The “Made in Poland” Piorun is Not Our Only Solution

Of course, as we handed over this equipment, we did not mean to advertise it, only to provide Ukraine with an effective instrument to defend her own skies. However, it has turned out that the Piorun has aroused great interest, and both Mesko itself and we, as PGZ, are receiving enquiries from various countries interested in purchasing our product. I can already say that the Americans are among those interested in Piorun MANPADS.

Will it be possible to promote your other products as well?

I assure you that we have more such “Pioruns” in our portfolio. We offer products that are innovative, technologically advanced and adapted to the requirements of the modern battlefield.

Will other PGZ companies benefit as a result of the war in the east?

As we support Ukraine in her fight for independence, we do so with our own security in mind. Of course, we hand over a wide range of products manufactured as part of our business, but in this case, it is not about economic gain. The stakes in this fight are human lives, and further, the safety of Poland and Europe.

A contract will probably be signed this year between the Ministry of Defence and PGZ concerning Narew short-range anti-aircraft missile systems, in the production of which you cooperate with the British MBDA concern. The contract’s value is about 15 billion dollars. What do you expect from this cooperation?

In fact, the first important step in the implementation of this programme was the signing of the first contract, which took place during the 2021 International Defence Industry Exhibition. This was the first of a series of agreements that we need to conclude in order to be able to implement the entire project and provide the army with the short-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence equipment it needs. The next step was, among others, the signing of the ‘small Narew contract’ in April this year with the supplier of the missile and launcher indicated by the Ministry of Defence - the British MBDA UK.

Participation in the Narew programme is a big opportunity for us, and we have been preparing for it for a long time. We have expanded our technological potential, but we have also invested in highly qualified personnel. We look forward to long-term cooperation with our British partner. Of course, the transfer of missile construction technology to Poland is of key importance, as it will allow us to move forward with our other projects in this segment. It is also an opportunity to develop and improve standards of cooperation with such a significant partner as MBDA, which in the future may open up new markets for us. So, it’s a programme that needs to be viewed from different angles - and we see benefits from all of these angles.

PGZ cooperates with the British also on a USD 2 billion contract for the construction of three Miecznik frigates. Why tighten defence cooperation with London in particular?

Both the Narew and Miecznik programs are implemented with our British partners because their offers were deemed the most advantageous by the ordering party, which is the Ministry of Defence and the Armament Agency acting on its behalf. From the perspective of PGZ, this indication is beneficial, since we have a good relationship with our British partners.

I’d like to emphasise, however, that the UK is not our only partner in terms of key modernisation programmes. We work equally closely with companies from the United States and Germany. Recently, we have intensified our relationship with partners from South Korea. These are just a few examples which demonstrate that, alongside our current production, we strive to build good relationships with partners around the world. However, since our industry favours discretion, as it is conducive to securing contracts, we cannot talk openly about everything.

You are independently finishing work on the Borsuk infantry combat vehicle, which one Polish general recently described as better than its American counterpart - the Bradley. What are the specifications of this vehicle?

Indeed, the new amphibious Borsuk ICV is an entirely Polish design developed by a consortium led by Huta Stalowa Wola. The project to develop a successor to the time-worn ICV-1, currently used by Polish soldiers, is one of the greatest challenges facing the Polish defence industry. Developing a completely new, original design with such a high degree of complexity resulted in a huge boost of knowledge and competence for all entities involved in the project. It was necessary to lay the foundations for some theoretical work, testing, and research methodology in the fields of material engineering and cybernetics. The results of this research have enriched the knowledge and competence resources of the entire Polish defence industry and continue to do so. The project has confirmed the substantial competence and knowledge capacity that Huta Stalowa Wola and the other consortium members have been successfully building for years.

What are the main features of the Borsuk?

It is a modern tracked vehicle designed for mechanised infantry units. It can be used in various terrain and weather conditions - it can overcome even wide water obstacles. The vehicle is designed to transport and protect the crew and infantry from small arms fire, anti-tank grenade launchers and IEDs. The design includes many unique solutions that are not available in other vehicles of this class used by other armies.

When will serial production start?

For now, we will focus on delivering four additional units. We would like to deliver them to the military this year to speed up the process of testing the design under conditions of use by soldiers. We are doing everything in our power to start serial production as early as next year. We have prepared for this in terms of appropriate production capacities so that we could manufacture even several dozen vehicles per year, and ultimately, several hundred.

Will it be a hit export for the PGZ?

Time will tell, but the interest from other militaries leads us to believe that this may be the case. We are counting on it.

To conclude, could you offer a few facts about the PGZ group? How many companies does it comprise, how many people does it employ, what are its results, plans...?

Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa not only dominates the domestic market, but is also a major player in the European arena. We are a group of almost 50 entities employing over 18 thousand people. Our companies offer products in all areas - land, air, sea, arms, ammunition, and C4ISR - electronics, IT and cyber technology. Many of our products are world-class, such as the above-mentioned Piorun or the Rak mortar. But not everyone realises that besides the production of state-of-the-art equipment, an equally important part of PGZ activity is maintenance and repairs of weaponry and military equipment used by our armed forces. No other entity in Poland, and very few in Europe, has an offer as extensive as that of the Polish Armaments Group. That is why I can boldly say - and this is not just a claim - that we are a trustworthy partner for the Polish Army, providing it with state-of-the-art, proven solutions. By expanding our business contacts, we are also building a growing presence on European and world markets. ©℗

Prepared in cooperation with PGZ