On Thursday, August 21, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz paid a visit to Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów (ZMT), part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ).
Photos: Ministry Of National Defence
“We are in a place important for Poland’s security, at Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów. Today I received a declaration that Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów will accelerate production of the Pilica+ systems. The security situation shows how crucial the capabilities of Poland’s defense industry are,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in Tarnów (Logistical reinforcement of the Pilica+ program. Another contract signed).
“Significant investments are underway at the Tarnów plant. These include not only Pilica+, but also air and missile defense systems within the Narew and Wisła programs. Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów is involved in all of these programs. In recent months, the company has experienced a radical increase in revenues and profits, as well as in employment. Nearly one thousand people are currently working here – the best result in decades. By the end of this year, an additional 125 people will find employment in Tarnów. The plant is not the largest within the Polish Armaments Group, but it is very important, as it is specialized and requires extraordinary precision in production. I had the opportunity to observe this precision during the work of both experienced and new employees, who form a very well-coordinated team – for which I am grateful. This is a special visit for me in Tarnów, in my constituency, where Zakłady Mechaniczne is becoming a symbol of development and security. I also made the decision to establish the Tarnów garrison, due to the growth of military units in the city of Tarnów and neighboring counties. The Tarnów garrison will allow for better organization and management of the armed forces,” emphasized Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The Deputy Prime Minister reviewed the latest small arms produced for the needs of Polish Armed Forces soldiers and met with the plant’s employees.
“We are in the process of building a multi-layered air defense system for the Polish state. Shortly, we will present Pilica+ – the systems that are assembled and produced here at Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów. However, before the system is fully activated, integrated with IBCS – the brain of air defense – and before all elements of the ‘Eastern Shield’ are built, including counter-drone systems, we need time. This does not happen overnight; it is a multi-year process. Those who deal with this subject know well that before an order is completed, there are many stages. But they are accelerating – and that is the declaration I received today from the head of Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów, from the entire management board and all employees: that they are accelerating the production of Pilica+ – a very short-range air defense system, absolutely essential in these operations,” emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.
Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced during a press conference that in December of this year Dutch soldiers will arrive in Poland along with two Patriot air defense system batteries.
“Starting in December and for the following months, two Patriot system batteries will be deployed in Poland to protect Polish airspace and to support efforts directed toward Ukraine. This is a major effort for the Netherlands. The Netherlands has three such Patriot batteries, two of which it is sending to Poland. Along with these systems, Dutch soldiers – 300 of them – will also arrive, as well as counter-drone systems,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów (ZMT), where weapons are produced for the needs of the Polish Armed Forces, is one of the leading production plants within the Polish Armaments Group. The company has achieved very good results, also thanks to its export activities. ZMT also operates its own Research and Development Center, which participates in many programs of the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) as well as its own projects. The Tarnów plant is a leader in the design and production of: remote-controlled weapon stations (ZSMU), infantry support weapons (60 mm mortars and 40 mm grenade launchers), and firearms – both crew-served (WKM-Bm, UKM-2000, and UKM-2020S) and precision weapons (Bor 7.62, Tor 12.7, Alex-338).
