When making purchases under the SAFE financial instrument, the Ministry of National Defense prioritizes Polish industry.

Over two-thirds of the funds from the credit line granted to Poland (43.7 billion euros) under the EU’s SAFE (Security Action for Europe) financial instrument, designed to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities, will be spent on independent contracts by the Ministry of National Defense (MoND), primarily with domestic suppliers. Many of these procurement transactions were finalized toward the end of May 2026. Over the course of three days, as many as 47 out of 50 new contracts were signed, along with more than a dozen amendments to contracts from 2022–2025. In the latter case, the changes mainly concerned the source of funding for these transactions.

New Contracts and Amendments

A real marathon was started on May 28 by the Cyber Defense Forces Component Command (DKWOC, Dowództwo Komponentu Wojsk Obrony Cyberprzestrzeni), which signed as many as 12 contracts worth over 3 billion zlotys for the delivery of modern technologies. Just as many orders were placed for weapons and equipment for the Land Forces, with a total value of nearly 60 billion zlotys. One of the most eagerly awaited agreements was the second implementation contract for the new Borsuk tracked infantry fighting vehicles. Under this contract, 146 vehicles were ordered. Combined with the contract from March 2025, this means that by the end of 2030, the army will receive 257 of the 1,014 planned Borsuk IFVs. Furthermore, 24 Kleszcz light armored reconnaissance vehicles were ordered for the K2 tank battalions. They will also receive specialized vehicles based on the Rosomak wheeled armored personnel carrier chassis, i.e., 30 medical evacuation vehicles and 18 command vehicles. Amendments were also made to two earlier contracts for wheeled combat vehicles – 58 Rosomaks and 80 Rosomaks-L (with an extended hull) with the Polish ZSSW-30 unmanned turret, as well as two contracts signed in 2022 for Jelcz trucks – including an option clause to deliver over 2,000 vehicles. As to the contract for CD-10 fuel tanker-distributor trucks, the order was increased from 215 to 320 vehicles.

In the Land Forces, the missile forces and artillery are the largest beneficiaries of these orders. Under two contracts, they are to receive even as many as four additional Regina divisional fire modules with 96 Krab self-propelled howitzers, as well as eight company-level fire modules with 64 Rak 120-mm self-propelled mortars mounted on Rosomak chassis. Furthermore, Poland purchased 12 additional batteries of Gladius reconnaissance and strike systems, to be delivered between 2028 and 2030, as well as hundreds of Warmate loitering munition kits.

Funds from the SAFE instrument will finance the delivery of supporting equipment, including hundreds of vehicles with Homar-K missile launchers. This is the most expensive program financed by the European loan, which will cost nearly 19 billion zlotys.

In May, a new contract was signed for six units equipped with K9PL howitzers, and an amendment was made to the contract from December 2024 for vehicles for nine squadrons with K9A1 howitzers. The value of both contracts, including options, amounts to approximately 13 billion zlotys. Meanwhile, for units equipped with WR-40 Langusta rocket launchers, 140 command vehicles based on the Waran 4x4 armored vehicle chassis were contracted. For the artillery units, concluding the new contract was as important as amending an earlier one – for 155-mm caliber ammunition for howitzers. Hundreds of thousands of rounds were ordered under each of these contracts.

As for the engineering troops, the amendment signed to the contract for the Baobab-K mine-laying system was not limited to changing the source of funding but also included an increase in the number of ordered sets from 24 to 35. Accordingly, additional cassettes with MN-123 scatterable mines were also purchased. Contracts were signed for classic TM-62 anti-tank mines and Tulipan directional mines, as well as Jarzębina-S remotely controlled explosive charge systems.

Funds from SAFE were used to purchase two Project 876 Hydrograf hydrographic survey vessels, and an amendment was made to the contract for a rescue vessel. The Land Forces and the Air Force will benefit from the fact that funds from this instrument are being used to purchase 18 batteries of the San air defense system, capable of countering unmanned aerial vehicles. SAFE also covers air defense procurements related to the Narew and Wisła systems. The contracts cover, among other things, command post cabins, mobile communications centers, transport and loading vehicles, and special chassis.

In addition, SAFE finances orders for weapons and personal equipment for soldiers. Contracts have been signed for over 300,000 modern HBT-02 ballistic helmets and tens of thousands of KKZ-01/K4 integrated bulletproof vests. An amendment was also made to the contract for Grot assault rifles.

Strength in Groups

The bulk of the funds allocated for purchases financed through SAFE will benefit companies within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa). The contracts with the highest value were awarded to the HSW (Huta Stalowa Wola) Group, either independently or as part of consortia, since its portfolio includes a wide range of products of interest to the Polish Armed Forces. Examples include the Borsuk IFV, the Krab self-propelled howitzer, and the Waran armored vehicle. In addition, its subsidiary, Jelcz, is the main supplier of trucks and specialized chassis for the armed forces. The chassis serve as platforms for systems such as Homar-K and Baobab-K. As regards armored equipment, the second manufacturer within the PGZ Group to benefit from SAFE funding is Rosomak.

Contracts worth billions, financed through this instrument, were also awarded to ammunition manufacturers belonging to the PGZ-AMUNICJA Consortium, namely PGZ, Dezamet Metal Works, Mesko, Nitro-Chem Chemical Works, Gamrat Special Production Plant, and Belma Electronics Works. As many as six contracts were signed by the PGZ-Narew Consortium, comprising PGZ, HSW, Jelcz, Mesko, the Research and Development Center for Maritime Technology, PCO, PIT-Radwar, Military Communications Works No. 1, Military Armament Works, Military Electronics Works, and Tarnów Mechanical Works.

As for the private sector, the WB Group secured the largest orders. The value of just three contracts for the Gladius, FlyEye, and Warmate systems is close to 12 billion zlotys. This company is also involved in various projects in partnership with PGZ. Other private entities that signed contracts within the SAFE program include AMZ-Kutno, Teldat, Miranda, Remontowa Shipbuilding, and GISS.

Polish defense companies will sign new SAFE-funded contracts during the already started second phase of the procurement process. However, for this to happen, at least two countries must be interested in their products.