On 2nd February 2017, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and MBDA, the European guided missiles group, signed a strategic partnership agreement.
This agreement opens the way for future cooperation between PGZ and MBDA in the area of missiles and missile systems. In addition, the agreement envisages the transfer of modern missile technologies to companies within PGZ and integrating these companies into MBDA’s global supply chain.
The aim of the signed agreement is to enhance the mutual cooperation between PGZ and MBDA as well as the development of the PGZ Group’s industrial skills regarding missiles and missile systems. This applies to air defense as well as naval and air-launched missile systems.
The agreement provides a framework for the future cooperation between PGZ and MBDA regarding the missile programs included in the Polish Armed Forces’ Technical Modernization Plan, especially the programs related to a short range air defense system, codenamed “Narew”.
If the Polish Ministry of National Defense decides to select any of the missile or missile system solutions offered by MBDA, the agreement stipulates that MBDA will carry out a significant and mutually agreed transfer of technology to companies within the PGZ Group. In this event, MBDA has also declared its intention to transfer know-how to Poland and to look at the possibility of including Polish defense industry companies within MBDA’s global supply chain.
“This is a step in the direction of building PGZ’s competence in the area of missile technologies, understood broadly. Following a months-long negotiations process we have reached an agreement on deep cooperation and exchange of technologies between the companies composing PGZ, and the facilities of MBDA. Thanks to this we are now confident that we can obtain the competences and deliver a number of military programs, especially the ‘Narew’ short range air defense system, among others,” said Arkadiusz Siwko, the President of the Managing Board of PGZ S.A.
“This agreement formalizes MBDA’s longstanding strategy in Poland and allows us, together with PGZ, to take a major step forward in supporting Poland to acquire the very latest missile and missile systems technology. MBDA’s core strategy, since its early foundation in 2001, has been to promote effective and enduring cooperation across Europe. This is the best way to develop defense industrial capabilities within the partner nation which then guarantees them free access to capability and so meets their requirements for sovereignty and freedom of use,” said Paul Stanley, MBDA VP for Northern Europe
Under the agreement, PGZ Group companies will have the opportunity of cooperating with MBDA on missiles and missile system elements such as launchers, command and control systems, data transmission systems, support vehicles, system integration, program management, servicing and training.
The PGZ Group companies which could be involved in the cooperation with MBDA, includes PIT-Radwar S.A., Mesko S.A., PCO S.A., Zakłady Mechaniczne “Tarnów” S.A., Wojskowe Zakłady Uzbrojenia S.A., Wojskowe Zakłady Elektroniczne S.A., Wojskowe Zakłady Łączności S.A., OBR Centrum Techniki Morskiej S.A., Huta Stalowa Wola S.A., Jelcz Sp. z o., Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze nr 2 S.A. and Stocznia Remontowa “Nauta” S.A.
PGZ is a leader of the Polish industry and one of the largest armaments holdings in Europe. It unites over 60 companies from the following industries: defense, shipbuilding, new technologies.
MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development.
