On Monday, August 25, 2025, the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment named after General Tadeusz Jordan-Rozwadowski (23rd PA) from Bolesławiec announced the receipt of a new batch of 155 mm AHS Krab self-propelled howitzers from Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ).
Photos: master corporal Łukasz, 23rd ŚPA
No details have been provided regarding the number of howitzers, and the press release is very brief:
“We are increasing our combat capabilities and firepower! The acquisition of the AHS Krab also strengthens the defense capabilities of the Homeland, in line with the motto ‘Modern Army – Safe Homeland,’” reads the statement on the Regiment’s website and Facebook page.
It is known, however, that due to the execution of an extraordinary order for war-torn Ukraine, which contracted 54 AHS Krab howitzers (deliveries completed in December 2024), the planned deliveries of the remaining 42 guns for the Polish Armed Forces under the December 14, 2016 contract (out of a total of 96 units, plus 2 additional from December 16, 2020, of which 54 were donated to Ukraine), as well as 48 units under the September 5, 2022 contract, have been postponed from 2022–2024 to 2025–2027.
According to the current schedule, in 2025 HSW is to deliver 34 howitzers to the Polish Armed Forces, in 2026 another 32 units, and in 2027 the remaining 24 units.
On December 8, 2023, a framework agreement was signed for the delivery of an additional 152 units, and the first contract for 96 of them in a modernized version was concluded on December 23, 2024, providing for deliveries in 2027–2029. On April 7 of this year, HSW signed a contract with the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace for the supply of chassis components, including power packs for the AHS Krab.
The howitzers are being acquired together with accompanying vehicles for the Regina divisional fire modules (DMO).
The second main tube artillery system of the NATO-standard 155 mm caliber in the Polish Armed Forces is the South Korean K9A1 Thunder howitzer, produced by the aforementioned Hanwha Aerospace.
So far, 150 out of 212 units ordered on August 26, 2022 have been delivered. Then, on December 1, 2023, an additional six K9A1s and 146 localized K9PLs were ordered, and on December 2, 2024, the Ministry of National Defence announced the start of the contract’s execution. Subsequently, on December 23, 2024, the ministry signed an agreement with HSW for the delivery of more than 250 support vehicles for these howitzers.
It is worth noting that on July 21 of this year, the regiment from Bolesławiec received its first Homar-K (K239 Chunmoo) multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), mounted on the Jelcz P882.57 TS T45 K-MLRS 8×8 chassis.
UPDATE
According to today’s press release from Huta Stalowa Wola, the delivery included eight 155 mm AHS Krab howitzers, one command and staff vehicle, three command vehicles, and two ammunition vehicles.