PM Morawiecki announces multiannual program of ammunition production

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, Deputy Prime Minister on Monday (March 27) met with Thierry Breton, European Union Commissioner for Industry and the Internal Market, as well as employees of the Dezamet Metal Works in Nowa Dęba.

Dezamet Metal Works S. A. is a company that is part of the Polish Armaments Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa - edit.). The company specializes in military manufacturing. The range of products for defense needs primarily includes various types of artillery, mortar and grenade launcher ammunition. The company's flagship products are 155mm caliber artillery ammunition used by, among others, the KRAB cannon howitzer, 120mm mortar ammunition used by RAK self-propelled mortars and 60mm mortar ammunition.

"Poland has entered the joint ammunition purchase program and, together with other countries, we will be buying this ammunition mainly for European money. This is what we've been long waiting for. Poland's armament efforts and transferring of arms to Ukraine have been acknowledged in Brussels," Morawiecki said at a press conference held at Dezamet.

"In the next few days, the Council of Ministers will adopt a special multiannual program that will support production of ammunition in various parts of our country. We want both private and state companies to manufacture ammunition. Today we know that there is a shortage of ammunition in whole Europe, but also in the whole of NATO - it's no secret," the prime minister said.

"We want to replenish our stockpiles, this is goal number one," Morawiecki said, adding that the aim was also to expand Poland's ammo inventory.

Secondly, we want our ammunition manufacturer, Dezamet, but also other facilities we will create or whose production capacity we will increase - to able to produce ammunition in amounts that Poland requires," the PM said.

"The programme of transferring ammunition to Ukraine - 1 million pieces by the end of this year - is very ambitious. But I am convinced that after the rapid increase in the production capacity of our industry, such quantities will not be overambitious," he added.

"Our support for Ukraine will be even more effective thanks to the investments that will be made in cooperation with the European Commission. And also our defense capabilities will be greater thanks to these investments - for the Polish Armed Forces are being developed. The Polish Armed Forces are also being equipped consistently with modern weapons," Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said.

"The task of the Polish Military is, of course, to take care of our homeland's security. But we are strong in alliances, we are part of the community of the European Union and the community of the North Atlantic Alliance, and therefore we take our responsibilities very seriously and strengthen the defense capabilities of the Republic of Poland," he added.

The minister stressed he was most pleased with this visit of Commissioner Breton. "It is just such a clear sign of appreciation for our efforts in building a strong military, and therefore the implementation of the deterrence and defense processes."

"As we walked around together touring the plant, and talking to its employees, Commissioner Breton said that he was impressed by the potential that has been created here at Dezamet. I thanked him very much for these words as it is an expression of appreciation for our recent efforts in building the defense capabilities of the Republic of Poland - related to the orders that we direct to the Polish defense industry, which concern military equipment, but also ammunition," Błaszczak said.

The European Union Commissioner for Industry and the Internal Market Thierry Breton said one of the reasons he came to Poland was to express Europe's gratitude to Poland. "And Poland has been closely supporting Ukraine from the very first day. Poland has made an extraordinary effort, so I would like to start by thanking on behalf of all of Europe for what Poland has done and continues to do for Ukraine, as well as for all of Europe," he underscored.

"Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak has met with me twice already: in Stockholm two weeks ago, then in Brussels. We had prepared what was presented to the European Council on Thursday and Friday last week. We were able to prepare a full package of solutions in a record time. (...) States and munitions companies will be able to bid. Part of our task is for the defense industry in Europe to use this opportunity, increasing its production capacity to meet the needs of Europe, but also of our friends in Ukraine. (...) In cooperation with the Polish government, we aim to increase production capacity. We are highly determined, and we will realize what is needed, but in the long term, we must also increase our production capacity in Europe, so that our defense industry can produce according to the scale necessary in the current geopolitical situation," Thierry Breton said.