More military orders for Polish producers

The contracts were announced in the south-central city of Kielce, which is hosting more than 600 companies from nearly 30 countries showing their wares at the 24th International Defence Industry Exhibition.

Deputy Defence Minister Bartosz Kownacki, who was on hand for the signing of the new deals on Wednesday, said they were worth PLN 200 million (EUR 47 million, USD 56 million) in total.

All the deals will benefit domestic producers, Kownacki said.

A consortium of Polski Holding Obronny and the Concept company will provide the Polish army with 118 Zmija (Viper) long-range reconnaissance vehicles. The first batch is expected to be delivered in three years.

Another contract is with the PCO company, part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), for the supply of opto-electronic equipment including more than 260 night-vision binoculars and 620 night-vision goggles. The value of the contract is PLN 67.8 million (EUR 16 million, USD 19 million).

Some of the night-vision gear will reach the country’s new Territorial Defence Force.

Meanwhile, the Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów plant will provide the army with more than 650 Bor sniper rifles complete with accessories for shooting from a distance of 1,200 metres.

Earlier, officials attending the defence exhibition announced a PLN 500 million (EUR 118 million) deal for the Łucznik Arms Factory to supply the Polish military with 53,000 “Grot” 5.56 mm modular assault rifles by 2020.

At the opening of the exhibition on Tuesday, Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz said the government would invest PLN 2 billion (EUR 470 million, USD 560 million) in cybersecurity, which he described as a key area of defence. (gs/pk)

Source: IAR, PAP