On Friday, 27 February 2026, representatives of Polish defense sector companies issued an open letter to the President of the Republic of Poland, appealing for the signing of a bill introducing the SAFE mechanism – an instrument intended to support the development of defense capabilities and the domestic defense industry.
Image: European Commission
The letter was addressed to the President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and guardian of state security.
A Strong Defense Industry as the Foundation of Sovereignty
The signatories emphasize that the development of domestic technologies, production competencies, and stable supply chains is one of the fundamental pillars of state sovereignty. In their view, the SAFE mechanism may become a key instrument for strengthening Poland’s national technological and industrial potential.
Poland currently allocates record levels of funding to defense, over 4% of GDP annually, placing it among NATO leaders in terms of defense spending. At the same time, the domestic defense industry has recorded dynamic revenue growth, and its importance to the national economy continues to increase.
According to industry data, the largest Polish defense sector entities generate combined annual revenues amounting to tens of billions of złoty. The sector produces significant tax revenues (CIT, VAT, PIT, and social security contributions), creates thousands of jobs, and develops high-technology competencies.
A Call for Stability and Predictability
Entrepreneurs indicate that the SAFE mechanism will ensure:
- greater financial stability for strategic projects,
- strengthening of the domestic technological base,
- increased participation of Polish companies in international defence programmes,
- reduced dependence on foreign supply chains,
- enhanced export competitiveness.
In the view of the signatories, signing the bill will send a clear signal that the state regards the defence industry as a pillar of national security and a component of a long-term technological sovereignty strategy.
“The SAFE European Security Enhancement Financial Instrument should be perceived not as a loan, but as an investment instrument stimulating the development of both Polish industry and Polish engineering expertise,” emphasized Sławomir Kułakowski, President of the Polish Chamber of National Defence Manufacturers.
The Voice of the Industry
The authors of the letter stress that their position is non-partisan in nature and stems from responsibility for the country’s real defence capabilities.
“A strong defense industry with its own technologies is not merely an economic matter. It is one of the foundations of the sovereignty of the Republic of Poland” the appeal states.
The Polish Chamber of National Defence Manufacturers, founded on 11 September 1995, is the oldest and largest organization representing companies in the Polish defense industry and cooperating firms working to strengthen the defense capabilities of the Republic of Poland.
The Chamber represents the interests of leading domestic defense manufacturers in dialogue with public administration, financial institutions, and foreign partners, supporting the development of domestic technologies, industrial competencies, and supply chains.
The Chamber currently brings together 139 entities, both state-owned and private, operating in sectors and categories such as electronics, optoelectronics, telecommunications; research institutes and R&D units; aviation; special trade; naval vessels and equipment; armored equipment; transport vehicles and artillery systems; C4I command and control systems; weapons systems, ammunition and explosives; individual soldier equipment; as well as engineering, chemical, and logistics equipment.
Since 1998, the Chamber has represented the Polish defence industry within the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG).
Between 1998 and 2023, the Chamber coordinated the vast majority of joint presentations of the Polish defence industry at international trade fairs. During this period, it organized 56 national stands of the Polish defence industry at exhibitions in 18 countries (Armenia, Bulgaria, Brunei, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Ukraine, Slovakia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates).
The Chamber’s objective is to build a strong, innovative, and competitive Polish defense industry serving as one of the pillars of national security and sovereignty.
Content of the Letter:
On behalf of more than 140 companies from the defense industry sector – manufacturing firms, technology companies, systems integrators, service providers, and subcontractors associated with the Polish Chamber of National Defence Manufacturers, as well as over one thousand cooperating companies – we address you as the collective voice of an industry responsible for the State’s real defense capabilities and its economic and technological sovereignty.
We operate in a sector that constitutes one of the most important pillars of national security and a significant component of the domestic economy. The intensification of geopolitical threats and the growing modernization requirements of the Polish Armed Forces make efficient, predictable, and stable mechanisms supporting the industrial defense potential indispensable – not only for development, but also for ensuring the technological sovereignty of the Polish Armed Forces.
In recent years, Poland has allocated record levels of funding to defense in 2024–2026: approximately 4.2–4.8% of GDP, with a target of up to 5%. This places Poland among the leading NATO countries in terms of defense spending relative to the size of its economy.
However, despite the growing defense budget – which should serve as a catalyst for the development of the Polish industrial-defense sector – a significant portion of equipment and key technologies continues to be imported from abroad, primarily from the United States and the Republic of Korea.
This weakens our strategic and market position, both economically and as a State on the international stage.
The lack of stable financial and institutional instruments directed specifically at Polish enterprises not only limits the development of domestic solutions in armaments and advanced technologies, but also constrains the ability of Polish companies to compete in international markets.
The SAFE mechanism is a solution that, based on our experience in the defense sector, we assess very positively – both in terms of its potential benefits for the further development of the Polish defense industry and for strengthening Poland’s international standing.
In our assessment, SAFE: Strengthens technological and production sovereignty – proprietary, advanced military technologies are a fundamental element of a sovereign state, not only for defense purposes but also for economic and industrial security.
Stabilizes operating conditions for enterprises – predictable financing of strategic projects enables investment planning, competency development, and the attraction of highly qualified engineers and specialists.
Increases the share of the Polish economy in target value chains – the mechanism supports building relationships with foreign partners and exporting high value-added products.
Builds supply chain resilience – this is a key response to global disruptions and the risk of supply interruptions that may disrupt ongoing production of military equipment for the Polish Armed Forces and thereby weaken the defense readiness of the Polish State.
As a community that daily faces the challenges of contract execution, technological investment, and job creation, we appeal to you, Mr. President, to sign the bill on the SAFE mechanism.
This solution is consistent not only with economic interests, but above all with our national security interests. Signing this bill will send a clear signal that Poland treats the development of its domestic defense industry as an integral component of state sovereignty and that it supports entrepreneurs working for security and innovation.
We look forward to a decision that will strengthen the stability and competitiveness of Polish enterprises and underscore the importance of a long-term national security strategy.
On behalf of the Presidium of the Polish Chamber of National Defence Manufacturers
Sławomir KUŁAKOWSKI, President Of The Chamber
