Defence & Space

Arrowhead 140 – from Britain’s Type 31 frigates to ORP Wicher

The roll-out of the future ORP Wicher, the first of three Project 106 Miecznik multirole frigates currently being built in Gdynia,…

2026-08-11 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 11 minutes

Rheinmetall and Boeing deepen cooperation on European CCA project

Rheinmetall and Boeing have announced the launch of a joint program aimed at rapidly introducing Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) capabilities in Germany –…

2026-08-10 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

ICEYE Federation: How can the effectiveness of national satellite constellations be increased?

In recent years, ICEYE has been increasingly developing its portfolio of services aimed at military customers. This European company, which builds satellites…

2026-06-17 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 14 minutes

MSBS Grot: A Polish firearm with its own DNA

The MSBS Grot is a family of carbines and rifles developed by Polish engineers, the military, and users who gradually shaped its…

2026-06-14 | Jakub Link-Lenczowski | 12 minutes

Rheinmetall and Boeing deepen cooperation on European CCA project

Rheinmetall and Boeing have announced the launch of a joint program aimed at rapidly introducing Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) capabilities in Germany –…

2026-08-10 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

Russia’s Rostec delivers new equipment to ground forces

In recent days, state-owned corporation Rostec announced the delivery of additional BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles and Tablet-M-IR artillery fire-control vehicles to the…

2026-08-10 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

U.S.-UAE artificial intelligence task force

U.S. Central Command announced an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to establish the first bilateral task force aimed at accelerating the…

2026-07-28 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Quantum Systems and Rohde & Schwarz cooperate on unmanned systems programs

German companies Quantum Systems and Rohde & Schwarz have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in integrating electronic warfare and signals…

2026-05-13 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Polish Bryza patrol aircraft takes part in operation to inspect tanker Toa Payoh

On August 3, the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command announced that an M28B Bryza B1R maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft operated…

2026-08-10 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

Farnborough 2026: Airbus Defence and Space unmanned aircraft programs

At this year’s Farnborough International Airshow, Airbus Defence and Space, the division of the European Airbus group responsible for military systems…

2026-07-28 | Grzegorz Sobczak | 4 minutes

Rheinmetall and Boeing deepen cooperation on European CCA project

Rheinmetall and Boeing have announced the launch of a joint program aimed at rapidly introducing Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) capabilities in Germany –…

2026-08-10 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

Future Polish Navy frigate ORP Wicher rolled out ahead of launch

The future ORP Wicher was ceremonially rolled out of the assembly hall at PGZ Stocznia Wojenna. The vessel is currently being…

2026-08-10 | Jakub Link-Lenczowski | 4 minutes

Poland: One year of Operation Safe West

July 7, 2026, marked the first anniversary of the launch of Operation “Safe West.” One year earlier, soldiers of the…

2026-07-09 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

US Customs and Border Protection orders more Airbus H125 helicopters

European company Airbus Helicopters has finalized a contract for the purchase of 10 H125 light helicopters by US Customs and Border Protection’s…

2026-07-09 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Arrowhead 140 – from Britain’s Type 31 frigates to ORP Wicher

The roll-out of the future ORP Wicher, the first of three Project 106 Miecznik multirole frigates currently being built in Gdynia,…

2026-08-11 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 11 minutes

Rheinmetall and Boeing deepen cooperation on European CCA project

Rheinmetall and Boeing have announced the launch of a joint program aimed at rapidly introducing Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) capabilities in Germany –…

2026-08-10 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

Rheinmetall and Boeing deepen cooperation on European CCA project

Rheinmetall and Boeing have announced the launch of a joint program aimed at rapidly introducing Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) capabilities in Germany –…

2026-08-10 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

Poland and U.S. continue talks on strengthening American military presence in Poland

Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence Paweł Zalewski met with U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Poland Stephanie Holmes…

2026-07-20 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Airbus to supply communications satellite to Spain

Airbus Defence and Space has secured a contract from Spanish operator Hisdesat to develop and build the SpainSat NG-III satellite, Europe’s most…

2026-08-07 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

ICEYE becomes first company backed by European Commission’s Scaleup Europe Fund

The Scaleup Europe Fund, established by the European Commission together with a group of European investors and managed by EQT, announced its first…

2026-08-07 | Redakcja | 1 minutes
Shooting

FALCO Multi-Fit Holsters – new DM04 and AM03 models

FALCO Holsters, a Slovak holster manufacturer, is expanding its versatile leather Multi-Fit line with two new models: the AM03 IWB/OWB and…

2026-07-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

CZ Bren 3 for Montenegro

On July 24th, 2026, Colt CZ Group officially announced the signing of an agreement for the delivery of products from Česká…

2026-07-28 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

FALCO Multi-Fit Holsters – new DM04 and AM03 models

FALCO Holsters, a Slovak holster manufacturer, is expanding its versatile leather Multi-Fit line with two new models: the AM03 IWB/OWB and…

2026-07-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

New Mantis Pink Rhino Pro Laser Cartridges for Shotguns and Revolvers

Mantis, one of the leading manufacturers of dry‑fire training solutions, is introducing new Pink Rhino Pro laser cartridges. The line…

2026-07-27 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

BC ARMS USA: Polish defense company enters the American market

BC ARMS USA is a new company based in California that will offer Americans ballistic protection equipment of Polish design.

2026-07-01 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Soft armor vest Titanium Tactical QR I from Greek Anorak

The Greek company Anorak offers a soft bulletproof vest, Titanium Tactical QR I, available for sale from EUR 599 to EUR 738.

2026-06-23 | Rafał Muczyński | 2 minutes

Polish team wins King of 2 Miles 2026 competition

Jakub Sidorowicz as the shooter and Rafał Rutkowski as the spotter won the demanding King of 2 Miles long-range competition in France, scoring two…

2026-05-12 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

This Year’s Spring Delta Long Range Weekend Concludes

Another edition of the Delta Long Range Weekend has concluded. Long-range shooting enthusiasts met at the Military Institute of Armament Technology…

2026-05-11 | Grzegorz Sobczak | 4 minutes

CZ Bren 3 for Montenegro

On July 24th, 2026, Colt CZ Group officially announced the signing of an agreement for the delivery of products from Česká…

2026-07-28 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

New 1–10x LPVO: Sightmark Presidio 1–10×26 SFP

Sightmark is introducing a new Presidio 1–10×26 SFP low‑power variable optic, designed to stand out with an MRAD reticle featuring a centrally illuminated…

2026-07-22 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

Mantis TitanX now available at the Strefa Celu store

Strefa Celu (Jammas) announces the arrival of advanced Mantis TitanX training devices, which, taking the form of a Glock pistol replica…

2026-04-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

Delta Long Range Weekend 2026 coming on May 9

This year’s edition of Delta Long Range Weekend will take place on May 9. Do you shoot mid-range, long-range, or extreme long-range? Test…

2026-03-16 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Growth in Firearm Permits in Poland Continues in 2025

The National Police Headquarters has released a report on firearm permits in Poland in 2025. The number of shooters continues to increase, with nearly 45,000…

2026-02-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 6 minutes

Poland: Temporary Ban on Carrying Firearms in Warsaw on November 11, 2025

Minister Marcin Kierwiński has instructed the security services to take measures ensuring safety during the Independence March in Warsaw and other events…

2025-10-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 9 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Mactronic Patrol RX Flashlight – Six-Month Field Review

I received the Mactronic Patrol RX for testing at the end of 2025. After more than six months of use, I can now…

2026-07-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 9 minutes

KJI K950 Carbon – a tripod for discerning shooters

The concept of tripods in shooting has firmly taken root in shooters’ minds. The idea of using tripods began to take shape during…

2026-06-11 | Jarosław Lis | 10 minutes

Light on the Rifle: Why It Changes Everything Inside a Building

Weapon-mounted lighting is one of the most discussed and least understood categories in tactical equipment. This is a guide to what it actually…

2026-07-13 | Redakcja | 5 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

SAFE: Contracts for Medium Satellite Terminals and additional LOTR Kleszcz systems

Two more contracts with the Polish defense industry for the delivery of equipment to the Polish Armed Forces have been signed at the Armament Agency’s headquarters. The contracts are financed with European Union funds under SAFE.

On Friday, May 29, 2026, two additional contracts to be implemented with European Union funds under the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) loan program were signed at the headquarters of the Polish Ministry of National Defence’s Armament Agency.

Photos: Ministry Of National Defence

The first contract concerns the purchase of 157 Medium Satellite Terminals, including both the guaranteed and optional orders. The total value of the contract is approximately 2.4 billion PLN net. The contract, concluded between the Armament Agency and GISS Sp. z o.o., will be performed by 2030.

The second contract, with AMZ-Kutno, covers the delivery of 24 Light Reconnaissance Carriers (LOTR) Kleszcz which will be assigned to K2GF and K2PL tank battalions. The value of the contract is approximately 570 million PLN net, and the contract will be performed by 2030.

When we took office, we said that we very much wanted to ensure that at least 50% of the money spent on armaments would remain with Polish defense companies, because at that time the percentage was just under 20%. We will do everything to make things completely different. Today, it is already more than 40%. I think SAFE, under which almost 90% of these funds will go to Polish defense companies, will raise the overall statistic,” Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda said during the ceremony.

Medium Satellite Terminals

The Medium Satellite Terminals will be used to secure communications and IT systems for the purposes of directing national defense and the wartime command system, as well as to meet the needs of the Polish Armed Forces in the field of satellite communications supporting the operation of Polish Military Contingents, EU Battlegroups and the SON.

The Medium Satellite Terminals will be intended to provide satellite communications using FDMA (SCPC) and TDMA (MF-TDMA) techniques in full-mesh, star, hub-and-spoke and mixed-topology networks, as well as point-to-point terminal links to maintain inter-node communications.

Portable And Transportable Satellite Terminal PPTS-1.8 v.2 / Illustrative Photo: Wojskowe Zakłady Łączności No. 1

The previous contract for the delivery of 67 Medium Satellite Terminal sets was concluded on September 18, 2024, and was valued at 172,794,459 PLN. The contractor is a consortium of Siltec of Pruszków as the leader and Ultra Electronics Ltd. (Ultra Communications) of London. Details of the subject of the order remain classified.

It is worth adding that Warsaw-based GISS, which will deliver the new Terminal sets, signed a 38.1 million PLN gross contract on February 28, 2022, for the delivery of 100 sets of tactical-level portable SHF satellite terminals.

LOTR Kleszcz

The framework agreement for 286 Light Armored Reconnaissance Carriers (LOTR) under the Kleszcz (pronounced ‘kleshch’, meaning ‘tick’ ‒ translator’s note) program was signed with AMZ-Kutno on February 28, 2024, and provided for deliveries in 2025-2035.

The first delivery contract, signed on August 14, 2024, and valued at approximately 800 million PLN, covers the first batch of 28 vehicles, with deliveries postponed to 2026. Now, under the second delivery contract, 24 additional vehicles have been ordered.

Kleszcz will replace BRDM-2 armored cars and their upgraded variants in reconnaissance subunits of the Polish Armed Forces. The vehicle will enable dynamic and continuous acquisition and collection of information about the enemy and the operating environment, as well as its processing and transmission in the form of reconnaissance data to higher command levels.

On November 15, 2024, AMZ-Kutno signed a 16.632 million EUR (approx. 68.29 million PLN at the time) contract with Turkey’s Aselsan for the delivery of radar and electro-optical systems for the LOTR Kleszcz. On September 2, 2025, during the 33rd MSPO in Kielce, the companies signed an agreement to expand their cooperation. On November 3, 2025, the Turkish side announced the integration of ARSUS 100, a compact reconnaissance system mounted on a stabilized mast that combines a long-range radar with an EO/IR optoelectronic head for day-and-night operation and an inertial navigation system. It is used for target detection, identification, automatic tracking, and real-time streaming of video, audio and data. The vehicles will also be equipped with L3Harris Technologies radios.

Photo: AMZ-Kutno

LOTR Kleszcz was developed under a 2013 agreement between the National Center for Research and Development (NCBR) and a consortium of Polish entities comprising AMZ-Kutno as the leader, the Military Institute of Communications, the Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU) and the Military Institute of Chemistry and Radiometry (WIChiR).

The 4×4 wheeled vehicle will be introduced into service with reconnaissance subunits of the Land Forces, while ensuring an appropriate level of crew protection, and is intended to perform reconnaissance missions. AMZ-Kutno, which has been operating since 1999, specializes in the design and production of special-purpose bodies for commercial vehicles.

LOTR Kleszcz is based on the Bóbr-3 vehicle chassis, which is equipped with a 7,200 cc six-cylinder diesel engine developing 240 kW, installed as a power-pack and compliant with the EURO 3 emission standard, as well as an automatic transmission, all-wheel drive and independent suspension. The vehicle is 6.9 m long, 2.38 m high and 2.5 m wide. Its ground clearance is 400 mm, its weight ranges from 12 to 14 tonnes, depending on the armor package, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 15.6 tonnes, and its range is 600 km. Its maximum road speed on paved roads is 90 km/h, while its swimming speed is 7 km/h. The vehicle is adapted for fording and crossing water obstacles, including rivers with currents of up to 1.1 m/s.

The basic Bóbr-3 can provide ballistic protection at Levels 2 and 3 according to STANAG 4569, and mine protection at Level 2A. Additional armor panels will increase protection to Level 3. The vehicle has a modular design. LOTR Kleszcz can carry a five-soldier reconnaissance team. It is fitted with side doors for every seat located along the vehicle’s side walls, as well as three escape hatches, enabling the crew to evacuate the vehicle quickly and safely during both tactical operations and technical evacuation. The vehicle can transport the crew together with their personal and reconnaissance equipment, provide fire support using onboard weapons, and engage lightly armored vehicles, low-flying air targets and enemy personnel.

The main components of the Light Armored Reconnaissance Carrier include reconnaissance systems, equipped with a tactical battlefield surveillance radar and an electro-optical head; communications systems, providing simultaneous communications between LOTR vehicles, helicopters and superiors up to battalion level; an armament system, in the form of a remotely operated weapon station fitted with 12.7 mm WKM-B and 7.62 mm UKM machine guns; filtration-ventilation, air-conditioning, and weapons of mass destruction detection and protection systems; and a laser warning system coupled with smoke grenade launchers.

The vehicle was designed in two variants: a light amphibious version with a lower level of protection and a heavy non-amphibious version with a higher level of protection.

Under the LOTR Kleszcz program, the Ministry of National Defence initially wanted to purchase 244 amphibious 4×4 wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicles with independent suspension to replace the BRDM-2 vehicles currently in use. The program was launched in 2013, and its value was then estimated at PLN 1.2 billion. In August 2021, the prototype was sent for testing to the 17th Greater Poland Mechanized Brigade.

LOTR Kleszcz is also intended to serve as the base vehicle for a chemical, biological and radiological reconnaissance vehicle (TRSK), for which a technical dialogue was conducted between February and May 2021. At the MSPO 2019 defense industry exhibition in Kielce, AMZ-Kutno presented a prototype wheeled tank destroyer based on the Bóbr-3 vehicle.

See also: