On Wednesday, 29 October 2025, the 4th Regional Logistics Base published information on awarding a contract to PCO S.A. (part of the Polish Armaments Group, PGZ) for the delivery of another batch of KLW-1R Asteria thermal imaging cameras for the Leonardo OTO Melara Hitfist-30P turret systems installed on Rosomak combat-variant wheeled armored personnel carriers.
Photo: PCO
The procurement procedure was conducted as a negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice. On 7 October, a contract worth 627,000 PLN was awarded to the Warsaw-based company, which is part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ). It was stated that the contractor is obliged to deliver the cameras to the Nowogród Bobrzański Depot of the 4th Regional Logistics Base. The contract is to be completed by 28 November this year.
The military had planned to replace the Polish-produced, Italian-licensed Tilde FC thermal cameras since April 2021. The first tender was finally announced at the end of August 2022, and in early October the same year, PCO’s offer with the KLW-1R Asteria camera was selected, valued at nearly 5 million PLN. Additional contracts were concluded on 30 September 2024 (for 7,712,100 PLN) and on 29 September this year (value undisclosed).
The new equipment is destined for nearly 350 Rosomak IFVs equipped with Hitfist-30P turrets (some of which have been transferred to Ukraine). In the future, all of them will be gradually replaced by the ZSSW-30 Remote-Controlled Turret Systems, developed by Huta Stalowa Wola and WB Group. These are fitted with the GOD-1 Commander’s Optoelectronic Head and GOC-1 Gunner’s Optoelectronic Head, also produced by PCO.
KLW-1 Asteria cameras have already been integrated into PT-91 Twardy tanks, upgraded T-72M1R tanks, and modernized Leopard 2PL/2PLM tanks. The KLW-1R variant is adapted for the Rosomak IFV.
Description
KLW-1 Asteria Thermal Imaging Camera:
- The cooled KLW-1 thermal imaging camera is intended for fire-control systems and observation/reconnaissance systems.
- Operates in the 7.7–9.3 μm spectral band and uses a 3rd-generation MCT detector with a resolution of 640 × 512 pixels.
Applications:
- On-board weapon fire-control systems,
- Observation and reconnaissance systems.
Key features:
- High-quality cooled 3rd-generation detector,
- Selectable image-processing automation fields.