The Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak on Monday (August 14) signed three agreements with Polish Armament Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa - PGZ) on the delivery of new equipment for the Polish Armed Forces. "They pertain to heavy infantry fighting vehicles, a new version of wheeled armoured personnel carriers, and light reconnaissance vehicles," the MOD chief said.
Poland's MOD chief Mariusz Błaszczak on Monday approved three contracts with the Polish Armaments Group on new vehicles for the Polish Armed Forces. The contracts pertain to light reconnaissance vehicles, heavy infantry fighting vehicles, and wheeled armoured personnel carriers.
"All three deals I have approved are very important. The first one pertains to a heavy infantry fighting vehicle. This is a realization of the idea regarding use of technology, that has already been owned by the PGZ, for the benefit of the Polish Armed Forces. We will purchase 700 infantry fighting vehicles that will be constructed by using the chassis from the self-propelled Krab howitzer, on which we will set an unmanned tower that has been designed and built by a consortium with the PGZ at the helm," the defence minister said.
Błaszczak then said the second deal pertained to a new wheeled armoured personnel carrier Rosomak. "When we take a historical look, this licence has strengthened the Polish Armed Forces. The Rosomaks are good products, but that licence was not one of the best. There are certain limitations when it comes to this product's development possibilities. We are using the foregoing version of the KTO (Kołowy Transporter Opancerzony), we have ordered several dozen and soon we will order more. Nevertheless, we have taken up the challenge of creating a new version of this vehicle," he said.
The minister assured it would be an "export hit". The previous licence was limiting export options, whereas the new one removes those obstacles. "We are satisfying the needs of the Polish Armed Forces, but we also want these products for export, as they enjoy interest from our allies," he stressed.
The third contract is for reconnaissance vehicles. "We have ordered nearly 400 items which will be manifactured by the Rosomak works within a very short period of time. The Honker era is passing into history. We are introducing a proven vehicle, ready to be used by the military in the shortest time possible," the MOD chief added.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: Twitter/@MON_GOV_PL