Poland’s state-owned defence group, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), has chosen BAE Systems as its strategic partner for the construction of a new 155 mm artillery ammunition factory. The agreement, announced on 12 September 2025, follows a multi-stage assessment in which BAE Systems’ proposal was judged strongest on sovereignty, technology and price. The open-ended contract carries a 40-year notice period.

Under the deal, BAE Systems will transfer advanced automated production methods already in use in the United Kingdom, designed to boost output of 155 mm rounds more than sixteen-fold. Construction of the Polish facility is scheduled to begin this year, with operations expected between 2027 and 2028. Initial annual capacity is projected at about 130,000 shells, with long-term ambitions reaching up to 180,000.

BAE Systems chief executive Charles Woodburn said the agreement builds on existing defence ties between London and Warsaw. He stressed that expanding Poland’s domestic munitions production would strengthen both national security and NATO’s eastern flank. Demand for heavy artillery has risen sharply since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, making assured supplies of 155 mm ammunition vital for the Polish Land Forces’ Krab and K9 howitzers.

The partnership reflects wider UK–Polish cooperation under a 2017 bilateral defence treaty, which has also supported projects in naval and air defence. Last week, the two nations jointly marked the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, recalling Poland’s decisive contribution of 145 fighter pilots to the Royal Air Force.

Source: European Security and Defence