Defence & Space

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Polish 35 mm SA-35 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with PIT-Radwar

During the recent MSPO trade fair in Kielce, the company PIT-Radwar presented its proposal for a 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun…

2025-06-13 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 13 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SKW Cryptographic Security Certificate for Polish Comp@n Radio Set from the WB Group

The WB Group announced that the Comp@n system radio set, developed by its subsidiary Radmor, along with the Cryptographic Document Management…

2025-06-14 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Advancing multi-domain EW operations: Rohde & Schwarz unveils latest innovations at AOC Europe

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems, sensor fusion and signal analysis solutions, designed to meet the evolving…

2025-05-12 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Autonomous and Unmanned Systems by Łukasiewicz – PIAP at the OPEX 2025 Training Ground in Italy

During the HEDI OPEX 2025 experimental campaign at the CEPOLISPE training ground in Italy, the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial…

2025-06-28 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Debut of Foudre – the French HIMARS

As previously announced by Turgis & Gaillard, the 55th International Paris Air and Space Show served as the venue for the…

2025-06-23 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Polish Ministry of National Defence: New Contract for K2 Tanks and Support Vehicles Imminent

In Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, along with Secretary of State at the Ministry…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Bayraktar TB2 and FlyEye Drones to Support Polish Police Manhunt for Killer Near Limanowa

The Bayraktar TB2 drone and FlyEye systems will support the Polish police in the search for 57-year-old Tadeusz Duda, suspected…

2025-06-30 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

Galvion’s European Production Hub in Poland is formally opened by the Ambassador of Canada tothe Republic of Poland

Canadian company Galvion announced that the Canadian Ambassador to Poland, Catherine Godin, officially opened the European Production Hub in Gdańsk.

2025-06-26 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

East Shield and the Baltic Defense Line: Cooperation and Investment in Defense Are the Cornerstone of Europe’s Security

East Shield, the Baltic Defense Line, the integration of available deterrence and defense capabilities, and EU defense funding were the…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Russia Loses World’s Largest Helicopter, Mi-26, in Ukrainian Attack on Crimea

The Security Service of Ukraine reported that during a special operation at the Kirovske military airfield in occupied Crimea, a Pantsir-S1 air…

2025-06-29 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

Finland Ministry of Defense selects ICEYE for space-based intelligence and surveillance capabilities

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE and the Finnish Ministry of Defense have signed a Letter of Intent that enables the Finnish Defense…

2025-06-27 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Axiom Mission 4: The Historic Spaceflight of Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski

June 25, 2025, will go down in history as the day when the second Pole in our history flew into…

2025-06-25 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes
Shooting

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Upgraded Z8i Scope from SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Swarovski Optik, the Austrian optics manufacturer with nearly 80 years of tradition, has unveiled an upgraded version of its Z8i…

2025-07-03 | Mariusz Piwowar | 3 minutes

Upgraded Z8i Scope from SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Swarovski Optik, the Austrian optics manufacturer with nearly 80 years of tradition, has unveiled an upgraded version of its Z8i…

2025-07-03 | Mariusz Piwowar | 3 minutes

Streamlight introduces the SL-SideSaddle

Streamlight, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting tools, announces the SL-SideSaddle series, a new hands-free lighting solution built for outdoor adventure…

2025-07-01 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

UF PRO Introduces Waist/Flex Belts to Its Product Line

UF PRO, a Slovenian manufacturer of professional apparel and part of the Mehler Systems group, is adding a new accessory to its lineup…

2025-06-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

CZ Introduces the New CZ P-10 C PORTED Model

CZ P-10 C PORTED – a compact pistol with tamed recoil thanks to an integrated compensator.

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

2024-02-17 | 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 | 8 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

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 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

The first implementation agreement for LOTR Kleszcz

The Armament Agency, on behalf of the Polish Ministry of National Defense, signed the first implementation agreement with AMZ-Kutno for the delivery of 28 out of 286 planned Bóbr-3 (‘beaver’) Light Armored Reconnaissance Carriers as part of the program codenamed Kleszcz (pronounced kleshch, Polish for ‘tick’).

On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, in Wesoła, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and State Secretary in the Ministry of National Defense Paweł Bejda, the Armament Agency signed the first implementation contract worth approximately 800 million PLN (ca. 210 million USD) with the company AMZ-Kutno for the delivery of 28 out of the planned 286 Light Armored Reconnaissance Carriers (LOTR) Bóbr-3 as part of the program codenamed Kleszcz. The framework agreement for this was concluded on February 28, 2024.


Photos: Ministry of National Defense

“Today, we are signing another contract this week for equipment for the Polish Armed Forces. We started with 48 launchers for the Patriot system, yesterday 96 Apache helicopters for the Land Forces. This complements the interconnected system of defense of the Republic of Poland. All of this creates one large system. But for it to work, good reconnaissance is essential. The Light Armored Reconnaissance Carrier in the Kleszcz program represents Polish technical thought. This is something we started over 10 years ago during the PO-PSL coalition government. It is a collaboration between the private defense industry, AMZ Kutno, and military institutes that have developed and tested the capabilities, functionalities, and practical applications of the Light Armored Reconnaissance Carrier,” said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during his visit to the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade.

These three days demonstrate the comprehensive strategy of the Polish state and the Ministry of National Defense regarding procurement. The first day focused on the batteries for the Patriot system, a Polish-American co-production. Yesterday was about purchasing from our allies, but also collaboration with Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and General Electric within the framework of offset agreements, and investments in the Polish defense industry, particularly in the Aviation Plants in Łódź and Dęblin. And on the third day, we have the Light Armored Reconnaissance Carriers. This is an investment solely in the Polish industry, Polish technical thought, Polish production, Polish innovations, and Polish equipment. I sincerely thank you for this and am very pleased that the procurement strategy is multi-directional,” emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.

All of this is very much needed. These are the ears and eyes of the Polish army. The contract signed today by the head of the Armament Agency, General Kuptel, and the president of AMZ Kutno, covers 28 vehicles of this type. These 28 vehicles will be delivered to the Polish military between 2026 and 2028. I am very grateful that this contract is coming to fruition. In February this year, I had the opportunity to sign the framework agreement with Minister Bejda. We were in Kutno and observed the research and production process, leading to this moment when the vehicle will be ready to function in the Polish Armed Forces,” emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.

During a meeting with soldiers at the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade, Deputy Prime Minister W. Kosiniak-Kamysz laid flowers at the plaque commemorating the late Sgt. Mateusz Sitek.

I began today’s visit to the military unit by laying flowers at the memorial stone for Sergeant Mateusz Sitek, who gave his life for the security of the Polish state, for the security of our border on the eve of Polish Armed Forces Day. This is an honor for Sergeant Sitek, a moment of remembrance for him. The memory, the naming of one of the brigade’s tanks, which will participate in tomorrow’s parade, is not only an expression of our remembrance but also a great sign of respect for all the young people who join the Polish Armed Forces,” emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.

Photo: corporal Paweł Kmiecik, Ministry of National Defense

Executive Contract No. 1 was concluded between the State Treasury, represented by the Armament Agency, and AMZ-Kutno. The contract covers the delivery of 28 vehicles along with a logistics and training package. The contract value is approximately 800 million PLN (ca. 210 million USD), and the deliveries are to be completed between 2026 and 2028. This contract initiates the implementation of the framework agreement for the delivery of LOTR Kleszcz vehicles from 2026 to 2035.

The Bóbr-3, under the codename Kleszcz, will replace the BRDM-2 armored vehicles and their modernized versions in the reconnaissance units of the Polish Armed Forces. The vehicle will enable dynamic and continuous gathering and accumulation of information about the enemy and the operational environment, as well as processing and transmitting this intelligence data to higher command levels.

The first two factory-produced units will make their debut tomorrow in the parade in Warsaw in celebration of Polish Armed Forces Day.

The LOTR Kleszcz, with the factory name Bóbr-3, is being developed based on a 2013 agreement between the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) and a consortium of Polish entities, which includes AMZ-Kutno (the lead), the Military Communication Institute, the Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU), and the Military Institute of Chemistry and Radiometry (WIChiR).

The 4×4 wheeled vehicle will be incorporated into the reconnaissance units of the Land Forces, providing an appropriate level of crew protection, and is intended for conducting reconnaissance tasks. AMZ-Kutno, a company operating since 1999, specializes in the design and production of special-purpose vehicle bodies.

The Bóbr-3 is equipped with a 6-cylinder diesel engine with a displacement of 7200 cm³ and a power output of 240 kW, configured in a power-pack system meeting EURO 3 emission standards. It features an automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and independent suspension. The vehicle is 6.9 meters long, 2.38 meters high, and 2.5 meters wide. It has a ground clearance of 400 mm, and its weight ranges from 12 to 14 tons (depending on the armor version, with a maximum allowable weight of 15.6 tons), and a range of 600 km. The maximum speed on paved roads is 90 km/h with a range of 600 km, while the swimming speed is 7 km/h. The vehicle is designed for fording and crossing water obstacles, including rivers with currents up to 1.1 m/s.

In its base version, the Bóbr-3 provides ballistic protection at levels 2 and 3 according to STANAG 4569, and mine resistance at level 2A. Additional armor panels can increase protection to level 3. The vehicle’s design is modular, allowing for the transport of a reconnaissance team consisting of five soldiers. It is equipped with side doors for each seat located along the vehicle’s walls, as well as three escape hatches, ensuring efficient and safe evacuation of the crew, whether in tactical operations or emergency evacuation. The vehicle allows for the transport of the crew along with personal and reconnaissance equipment, as well as providing fire support using onboard weapons, engaging lightly armored vehicles, low-flying air targets, and enemy personnel.

The key components of the Light Armored Reconnaissance Carrier (LOTR) include, among others, the following systems: reconnaissance—equipped with a tactical battlefield radar and an electro-optical head; communication—providing simultaneous communication between LOTR vehicles, helicopters, and commanders up to the battalion level; armament (remotely controlled weapon system)—equipped with WKM-B 12.7 mm machine guns and UKM 7.62 mm machine guns; filtration and ventilation, air conditioning, and detection and protection against weapons of mass destruction, as well as a laser warning system integrated with a smoke grenade launcher.

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

As part of the LOTR Kleszcz program, the Ministry of National Defense initially intended to purchase 244 amphibious, reconnaissance, armored 4×4 wheeled vehicles with independent suspension to replace the currently used BRDM-2 vehicles. The program, launched in 2013, was initially valued at 1.2 billion PLN. In August 2021, the prototype was sent for testing to the 17th Greater Poland Mechanized Brigade.

The LOTR Kleszcz is also intended to serve as the base vehicle for the Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Reconnaissance Carrier (TRSK), for which a technical dialogue was conducted between February and May 2021. At the Kielce MSPO 2019 trade fair, AMZ-Kutno presented a prototype of a wheeled tank destroyer based on the Bóbr-3 vehicle.

The Bóbr-3, in its configuration for the Polish Armed Forces, was recently showcased at the Eurosatory 2024 trade fair in Paris.

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