Defence platforms electrify, driven by hybrid propulsion, autonomous systems, and power-hungry electronics. To win, a supplier must deliver both the wiring and the power management systems. And that is what Jakub Gabriel is doing, the CEO of Ray Service told EU Perspectives.
The noise on the floor of Eurosatory 2026 in Paris was considerable. Jakub Gabriel, CEO of Ray Service found a quiet corner outside to talk to EU Perspectives in the blistering heat.
The head of the manufacturer of cable harnesses, electromechanical assemblies, and electronic systems had reason to feel pleased. Earlier, the Czech defence minister had cut the ribbon on the company’s new EGIS Family—a modular solution for modern defence platforms—at the Ray Service stand.
European money, and how to reach it
Mr Gabriel spoke with some frankness about the European funding landscape. He sees the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) regulation as a practical tool. “For us the SAFE programme is nowadays one of the very important factors of how we can manage to close contracts with our customers,” he said. “We can see that a lot of states are now getting budgets from the SAFE programme on top of their national budgets and can afford to acquire new equipment and systems.”
On the European Defence Fund (EDF), he was more measured. “Regarding the EDF programme, this is for us mainly quite a big task, as you need to build a consortium with the major players in the market,” he said. “As for now, we don’t have much success there, but we don’t give up and maybe we can be successful in the future.”
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The broader regulatory architecture, one that allows both national and EU-wide procurement, he regards as broadly sensible. “I think it’s good that it’s working on both sides: on the national budget programme as well as the Europe-wide programmes, which are coming on top of this effort,” he said. “In this combination, we can manage to build up strong armed forces over Europe in the relatively short time; for the next, let’s say, three years.”
That timeline shapes everything Ray Service does. “That is why we are investing that much in our own capabilities and capacities,” Mr Gabriel said. “The time is short and we need to be capable to perform and deliver.”
Tanks and fighters
The EGIS launch capped months of development and testing. It also capped years of quiet, methodical expansion by a company that most people outside the defence supply chain may not be familiar with.
Ray Service, headquartered in Staré Město in the Czech Republic, has been building military-grade electrical systems for more than 30 years. It supplies cable harnesses and control systems to some of the largest defence programmes in Europe, working with partners including Rheinmetall, KNDS, and Lockheed Martin. Like most contractors in the business, it may not be a household name. Ray Service’s products, however, run through some of the most consequential hardware on the continent.
The company’s recent contract record tells the story of a supplier moving steadily up the value chain. In May 2026, Ray Service signed a contract with the Franco-German giant KNDS for deliveries to the Leopard 2A8 CZ programme, covering tracks, road wheels, and complex cabling systems for the Czech Army’s incoming fleet of main battle tanks.
The Leopard success
Mr Gabriel was direct about what the deal meant. “We view the signing of this contract as confirmation of our readiness to be a solid part of the global Leopard programme,” he said. “It is vital for us that KNDS is delivering on its promises and giving the Czech industry real space to succeed.”
I firmly believe that the combination of strong technology, a clear strategy, and the right people is what creates real long-term value. — Jakub Gabriel, CEO of Ray Service
The deal, signed just days before the Eurosatory show, did not come in isolation. “Successful cooperation on Leopard tanks opens the door to discussions about the Arminius programme, which focuses on the production of several thousand Boxer vehicles,” Mr Gabriel said. “The Czech Republic now has a unique opportunity to participate in this future programme.”
Thomas Fritzsch, regional sales director for Central and Eastern Europe at KNDS Deutschland, had some words of praise, too. He described Ray Service as “a key partner not only for the Leopard 2A8 CZE but also in projects for other European nations”.
A giant leap
Earlier, in March 2026, Lockheed Martin finalised industrial cooperation agreements as part of the F-35 Lightning II sale to the Czech Republic, including a signing ceremony with Ray Service to produce wire harnesses for the incoming fleet. Nicholas Merrick, the US Ambassador to the Czech Republic, said the collaboration underscored an “ironclad commitment to collective security” and that “by integrating Czech talent into the global F-35 supply chain through partners like Ray Service, we are ensuring American innovation and Czech expertise work hand-in-hand.”
The company’s top-league footprint dates back years. In May 2022, Ray Service and Rheinmetall signed agreements for electrical and control systems for the Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle. The two deals are worth €60m between them. The former covered the Hungarian Army programme, the latter a pre-contract for a potential Slovak procurement.
Mr Gabriel’s assessment at the time was characteristically blunt. “With this giant leap we will build up a real competence centre in Slovakia,” he said.
The acquisition drive
Ray Service has not confined its ambitions to contracts alone. Earlier this year, the company acquired a two-thirds stake in MGM COMPRO and MGM COMPRO International. The latter specialises in electric propulsion systems, battery management, embedded electronics, and custom hardware and software development.
Mr Gabriel described the move in terms that went beyond financial calculation. “For a long time, we have been seeking opportunities that make sense not only financially, but above all technologically, strategically, and from a human perspective,” he said. “MGM COMPRO is exactly the type of company where we know that one and one can be more than two.”
For a long time, we have been seeking opportunities that make sense not only financially, but above all technologically, strategically, and from a human perspective. — Jakub Gabriel
He was equally clear that the acquisition was not a passive investment. “We are actively entering the management of the companies and becoming managing directors. We will be directly involved in strategy, business development, and day-to-day operations,” he said. “I believe that the combination of strong technology, clear strategy, and the right people is what creates real long-term value.”
The company spent three decades building connectors and harnesses for industrial clients. The pivot to front-line European defence programmes has been rapid. The EGIS launch, the contracts, and the acquisitions all arrived within months of each other. Mr Gabriel has the air of a man who has been waiting for exactly this moment. He intends to make the most of it, too.
