Companies from Germany, South Korea, Turkey, and France are competing to establish a joint venture for ammunition manufacturing with Poland, which is expected to be finalized within the next 3 to 4 months. This initiative could pave the way for strategic intergovernmental collaboration, as noted by Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk in an interview with Reuters.
In response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s indication that America’s commitment to European security is diminishing, Poland is spearheading a European effort to enhance its military capabilities, particularly in light of Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Poland has allocated $750 million to the state-owned Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) to increase its production capacity. Tomczyk emphasized that Poland intends to acquire the technology and licenses for the ammunition produced by the joint venture, which will include 155mm artillery shells. A total of six companies have submitted proposals, and Tomczyk anticipates that the ministry will narrow the options down to three for further negotiations.
The demand for 155mm artillery shells has surged since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to a depletion of European stockpiles as allies have supplied munitions to Kyiv.
PGZ aims to enhance its annual production capacity of 155mm shells, which is currently inadequate, to 150,000 units within the next two to three years. Last week, executives from the Turkish state-owned defense firm MKE visited Warsaw with a proposal that includes a complete transfer of technology for 155mm ammunition production, which the Polish defense ministry stated aligns with current requirements.
In a recent interview, Tomczyk mentioned that another factor in selecting a partner would be the potential for a broader intergovernmental defense cooperation agreement beyond just ammunition. He indicated that Germany, France, Sweden, and Britain have expressed interest in such a partnership.
He stated, “This viewpoint is particularly intriguing, as it allows us to explore the acquisition of multiple capabilities in a consolidated manner while also securing a robust political agreement.”
On Tuesday, Poland announced its plan to dedicate 30 billion zloty ($7.71 billion) from post-pandemic European Union recovery funds to defense initiatives. Additionally, the country anticipates significant advantages if the proposed 150 billion euro rearmament fund from Brussels receives approval. ($1 = 3.8899 zlotys)
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