On Monday, August 12, 2024, Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), a part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), signed a contract with Raytheon Poland (a subsidiary of the American corporation RTX) for the production of 48 M903 launchers for the MIM-104 Patriot air and missile defense system batteries as part of the implementation of the second phase of the Wisła program. The deliveries will take place between 2027 and 2029. The contract was signed in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and Secretary of State in the Ministry of National Defense Paweł Bejda.
Photo: Polish Armaments Group
“Today, the defense companies Raytheon Poland and Huta Stalowa Wola signed a contract for the production of 48 M903 launchers as part of the Patriot system, in the second phase of the Wisła program, for an amount of 1 billion 230 million dollars. This is a significant investment in Poland’s security, the kind of investment we need today. This is another phase of the most important defense system we have. As the general mentioned when welcoming us here, air defense, including anti-aircraft and missile defense, is the most crucial today. The war in Ukraine shows this. It shows what is most effectively used there and what is most needed every day,” said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during his visit to the 3rd Warsaw Air Defense Missile Brigade.
“Today in Sochaczew, we are beginning the signing of a series of contracts that will strengthen Poland’s security. (…) Security is a fundamental and priority issue. Security that must be present in every Polish home. I want to thank everyone who made this possible, because the launchers you see behind me will be produced in Poland. This is a great achievement. It also fulfills our promise that 50% of defense spending should be allocated to companies operating on the territory of the Republic of Poland,” emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.
Photo: Krzysztof Niedziela/MOND
During a meeting with soldiers who are training on the components of the Wisła system, the Minister of National Defense thanked them for their daily service and dedication. “I would like to thank all the soldiers serving in the 3rd Warsaw Air Defense Missile Brigade for their commitment. They took on the responsibility of being the first to implement the most advanced equipment. They already have the necessary skills and are fully ready. Air defense is a great responsibility. It involves countering violations of our airspace, preparing, improving skills and qualifications, full readiness, and selfless service, for which I sincerely thank you,” the Minister of National Defense said, addressing the soldiers.
The contract (Letter Subcontract) for the production of 48 M903 rocket launchers marks the beginning of the second phase of the Wisła program and the signing of contracts for the delivery of additional components with the Polish industry. Some of the most important subcontractors for HSW under this contract include ZM Tarnów, which supplies actuators for the launchers, and Military Electronic Works, responsible for delivering the Data Link Terminal Module. Companies within the PGZ-Wisła consortium have manufactured several other components of the Patriot systems, including technical support containers, transport and loading vehicles, launcher components, missile components, and radar system components.
As part of the preparations to fulfill the commitments of the first phase of the Wisła program, Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) undertook an investment to build a production and assembly center. This center may eventually also serve as a hub for the maintenance, servicing, and repair of M903 Patriot launchers used by current and future operators. The establishment of this center also confirms that HSW has met all the quality standards required by the American partner, Raytheon, a subsidiary of the RTX corporation. The components of the system being produced at HSW, as well as other companies within the PGZ-Wisła consortium, are manufactured to the highest standards, in accordance with the design specifications (Polish industrial partners of Lockheed Martin have implemented five major offset projects)
“The contract for the production of M903 Patriot missile system launchers is another thread that strengthens our relationship with one of our strategic partners, Raytheon. These relationships would not have been possible without the cooperation between the Polish and American governments and the openness to dialogue between PGZ and Raytheon. This contract also serves as an important reference for HSW in pursuing the production of launchers for export to other Patriot system users. I am confident that the implementation of the second phase of the Wisła program will not only strengthen our industrial partnership with the United States, providing a developmental boost to the Polish Armaments Group, but will also be a milestone in building a system that guarantees the security of Poland’s airspace and, consequently, the eastern flank of NATO,” said Arkadiusz Bąk, a member of the PGZ board.
“The contract signed today is a testament to the fruitful, 10-year-long partnership between Raytheon and the Polish defense industry. Sixteen launchers produced in Poland by Huta Stalowa Wola are already in service, and today we are expanding our cooperation with a contract for the production of 48 launchers for six additional Patriot batteries, which will serve the defense of Poland and enhance the capabilities of the defense industry. Raytheon is committed to collaboration with Poland and partnership with Polish defense companies. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with Huta Stalowa Wola and other PGZ companies in the construction of key components of the Patriot system and the LTAMDS radar in the second phase of the Wisła program,” said Caroline Touchstone, CEO of Raytheon Poland (Cooperation of WZŁ-1 with Northrop Grumman on Wisła program).
The Patriot air and missile defense system is one of the key components of the country’s air defense system. Its primary mission is to combat short-range tactical ballistic missiles (including maneuverable ones), cruise missiles, and piloted aerial threats across the full range of speeds and altitudes used by tactical aviation, as well as to neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles.
The implementation of the Wisła program on the Polish side is overseen by the PGZ-Wisła consortium, which includes: PGZ (consortium leader), Huta Stalowa Wola, Mesko, PIT-Radwar, Military Electronic Works, Jelcz, Huta Stalowa Wola’s Autosan branch in Sanok, the Research and Development Maritime Technology Center, Wojskowe Zakłady Uzbrojenia, ZM Tarnów, Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 1 (WZL-1), Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 (WZL-2), PCO, and Wojskowe Zakłady Łączności Nr. 1. Additionally, some other PGZ companies not listed also participate in the program as subcontractors.
In the first phase of the program, Poland acquired two Patriot system batteries configured with, among other things, PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles and the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS). The 16 launchers included in the two batteries were delivered by Huta Stalowa Wola under the direction of Raytheon, the manufacturer and supplier of the Patriot system. The execution of this task was the result of an intergovernmental order concluded in 2018 through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) procedure between the Ministry of National Defense and the U.S. government.
II phase of Wisła program
On September 5, 2023, then Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak approved three contracts for the acquisition of components for three battalions, which include six additional Patriot/IBCS system batteries as part of the second phase of the Wisła program. These contracts were preceded by two offset agreements signed on August 25, 2023, which included 13 commitments valued at approximately 1 billion PLN. The agreements were concluded with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon (eight with the former and five with the latter).
Among these commitments is the acquisition of capabilities for the production and servicing of Wisła system components, such as the new advanced medium-range omnidirectional radar LTAMDS (Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor). On July 31 of this year, the U.S. Department of Defense signed a contract worth 2.089 billion USD (8.31 billion PLN) with Raytheon for the low-rate initial production of these radars for Poland—a total of 12 systems have been ordered by the Ministry of National Defense.
Meanwhile, on June 6 of this year, a production line for PAC-3 MSE interceptor missile launch containers was launched at Military Aviation Works No. 1. Additionally, on May 14 of this year, the U.S. Department of Defense signed a contract worth 49.03 million USD (192.084 million PLN) with Northrop Grumman for the continued production of IBCS components for Poland.
Based on press information
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