MSPO 2026: Nitro-Chem signs further agreements with Polish partners

On Thursday, September 10, 2026, the third day of the 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO 2026) at Targi Kielce, Zakłady Chemiczne Nitro-Chem and the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Organic Industry (Łukasiewicz – IPO) signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The aim of the cooperation is to develop and implement an innovative, fully Polish technology for the production of ammonium perchlorate [ammonium chlorate (VII)] — a key component of rocket propellants. This marks a major step toward reducing the domestic defense sector’s dependence on foreign suppliers and eliminating reliance on imports of this strategically important material.

Photos: Nitro-Chem

The agreement signed during the 2026 International Defence Industry Exhibition directly responds to the urgent need to establish an independent domestic raw-material base. Ammonium perchlorate, combined with a polymer binder such as HTPB and aluminum powder, is a basic component of composite solid rocket propellants (CSRP), in which it acts as a powerful oxidizer.

At present, this material is not produced industrially in Poland, while relevant capabilities in Europe remain very limited, resulting in complete dependence on foreign supplies. The newly established cooperation reflects the intention of both parties to overcome this dependence and implement modern solutions in the field of high-energy materials.

Under the agreement, the two institutions divided responsibilities according to a detailed action plan. The Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Organic Industry is responsible for developing an innovative technology for the production of ammonium perchlorate.

Karol Przybyszewski, President of the Management Board of Nitro-Chem, said:

“The planned research and development (R&D) phase is scheduled to continue until December 2027. Zakłady Chemiczne “Nitro-Chem” declares its full support already at the technology development stage. As a leader of Poland’s defense chemical industry, the company will ensure continuous exchange of information, including in the area of associated installations and process units, and will actively participate in selected stages of verification of the solutions developed.”

The next key stage of the project will be the start of implementation work, planned for January 2028. At the same time, the company is already preparing for the subsequent phase involving the launch of production and sales. We assume that this will become another flagship product in the Nitro-Chem portfolio and in the Polish Armaments Group’s export catalog. Given the strong demand for this material and its significantly limited supply in Europe, this production could become another major export success, at least on the scale of TNT. The production method itself is also important, as innovative solutions are expected to reduce operating costs and environmental impact compared with currently used technologies. In terms of technology, we intend to adopt the best and most advanced solutions in order to create the most competitive product possible, compliant with applicable standards and, most importantly, offering repeatable and stable quality, which is of critical importance for use in rocket propellants.

Andrzej Stanek, Member of the Management Board of the Bydgoszcz-based company, added:

“The availability of domestically produced ammonium perchlorate is of fundamental importance for key modernization programs of the Polish Armed Forces and for the development of the space sector.”

The Polish-produced component, as an ingredient of composite solid rocket propellants, will be used, among other applications, in:

• air defense systems: Piorun man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) and CAMM-ER short- and medium-range surface-to-air missiles;
• rocket artillery: 122 mm Feniks unguided rockets;
• strike systems: medium- and long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and various types of rocket munitions;
• the space sector: launch vehicle boosters.

The measures undertaken by Nitro-Chem provide a foundation for a stable, secure and geopolitically resilient supply chain for the Polish Armed Forces and for Poland’s national security.

Zakłady Chemiczne Nitro-Chem and Mesko signed a strategic cooperation agreement under which Nitro-Chem will acquire domestic production capabilities for HTPB, a key raw material used in rocket propellants. This will fully secure stable supplies of the material for companies of the PGZ Group, with particular emphasis on Mesko.

The abbreviation HTPB stands for hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene. In military applications, this substance performs an important dual role, acting both as a modern binder and as a high-performance fuel in solid propellants used in rockets. Physically, HTPB is a translucent liquid with a color resembling molten wax and a viscosity similar to corn syrup. Since it is not a single pure chemical compound but a complex mixture typically containing between 40 and 50 butadiene molecules with hydroxyl groups at the ends of the chains, its properties may vary slightly. The use of this polymer makes it possible to produce stable composite propellants with excellent performance characteristics.

The material is characterized by a relatively simple and inexpensive production process and comparatively low viscosity, which facilitates advanced processing. After proper curing, HTPB gives the finished propellant excellent mechanical properties, high durability, moisture resistance and good chemical inertness. At the same time, it retains favorable thermodynamic characteristics during combustion and helps keep the overall manufacturing cost of the rocket propellant grain low. Thanks to its rheological flexibility, which can be adjusted through varying degrees of cross-linking and the addition of plasticizers, HTPB is an essential component in the development of modern rocket systems by the Polish defense industry.

The Management Board of Zakłady Chemiczne Nitro-Chem extends its sincere thanks to the Management Board of Mesko for the constructive discussions, partnership-based approach and shared commitment to implementing this project, which significantly strengthens the security and independence of the Polish defense industry.

Thanks to effective cooperation between Polish military research institutes and companies of the Polish Armaments Group, a universal modular scatterable mine-laying system using the lightweight OGNIK multipurpose mine has been developed.

This innovative project is the result of cooperation between the Military Institute of Engineer Technology (WITI), the Military Institute of Armoured and Automotive Technology (WITPiS), Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No. 2 (WZL-2) and Zakłady Chemiczne Nitro-Chem, acting as the system integrator. The solution introduces a new level of flexibility, safety and operational freedom on the modern battlefield.

At the heart of the solution is the lightweight OGNIK multipurpose mine, which redefines the existing standards and limitations of traditional weapons of this type. Its unique features result from the use of an advanced multi-fuze system equipped with both contact and non-contact sensors. The design allows interchangeable fuzes to be used, including pull, seismic and magnetic types. Depending on the mission profile and the intended purpose of the minefield, the mine will be equipped with interchangeable warheads with different effects, including anti-personnel, anti-tank and thermobaric variants. The entire system has been designed in a fully modular manner, allowing individual components to be easily replaced or upgraded in the future.

The designers also ensured full operational flexibility in all conditions. The mine will be capable of being emplaced both manually and mechanically from ground vehicles and aerial platforms, including manned and unmanned aircraft. Crucially, once deployed, the mine automatically self-orients, ensuring effective engagement of both manned and unmanned targets. The OGNIK system is a clear example of how synergy between Polish science and the defense industry can produce solutions that set new trends in the field of defense.

Karol Przybyszewski, President of the Management Board of Zakłady Chemiczne Nitro-Chem, emphasized that business is a team effort whose success depends on effective cooperation, trust and a shared commitment to achieving a common goal. The essence of good cooperation is smooth communication, rapid response to events, creativity and often unconventional solutions. These were the principles that guided us in implementing the lightweight OGNIK mine-laying system project, which was developed through cooperation between various entities, each contributing unique expertise in its respective field, to create a universal system in response to the changing conditions of the battlefield. OGNIK was developed as a well-considered response to the military’s requirements and as a complement to existing mine-laying capabilities.

Karol Przybyszewski also expressed his sincere thanks for months of intensive work to the entire team involved in the project, in particular Marcin Szczepaniak, Director of WITI; Michał Ceremuga, Director of WITPiS; and WZL-2 Management Board members Jakub Gaźda and Zbigniew Matuszczak.

Andrzej Stanek pointed out that the OGNIK mine-laying system project itself demonstrated that military research institutes and companies of the Polish Armaments Group are capable of cooperating quickly and effectively, achieving the expected objectives in response to soldiers’ needs and thereby delivering state-of-the-art systems for the Polish Armed Forces. Andrzej Stanek added: multidimensional analyses of the constantly changing theater of operations, particularly along the line of contact, indicated the need to develop a modular and, importantly, universal scatterable mine-laying system using OGNIK.

OGNIK allows a soldier to rapidly adapt the mine’s warhead to the current tactical and operational situation and emplace it at the planned location. The OGNIK system can provide an inexpensive and effective complement to defensive solutions along Poland’s eastern border. At the same time, universal and relatively simple-to-prepare-and-use scatterable mine-laying systems fit into the Polish Armaments Group’s portfolio as an example of integration across different domains within PGZ.

Press releases

See also:

• Nitro-Chem on cooperation with the Łukasiewicz Research Network at MSPO 2026
• Nitro-Chem sponsors new postgraduate studies at Bydgoszcz University of Technology
• Polish Nitro-Chem cooperates with U.S. partners on Hydra 70 mm rocket production
• Poland’s Nitro-Chem Signs Agreement with KONŠTRUKTA to Expand 155 mm Ammunition Filling Capacity
• Poland: Nitro-Chem receives record investment support for development and new technologies
• Zakłady Chemiczne Nitro-Chem signs contract for second TNT production line
• Poland: Nitro-Chem and Grupa Azoty Expand Cooperation in the Production of High-Energy Materials