachine guns, as well as ammunition and accessories supplied by companies within Colt CZ Group.

The acquisition is valued at €24.2 million, a figure announced by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš when the implementation agreement was signed in July.

First Military Adoption of the CZ BREN 3

Montenegro formally presented the new weapons at a military facility in Danilovgrad in early October, with members of the country's special forces demonstrating the equipment to Defense Minister Dragan Krapović and senior military officials.

The introduction makes Montenegro the first military operator of the latest-generation CZ BREN 3 platform, according to the Montenegrin Ministry of Defence and manufacturer Česká zbrojovka.

The rifle succeeds the CZ BREN 2 and incorporates modifications to its operating system, ergonomics and overall design.

The modular platform is offered in 5.56×45 mm NATO and .300 AAC Blackout configurations, with multiple barrel lengths. It features a short-stroke gas-piston system and a three-position gas regulator designed to accommodate different operating conditions, including suppressor use.

The Czech manufacturer has emphasized the rifle's durability and adaptability for military users.

Montenegro's defense ministry said the new firearms will replace part of its aging small-arms inventory, reducing maintenance requirements while improving standardization across its military units.

Colt CZ Group Leads the Supply Program

The procurement involves several companies within the Czech-based Colt CZ Group.

Česká zbrojovka is supplying the CZ BREN 3 rifles and other firearms, while Sellier & Bellot is involved in ammunition deliveries. The broader package also includes products from 4M Systems.

Czech defense reporting has put the overall procurement at approximately 6,500 firearms, although the precise quantities ordered of each individual model have not been publicly disclosed.

The program is being implemented through a government-to-government procurement arrangement signed on July 24, building on the bilateral defense cooperation agreement concluded on May 19, 2026.

AdriaDefense previously reported on the signing of that agreement, which established the framework for joint defense modernization projects.

The Czech Defence Ministry's Intergovernmental Defence Cooperation Agency (AMOS) oversees the arrangement, with state-owned LOM PRAHA acting as project integrator and the Czech Export Bank supporting the financing structure.

Further Czech–Montenegrin Defense Projects Under Discussion

The initial delivery has also opened discussions on another government-to-government procurement arrangement.

The Czech Ministry of Defence confirmed on October 7 that both countries were already considering a second agreement, with working-level negotiations scheduled for mid-October.

No equipment, contract value or timetable has yet been confirmed for that potential follow-on project.

For Colt CZ Group, the delivery gives its newest assault-rifle platform its first military customer. For Montenegro, it represents the first completed deliveries under the defense procurement framework agreed with Prague earlier this year.