The purchase of Częstochowa Steelworks (Huta Częstochowa) by the state, the establishment of Greater Poland Armored Works (Wielkopolskie Zakłady Pancerne), and a substantial financial injection for the Tarnów Mechanical Works (ZMT, Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów) – the Polish defense industry is growing stronger and consolidating to gain new capabilities and build domestic supply chains, which is of fundamental importance in uncertain times.

Częstochowa Steelworks was purchased by the Polish Ministry of National Defense.

After nearly three decades of relative stability, uncertainty has returned to Europe. Russia’s confrontational attitudes have prompted NATO member states to begin rebuilding their previously downsized armies as well as the resources necessary for their operation. At the same time, Western governments are investing in the defense industry. The goal is not only to strengthen its capabilities, but also to create new supply chains that would rely as much as possible on local companies and thus be less vulnerable to global shocks. Similar processes are also taking place in Poland.

Steel for Ratownik

New aircraft, ships, tanks – the Polish military is modernizing at full speed. This technological leap is the result of contracts worth hundreds of billions of zlotys. Local companies play a significant role in their execution. Polish factories and shipyards deliver Krab howitzers, Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles, Piorun man-portable air defense systems, and Kormoran II minehunters, ordered by the Polish Ministry of National Defense (MoND). In addition, there are many smaller products – ranging from raw materials to various types of systems that ensure the proper functioning of military equipment. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Polish companies are involved in the modernization of the army.

The domestic defense industry has thus received a powerful impetus for growth and is changing at a rapid pace, largely thanks to government support. There are countless examples to illustrate this. In December 2025, the MoND announced that it was purchasing Częstochowa Steelworks – one of the largest steel producers in this part of Europe. At the end of the last decade, the plant was on the brink of collapse. It avoided liquidation only due to a lease agreement signed with Węglokoks, a company owned by the State Treasury. The MoND made the next move and, for the first time in history, invoked Article 311 of the Bankruptcy Law to take over a company of strategic importance to national security. The steelworks has a 50-hectare production hall and is capable of independently performing the entire thick-plate production process – from steel production itself, through hardening and cutting, to pickling and rolling. The quality of its products has been attested to by, among others, employees of PGZ Naval Shipyard (PGZ Stocznia Wojenna) in Gdynia, as the materials supplied by the plant are used in the construction of a modern rescue ship – the future ORP Ratownik.

What is more, toward the end of last year, the Polish government decided to provide ZMT with additional capital. The company received 310 million zlotys, which will help to build a new production hall, modernize older infrastructure, and expand its machine park, adding nearly 200 modern pieces of equipment. The company is one of the manufacturers of Pilica+ – a very short-range air defense system. It also produces machine guns and sniper rifles for the military. Engineers from ZMT have also developed the Monster of Tarnów (Potwór z Tarnowa), a system designed to combat unmanned aerial vehicles, equipped with a 12.7-mm rapid-fire four-barrel machine gun. The weapon will become part of a broader anti-drone system that the army will acquire as part of the San program.

The most recent example dates from June of this year, when a letter of intent was signed to establish a new defense company in Poznań – the Hipolit Cegielski Greater Poland Armored Works (Wielkopolskie Zakłady Pancerne Hipolita Cegielskiego). It will be created through the merger of Military Automotive Works (WZM, Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne) and H. Cegielski Poznań – a historic company that has struggled with significant financial problems in recent years. The new entity will be responsible for the production of a heavy infantry fighting vehicle, as well as the maintenance of Abrams and Leopard tanks.

Wisła with Polish Involvement

Tarnów Mechanical Works and Greater Poland Armored Works are part of the state-established Polish Armaments Group (PGZ, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa), while Częstochowa Steelworks is a close partner of the Group. “We want to be the leader and integrator of the Polish defense industry. This role cannot be decreed. It must be earned through effectiveness, cooperation, and execution of specific projects. We are working toward it step by step,” emphasized Adam Leszkiewicz, CEO of PGZ, during a visit in Poznań. This is precisely the purpose of regular meetings organized within the framework of the Polish Defense Industry Forum – in Gdynia, Szczecin, Łańcut, Opole. They have resulted in numerous cooperation agreements signed by PGZ representatives with companies interested in strengthening the capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces. However, it is not solely about the production of domestic weapons and equipment.

Polish companies are also joining projects led by large Western corporations. One example is the Wisła program, which involves equipping the Polish Armed Forces with Patriot missiles. Our companies are involved in the production of launchers and specialized vehicles. Poland will also soon begin manufacturing the Korean K2 tanks in the PL version, while the Remontowa Shipbuilding yard in Gdańsk is building the hulls of two Delfin-class reconnaissance ships, which will later be outfitted by the Swedish SAAB. Naturally, this list is much longer. Also, in the future, Polish specialists will take over responsibility for servicing equipment ordered from foreign contractors – for example, the Orka-class submarines that will be manufactured for us by Sweden.

All of this helps to acquire new expertise and strengthen the position of Polish companies in international markets. One result is the growth in exports. Poland sells abroad to countries such as Ukraine, but also to Western European countries – including Norway, Sweden, and Belgium. Step by step, the defense industry is becoming an increasingly significant sector of the Polish economy.