On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Mesko, a company based in Skarżysko-Kamienna and part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), announced that, together with theMilitary University of Technology (WAT) in Warsaw, it has become a member of the SAAT (Small Arms Ammunition Technologies) defense project. The project brings together 18 European entities and has a budget of 8.3 million EUR.
Illustrative photo: Mesko
The SAAT project is planned for a duration of four years. It will be carried out by a European consortium consisting of defense industry companies, research organizations and institutions, as well as Ministries of Defense from nine countries. The initiative is coordinated by the European Defence Agency (EDA).
“For Mesko, this is another project funded from external sources and implemented under the auspices of the European Defence Agency. Its goal is to conduct development work on a potential new intermediate caliber between 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm, which could replace the 5.56 mm caliber currently used in NATO forces. Mesko’s participation in this internationally significant initiative confirms our company’s leading position in the European market,” emphasizes Renata Gruszczyńska, CEO of Mesko.
The project will enable the development of a new standard cartridge for individual firearms, significantly increasing interoperability and firepower against both unprotected and ballistically shielded personnel, as well as against equipment on the battlefield.
“As a result of the SAAT project, the company will gain valuable knowledge and expand its competencies in the field of small-caliber ammunition design. Equally important, it will have an active influence on the final version of the developed cartridge,” says Katarzyna Lipińska, Member of the Board for Technology and Development at Mesko.
The SAAT project is being carried out by a consortium led by FH Herstal (the project coordinator) and includes the following companies: Beretta (Italy), CZUB – Česká zbrojovka a.s. (Czech Republic), Eurenco (Belgium and Sweden), Fiocchi Munizioni (Italy), Mesko (Poland), Nammo (Norway and Sweden), Nobel Sport (France), Swiss P Defence (Switzerland). Additionally, several research organizations are involved: Armasuisse (Switzerland), DGA Techniques Terrestres (France), FFI (Norway), FOI (Sweden), RMA – Royal Military Academy (Belgium), TNO (Netherlands), and Military University of Technology (Poland).