On Friday, May 29, 2026, the British Embassy in Warsaw and the British-Polish Chamber of Commerce (BPCC) jointly awarded Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) and BAE Systems the “UK-Polish Cooperation Award” for an example of industrial partnership of major significance for relations between the United Kingdom and Poland, delivering tangible benefits for Poland’s national security and European security.
Photos: BAE Systems
Launched in 2025, the joint award initiative recognizes outstanding companies and individuals for their contribution to the development of UK-Polish trade and investment relations. The winners were selected by a jury composed of experts from the British Embassy and the BPCC.
Dame Melinda Simmons DCMG, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Poland, said:
“The economic partnership between the United Kingdom and Poland is stronger today than ever before. The second edition of the UK–Poland Business Awards demonstrates how dynamically and on multiple fronts our cooperation is developing — from growing direct investment and trade to joint initiatives in energy transition, new technologies, and security. The recipients of these awards perfectly illustrate the ambition and potential of our cooperation.”
The award was granted for the two companies’ groundbreaking cooperation on the production of 155 mm artillery ammunition, combining British technological expertise with Polish industrial capabilities to significantly increase domestic production capacity in Poland at a time of growing demand. This cooperation is particularly important following the signing this week in London of a security and defense partnership treaty between Poland and the United Kingdom.
Miroslaw Janicki, Director, BAE Systems Poland, said:
“We are honoured to be recognised in such a positive way alongside our friends at PGZ. As Poland’s proven defence partner, BAE Systems remains dedicated to the mission of helping to ensure national security through the provision of 155mm artillery ammunition in great quantities and high quality to meet our nation’s objectives.”
In September 2025, the two companies entered into a strategic partnership to establish a new 155 mm artillery ammunition production facility in Poland, aimed at increasing domestic production capacity for live ammunition. The strategic partnership also creates opportunities for further cooperation, knowledge and technology transfer across a broader range of ammunition and components, as well as the production of energetic materials.
Adam Leszkiewicz, President of the Management Board of PGZ S.A., said:
“We are delighted that the British Embassy and the BPCC appreciate the collaboration between Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa and BAE Systems, as evidenced by today’s award. This is an example of collaboration with a foreign partner – on the one hand, we are benefiting from BAE Systems’ vast experience and know-how, and on the other, we are opening a path to the British market, where we can introduce our explosives production technologies. I am confident that this collaboration will continue to develop in a direction beneficial to both sides and, above all, the Polish Armed Forces and the Polish defence industry.”
Cooperation based on the strategic partnership agreement reflects a shared, long-term commitment to industrial development, technology transfer, and skills enhancement in the defense sector. The partnership, developed through an intensive year-long collaboration process, has created a solid foundation for future joint programs and export opportunities. By combining complementary competencies, scale, and ambitious goals, BAE Systems and PGZ have created a partnership that genuinely strengthens the resilience of Europe’s defense sector and represents an important step forward in UK-Polish defense and industrial cooperation.
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