Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and BAE Systems have signed a strategic partnership to establish a new 155mm artillery ammunition manufacturing facility in Poland, aimed at boosting the country’s battlefield munitions output, the company stated.
According to BAE Systems, the new factory will employ its manufacturing technology, including the same automated systems currently used in the UK that are expected to deliver a sixteen-fold increase in production capacity.
The company noted that its 155mm ammunition has been in British Army service for more than 50 years and remains NATO compliant, compatible with Polish platforms, and interoperable with allied systems.
Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems Chief Executive, said in the press release: “Transferring technology and learning will enable Poland to significantly expand its production capacity of critical 155mm munitions, helping to strengthen its industrial base and supply chain resilience in the face of an increasingly volatile security environment.”
Adam Leszkiewicz, President of the Management Board of PGZ SA, added: “When evaluating the individual offers, we placed particular emphasis on achieving production sovereignty and the development potential of PGZ’s ammunition domain. Considering that this is an open-ended contract, under which we are acquiring completely new competencies for many years, we analysed a very broad range of criteria. I am confident that we made the right choice, beneficial both for the future of our group and for our country’s international relations.”
Poland intends to raise its output to between 150,000 and 180,000 large-calibre shells annually to meet national requirements. According to PGZ, the facility will reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and create hundreds of highly skilled jobs.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey MP was quoted as saying: “This new partnership will strengthen Poland’s security while broadening our UK-Polish defence industrial partnership, showing how defence is an engine for growth across our two nations.”
Construction of the facility is set to begin this year and is expected to be completed between 2027 and 2028.
This is presumably to do with the dynamic, in nozzle, synthesis of the explosive fillers that BAE pioneered.
Probably more to do with Russia Invading Ukraine ?
That has undoubtedly focussed minds on this.
However, the tech was developed for the UK plant.
This will be up and running and the UK plant will still be in the discussion phase.