German defense company Rheinmetall and Poland’s state-owned arms group Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) have signed an agreement to produce new military support vehicles for the Polish Armed Forces.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) creates plans for a joint venture, the European Support Vehicles Center, which will develop and build armored recovery, mine-clearing, and bridge-laying vehicles.
Known for its armored vehicles such as the Keiler NG mine-clearing vehicle, Rheinmetall already operates in Poland through its subsidiary in Warsaw.
At the same time, PGZ oversees much of the country’s defense production through its network of state-owned companies.
Expanding European Capacity
According to Rheinmetall, the partnership was formed “in view to current threat from the East,” adding that it aims to boost Europe’s ability to produce and maintain heavy military vehicles.
“The MoU symbolizes our mutual understanding, aligned goals, and the intention to work closely together — to exchange knowledge, harness our collective strengths, and explore new opportunities,” said Björn Bernhard, Rheinmetall’s managing director of Vehicle Systems Europe.
“By signing the MoU, we … contribute to building an all-European defence potential, new multi-nation partnerships, capabilities redundance … and multinational supply chains. It is another step towards making Europe more secure and stronger.”
Promoting ‘Diversification’
Meanwhile, PGZ CEO Adam Leszkiewicz said the deal supports the company’s goal of growing its international partnerships while strengthening its domestic industrial capacity.
“The agreement will open the way to expand our collaboration to include additional solutions, including those we can jointly offer to external markets,” Leszkiewicz said.
“This agreement is also important for the [Military Industrial Automotive] and, potentially, H. Cegielski plant, both from Poznań. It offers business development opportunities and demonstrates product diversification within the PGZ Group.”
