In Poland, the issue of effectively utilizing wheeled vehicles was overlooked for many years. However, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in expanding their equipment—this is partly due to the operational experience gained by the Polish Armed Forces from combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as analyses of the war in Ukraine. An important element aimed at increasing the survivability of wheeled vehicles is the run-flat inserts, supplied to the Polish Armed Forces by Pagacz Defence Group.
Photos: Przemysław Gurgurewicz, MILMAG
The company, headquartered in Toruń, established a partnership in this equipment segment with the British company RunFlat International Ltd. a few years ago. This collaboration led to the start of product deliveries for Polish Armed Forces vehicles as early as 2020. One of the first vehicles to receive the inserts was the Hardun heavy wheeled recovery and technical rescue vehicle, supplied by Rosomak S.A. (with 27 units delivered so far). It cannot be ruled out that, with growing equipment needs, this cooperation will continue—let’s recall that in July 2022, the Armament Agency published an invitation for preliminary market consultations regarding the purchase of additional vehicles of this class.
Positive feedback from Hardun operations resulted in further orders for run-flat inserts, supplied by Pagacz Defence Group. Other vehicles that now receive this equipment as a standard feature include tank and heavy tracked equipment transport sets known as Jak, consisting of Jelcz C882.62 semi-trucks and ST775-20W trailers produced by Demarko S.A.. Additionally, run-flat inserts are being integrated into chassis for the Narew short-range air defense missile system and the Homar-K multiple rocket launcher system—both of which are based on Jelcz family trucks.
Considering the equipment needs of the Polish Armed Forces, Pagacz Defence Group and RunFlat International Ltd. signed a letter of intent during MSPO 2023 in Kielce, aiming to establish local production of run-flat inserts in Poland. This initiative will not only expand the Polish company’s competencies but also enhance its engineering capabilities, paving the way for the next stage of development.
The choice of partner should come as no surprise. The British company RunFlat International Ltd. was founded in 2001 as a subsidiary of the parent company Westley Plastics, which specializes in using cutting-edge polymer technology exclusively for the development of run-flat wheel insert systems. Today, the British entity is a leading independent supplier of run-flat systems and wheels for vehicles used in the military and security sectors, renowned for its quality, performance, and modern customer service. Primarily focusing on the armored vehicle market, the company offers a full range of wheels and run-flat systems designed to fit vehicles across a wide range of applications. Once equipped with a run-flat system, a vehicle can travel up to 100 km with tires damaged due to ballistic impacts or rough terrain conditions.
RunFlat International Ltd. products are systematically tested according to military standards set by organizations such as FINABEL and NATO, as well as national regulations from various countries. Additionally, they have been tested by manufacturers such as Plasan and Mercedes. These tests evaluate ballistic resistance, vehicle traction control, and the distance a vehicle can travel—whether operating with one, two, or all tires damaged. The specialized polymers and patented insert designs have been developed to meet the highest user requirements. The reliability of RunFlat International products has also been proven in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, where they received high praise for their performance.
