The DEFEA defence trade fair will take place in Athens from 6 to 8 May2025 Rheinmetall will be there as a strong partner for… a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative head systems it has been observed that wheeled chassis purchased and operated by the armed forces require additional equipment to enable… Donald Trump makes it clear that Europe must defend itself and take care of its own security The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has published a report titled Trends in World Military Expenditure During a visit by Dmitry Medvedev Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation to the Kapustin Yar missile test range,… Rohde & Schwarz advances their military spectrum monitoring portfolio by launching easily deployable monitoring systems designed to help armed forces optimize their spectrum management,… RAMON IQzoom from Rohde & Schwarz is redefining the boundaries of signal analysis by empowering armed forces to delve deeper into the… Canadian-based Galvion company has announced that their European Production Hub in Poland is now fully operational A photograph has appeared on social media showing soldiers of the Ukrainian National Guard equipped with new 9mm Fort-230A submachine guns,… Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas paid a visit to Stockholm where he held talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on defense… As reported by the Australian public broadcaster ABC the delivery of 49 M1A1SA Abrams tanks promised last year to the Armed Forces… The Polish company Creotech Instruments has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to build a national constellation of at least… have signed a strategic agreement outlining the framework for joint efforts… Direct Action offers a variety of chest rigs The Curtiss model is designed to carry three HK… The Belgian company FN (part of the FN Browning Group) has presented a new company logo and brand tagline Streamlight introduces the TLR-8 HL-X flashlight with an integrated laser sight producing a beam with up to 1,000 lumens of power not only popular hydration systems were showcased but also personal ballistic protection—including armor specifically designed… Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers At the 3rd International Police and Public Security Fair POLSECURE 2024 in Kielce Holsters HPE Poland presented its offer for… a member of the Polish Armaments Group has introduced the semi-automatic designated marksman rifle MSBS Grot .308 S20… To assist with shooting training and beyond various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs where every second can determine the outcome of an operation The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024 An increasing number of Poles now hold… The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of… ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics The innovative features and ergonomic designs… Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles The Vanguard is a uniform set from the Polish brand Direct Action designed in collaboration with special forces soldiers The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world During an exhibition of products by Polish manufacturers of unmanned weapon systems at the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade in Wesoła 2 presented the Wizjer unmanned aerial system during an exhibition of products by Polish manufacturers of unmanned weapon systems at the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade in Wesoła presented the Wizjer unmanned aerial system Photos: Jakub Link-Lenczowski The UAV system was developed by a consortium composed of PGZ (Polish Armaments Group) under a contract with the Armament Agency – representing the State Treasury – dated December 29 for the delivery of 25 sets of mini-class unmanned aerial systems codenamed Wizjer (Polish for visor) comprising a total of 100 aircraft along with a logistics and training package under which the procurement of a computer-based training system (CBT) and a training management system (SZS) is foreseen Each set consists of 4 aerial platforms equipped with EO/IR electro-optical heads the consortium announced the completion of the UAV Wizjer system tests which confirmed compliance with the requirements set by the contracting authority The Wizjer mini-class unmanned aerial system is intended for operations supporting the needs of the Land Forces and Special Forces in the field of imagery intelligence (IMINT) through the use of optoelectronic payloads the system will perform tasks related to target designation and the provision of fire support data It features a low noise emission signature a flight endurance exceeding 3 hours and an operational range of up to 35 kilometers Its primary missions include observation tasks such as detection The UAV takes off automatically using a composite launch catapult and conducts an automatic landing maneuver utilizing a parachute and an airbag The entire system has been developed in accordance with NATO Standardization Agreements (STANAGs) and applicable Defense Standards the PGZ consortium offered the NeoX 2 (Duch) UAV developed by the Composite Airframe Structures Division of the Polish Air Force Institute of Technology (ITWL) NeoX 2 is an advanced version of the NeoX UAV designed to meet the stringent requirements for mini-class unmanned systems conducting imagery reconnaissance It features automatic takeoff and landing using a parachute and airbag system The aircraft has a wingspan of 3 meters and a maximum takeoff weight of 12 kilograms (the total system weight does not exceed 50 kilograms) it achieves a minimum speed of 60 km/h and a maximum speed of 140 km/h with a service ceiling of up to 4,000 meters (operational altitude ranges from 100 to 1,000 meters) This provides a maximum flight time of over 210 minutes and an operational radius of more than 35 kilometers Preparation time for launch is up to 15 minutes and flights can be conducted in wind speeds of up to 12 m/s Data collected during flight is transmitted to two operators via an AES-256 encrypted digital data link The airframe is constructed from carbon-epoxy and glass-epoxy composites as well as lightweight metal alloys NeoX 2 can be used for high-resolution imaging of terrain and objects in visible light (1920×1080 px) and thermal imaging (640×480 px) through the use of the dual-sensor Zjawa-1 turret It is capable of target coordinate acquisition real-time imagery to support fire adjustment and battle damage assessment detection of changes within a designated area and monitoring the movement of enemy forces The UAV can maneuver toward the direction indicated by the observation gimbal On December 8, 2021, the Air Force Institute of Technology (ITWL) announced that the NeoX 2 had successfully passed verification checks. The tests were conducted at the 21st Central Air Range in Nadarzyce, at the airfield in Sochaczew, and at the testing grounds of the Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU). Representatives of the then Armament Inspectorate of the Ministry of National Defence (MON), the PGZ consortium, and end users were present during the system verification. Reporting by Barbara Erling and Karol Badohal; Editing by Kirsten Donovan Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved An ambulance is leaving the Myslowice-Wesola coal mine in Myslowice one went missing and another 12 were injured in a cave-in near the coal face Poland (AP) — Two miners were killed and one remains missing after a cave-in at the Myslowice-Wesola coal mine in southern Poland early Tuesday in which 12 other miners were hurt some 870 meters (2,800 feet) underground in an area where 15 miners were working the deputy head of the company that runs the mine He said two of the miners located by rescuers and brought to the surface were declared dead Eleven other miners were earlier brought to the surface with various injuries Rescuers were still searching for one missing miner but had no contact with him Six teams of rescuers were working in the area an area especially exposed to cave-ins or explosions of methane gas which is present in the rock in many Polish coal mines It is the second cave-in at the Myslowice-Wesola mine this year following one on April 17 that killed one miner Two other coal mine workers were killed in accidents inside other mines in Poland this year 15 miners were killed in on-the job accidents Log in and download the free e-publication of the latest A&B The printed version is available for sale online in our store and press salons throughout Poland unique e-mail [will also be used as login in the portal] Only name - check the correctness of the data Only the last name - check the correctness of the data password must be at least 8 characters long * fields required for registration; data can be completed in account settings after logging in ** establishment of a student account follows verification of the validity of the student ID card Please try later or let us know: contact Technology: aitnet.pl Ⓒ AiB Publishing House 2025 Polish Army's multiple rocket launcher M142 Himars is seen before a press conference a week before the National Army Day Parade Spanish army servicemen prepare NASAMS medium range ground-based air defence rocket launcher military equipment to foreign governments in 2023 rose 16% to a record $238 billion as countries sought to replenish stocks sent to Ukraine and prepare for major conflicts The figures underpin expectations of stronger sales for the likes of Lockheed Martin whose shares are forecast to rise amid rising global instability Arms sales and transfers are viewed as "important U.S foreign policy tools with potential long-term implications for regional and global security," the State Department said in a statement Sales approved in the year included $10 billion worth of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to Poland $2.9 billion worth of AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-To-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Germany and National Advanced Surface to Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) to Ukraine Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics expect existing orders for hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds and a surge in orders for armored vehicles will underpin their results in coming quarters There are two major ways foreign governments purchase arms from U.S companies: direct commercial sales negotiated with a company or foreign military sales in which a government typically contacts a Defense Department official at the U.S companies rose to $157.5 billion in fiscal 2023 from $153.6 billion in fiscal 2022 government rose to $80.9 billion in 2023 from $51.9 billion the prior year Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:  Jul 14, 2021A U.S. Army M1A2 SEPV3 Abrams tank sends a round downrange at Fort Hood, Texas, on August 18, 2020. (Sgt. Calab Franklin/U.S. Army)WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s defense minister announced Wednesday that the country will buy 250 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks from the U.S. to counter Russian military capabilities, confirming previous reports of a planned acquisition. “So we are ordering the most modern tanks. Tanks available in the best equipped version, tanks that are combat proven, tanks which were constructed to counter the most modern Russian T-14 Armata tanks,” Mariusz Błaszczak said during a military ceremony in Wesoła, as quoted in a statement. Wesoła is a district of Poland’s capital Warsaw and is home to the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade. The brigade is equipped with the Leopard 2A4 and Leopard 2A5 tanks which are currently the most modern tracked vehicles operated by the Polish Land Forces. Błaszczak said once the U.S. tanks are delivered to the Polish military, they will be deployed to the country’s eastern area. “These tanks will be in the first line of defense, of course if there will be such a need,” the minister said. Deliveries of the new tanks are expected to begin in 2022. The value of the upcoming deal was not disclosed. The forthcoming acquisition is to allow Warsaw to replace its outdated Soviet-designed T-72 and PT-91 tanks with a new tracked vehicle platform. Under the plan, the designed contract is to include logistics, training and simulators for Polish troops. The latest development comes shortly after local media broke the story, citing sources close to the deal. At that time, when asked about the potential purchase, a spokesperson for the Defence Ministry told Defense News the ministry had identified “the necessity to provide [Polish] armored military units with modern tanks that would comply with the requirements of the modern battlefield,” and it was working to “define the possibilities of securing these capacities based on the available technical solutions that are proposed [to Poland] by potential suppliers.” The SEPv3 variant of the Abrams tank weights 73.6 tons, can travel at 42 mph. According to the U.S. Army’s Acquisition Support Center, the development of a SEPv4 variant is ongoing through fiscal 2023. Jaroslaw Adamowski is the Poland correspondent for Defense News. Facebook pageTwitter feedRSS feedDefense News © 2025 he played a total of 637 games for the team with an average of 40 minutes in each of them However, in the 2013 NBA Playoffs, the Duke product missed the Bulls' last seven games. What initially began with a headache suddenly became much more serious: Deng was suspected of having viral meningitis and underwent a spinal tap to confirm the diagnosis Deng was misdiagnosed and never had viral meningitis Deng was disappointed that he couldn't be there to help his team battle in the most crucial part of the season The 6-foot-9 forward from Sudan initially complained of flu-like symptoms and was sent to the hospital where he underwent a spinal tap to check for the said illness "I think that we could have handled the situation better. Obviously, there are some things that you can't handle. You can't really handle getting sick, being taken to the ER, or going to the hospital. I got the spinal tap, and that's where it went all wrong," said Deng "My body didn't react well to the spinal tap I had some serious side effects that not only didn't allow me to play basketball but really put my life in danger." The procedure caused spinal fluid to leak from his body he tried to prepare to play in the second round against the eventual NBA champions The Bulls lost in five games to Miami and Deng's absence was felt in a big way It created a void at both ends of the court as he had been a reliable contributor on offense and defense he remained positive and eventually recovered "It's something that I wouldn't want anyone to go through especially because of what I went through health-wise I never want to experience something like that again," Deng added STEPHEN BESLICStephen Beslic is a writer on Sports Illustrated's FanNation Network. Stephen played basketball from the age of 10 and graduated from Faculty of Economic and Business in Zagreb, Croatia, majoring in Marketing. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER company Raytheon Missiles & Defense received a contract worth US $624 million for the production of FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles Army contract to produce 1,300 Stinger missiles The contract includes provisions for engineering support as well as the test equipment and support needed to address obsolescence U.S company Raytheon Missiles & Defense received a contract worth US $624 million for the production of FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles / Photo: U.S Army on a plan that ensures we fulfill our current foreign military sale order while replenishing Stingers provided to Ukraine and accelerating production president of Raytheon Missiles & Defense The funding will be used to enhance Stinger’s producibility in an effort to meet the urgent need for replenishment The combat-proven Stinger missile is a lightweight self-contained air defense system that can be rapidly deployed by ground troops agility and highly accurate guidance and control system give the weapon an operational edge against cruise missiles and all classes of aircraft The contract is being funded from the Ukraine Supplemental which contains emergency funding to support Ukrainian defense forces Raytheon Missiles & Defense continues to work closely with the U.S Army and its supplier partners to rapidly support the growing demand for Stinger the Border Guard presented the first Grot-7.62N semi-automatic sniper rifle which has been added to the equipment of Polish border guards the Polish Border Guard presented the first received Grot-7.62N semi-automatic sniper rifle supplied by Fabryka Broni Łucznik-Radom will be used by officers stationed on the eastern border of Poland as well as those serving in the Security Operations Departments which specialize in combating organized crime and apprehending particularly dangerous individuals Grot-7.62N in configuration ordered by the Border Guard ASE UTRA sound suppressor mounted on the weapon The semi-automatic sniper rifle Grot-7.62N chambered for 7.62 mm x 51 NATO (.308 Win.) rifle ammunition It was developed in two versions with barrels of lengths 406 mm (16”) and 508 mm (20”) It is the result of cooperation between the Fabryka Broni Łucznik-Radom and the Military University of Technology (WAT) The rifle is based on the general design scheme of the standard (basic) Grot C16 FB-A2 assault rifle characterized by similar arrangement and ergonomics Leupold Mark HD 3.6-18×44 telescopic sight / Photos: Jakub Link-Lenczowski A formal acceptance procedure of another batch of Leopard 2PL tanks was completed last week in Zakłady Mechaniczne Bumar-Łabędy comany The upgraded vehicles will be used by the 1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Warsaw Armoured Brigade performing the contract concluded with the Armament Inspectorate for the upgrade of Leopard 2A4 tanks to the 2PL standard delivered another consignment of upgraded vehicles to Wesoła where the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade is stationed 11 tanks passed the acceptance procedure this year others are waiting for completion procedures ‘The Consortium is working intensively on the next consignment of Leopards If we manage to close the current negotiations quickly we will be able to deliver another 7 vehicles of the vehicle consignments being upgraded by the Polish industry this year we are closely cooperating with our foreign partner on 6 vehicles so that the tanks being upgraded in Germany could be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces as soon as possible also’ stated Elżbieta Wawrzynkiewicz President of the Management Board of Zakłady Mechaniczne Bumar-Łabędy The upgrade of 2A4 tanks to the 2PL standard is aimed at improving crew safety replacement of hydraulic stabilization systems of the gun as well as the turret drive systems with electric ones improvement of the smoothbore gun Rh-120 L44 and its adaptation to new types of ammunition while maintaining the possibility of using domestic munitions Leopard 2PL is also equipped with new optoelectronic systems: 3rd generation type KLW-1 Asteria thermal imaging cameras in the observation and targeting instruments of the commander and the gun operator The tank turret is equipped with additional armour modules and anti-shrapnel pads The vehicle interior has been equipped with fire-fighting and explosion protection systems Service scope covers all the tanks and is mainly performed by the forces of the Polish armaments industry Works are carried out by the Consortium PGZ – Zakłady Mechaniczne “BUMAR-ŁABĘDY” Other entities of the Group are also involved in the upgrade of the Leopards Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Urządzeń Mechanicznych OBRUM and Rosomak The German concern Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH is the foreign partner As the press service of the 18th Mechanized Division announced tank crews from the 1st Armored Brigade will participate in the 2024 Sullivan Cup Tank Crew Competition in the United States On Sunday, April 14, 2024 the press service of the 18th Mechanized Division announced on social media that tank crews from the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade from Wesoła (1 WBPanc.) will participate in the 2024 Sullivan Cup Tank Crew Competition in the United States Photo: 18th Mechanized Division international military competition held in the United States every two years The event gathers the best tank crews from armies around the world It assesses their individual skills as well as their teamwork during armored operations in a rigorous and comprehensive manner Participants must demonstrate excellent proficiency in tank operation and battle tactics As stated on the organizers’ website the competition will take place between April 29th and May 3rd of this year at Fort Moore in the state of Georgia (formerly Fort Benning) where the United States Army Armor School (USAARMS) is located The Sullivan Cup was named in honor of retired Gen who served as an officer in the US Army for over 36 years commanding numerous units and culminating his career as the 32nd Chief of Staff of the US Army and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff The competition takes place in the spring of even-numbered years This will mark the international debut of Polish tank crews on the M1A1FEP Abrams (Firepower Enhancement Package) The first platoons of these vehicles from Wesoła were certified on February 1st of this year Polish tank crews participated with good results in competitions such as the Strong Europe Tank Challenge in Germany (3rd place in 2016 and 5th place in 2018) using Leopard 2A5 tanks the Worthington Challenge in Canada (3rd place in 2017 on borrowed Leopard 2A4 tanks) and the Nordic Tank Challenge in Denmark (not on the podium in 2016 on borrowed Leopard 2A5DK tanks) Image: Fort Moore The FN EVOLYS ultralight machine gun has been given some modified features based on feedback from in-depth testing by potential customers during their own evaluation FN Herstal recently unveiled this new member of its illustrious family of machine guns It joins the FN M2HB-QCB .50 (12.7x99mm NATO) calibre heavy machine gun the FN MAG 7.62 NATO calibre medium/general purpose machine gun and the FN MINIMI 5.56 and 7.62mm NATO calibre light machine guns Standardized by dozens of armed forces including many NATO members and allies they have totally dominated the NATO calibre machine gun market for decades Photo: FN Herstal chambered in 5.56x45mm or 7.62x51mm calibre designed to bridge the gap between the rifle and the light machine gun It has been undergoing trials with several armed forces who appreciated its greatly reduced weight long one-piece top rail allowing in-line mounting of optics and above all the intensive firepower of a belt-fed weapon Feedback identified two features that users suggested should be modified – and FN Herstal has incorporated them: The FN EVOLYS with these new features will be displayed on the FN Herstal’s booth at Eurosatory 2024 to be held in Paris from 17 to 21 June in booth F95 Read more: FN Herstal on Eurosatory 2024 As reported by the Polish Armed Forces General Command (DG RSZ) on social media a MiG-29 aircraft lost its fuel tank near Kurowo Braniewskie during a training flight of a MiG-29 aircraft from the 22nd Air Base The tank was empty and fell several hundred meters from buildings Preliminary findings indicate that the pilots acted in accordance with the applicable procedures No one was injured as a result of the incident In accordance with the procedures for such cases the circumstances and causes of the incident will be investigated by the State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation Press release The Polish Air Force has approximately 14 MiG-29 fighter jets including single-seat MiG-29A/G (9.12A) and two-seat MiG-29UB/GT (9.51) models currently operating exclusively from the 22nd Air Base in Królewo Malborskie all MiG-29s were transferred from the 23rd Air Base in Mińsk Mazowiecki due to the deployment of newly ordered 12 FA-50 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft 14 aircraft have been transferred to Ukraine defending against Russian invasion unveils the next generation of combat pants — the Striker X Gen.2 Combat Pants The spotlight feature of the Striker X Gen.2 Combat Pants is the groundbreaking Detachable Waist/Flex Belt This newly engineered system epitomizes adaptability providing unparalleled comfort and ease of movement It’s a remarkable stride in tactical wear design setting a new benchmark in adaptability for the most demanding operational scenarios Photos: UF PRO Adding to the adaptability and comfort is the innovative Negative Curve Belt/Buckle design this new design sports a negative curve ensuring a snug fit and enhanced comfort making quick adjustments under pressure a breeze The Striker X Gen.2 also pioneers detachable knee-width regulation alongside knee-height regulation,offering a personalized knee protection experience These features ensure optimal fit and protection underscoring UF PRO’s commitment to providing tactical gear that adapts to the diverse needs and demands of military operatives The Striker X Gen.2 Combat Pants are a testimony to UF PRO’s relentless innovation The debut of the Detachable Waist/Flex Belt the Negative Curve Belt/Buckle design and the detachable knee-width regulation sets a new standard in adaptability empowering our military professionals with gear that seamlessly moulds to their operational demands ensuring enhanced comfort and tactical efficiency For more information about UF PRO and its product offerings, visit ufpro.com Rheinmetall Technical Publications GmbH and AeroVironment have applied to participate in a procurement programme for a small UAS intended for special operations and infantry applications German-based Rheinmetall AG and AeroVironment an American unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) manufacturer have teamed to take part in a NATO special forces project Group subsidiary Rheinmetall Technical Publications GmbH and AeroVironment have applied to participate in a procurement programme for a small UAS intended for special operations and infantry applications Puma 3 AE UAS / Photo: AeroVironment The system must be capable of operating in all conditions and environments and an operating range of 30 kilometres Rheinmetall and AeroVironment are ideally suited for developing and putting forward a compelling solution AeroVironment is an industry leader in the design development and production of unmanned aircraft systems Its Puma 3 AE UAS is in operation with armed forces around the world while its modular concept offers the optimum platform for a small UAS for special forces Rheinmetall Technical Publications is a systems house for tactical drones Rheinmetall has the necessary expertise to introduce and adapt drone systems to meet customer specifications Lewis Machine & Tool will showcase at this year’s SHOT show their MARS L-9 pistol caliber carbine with a short-stroke piston gas system The L-9 was first publicly introduced in 2022 a US-based manufacturer that supplies weaponry to will present the MARS L-9 pistol caliber carbine at this year’s SHOT Show Chambered for 9mm x 19 Parabellum cartridges it employs an operating principle rarely seen in such designs – a short-stroke gas piston system the L-9 distinguishes itself from other members of the MARS lineup with an integrated flared magazine well adapted for Glock magazines A second-generation version utilizing different magazines is expected to be released in the future The carbine stands out with key features of the MARS lineup Photos: Mex Armory The L-9 was first introduced to the public at the 2022 SHOT Show The presented version featured an 8-inch (203mm) barrel and an M-LOK system on the handguard The manufacturer’s suggested retail price at that time was approximately $2800 which was close to the price of other rifles in the same lineup chambered in 5.56mm x 45 NATO (MARS-L MRP – $2749) Advertising cooperation: LMT products are available at Mex Armory During the Enforce Tac 2024 trade fair in Nuremberg the German group Rheinmetall AG presented the Gladius Light future soldier system intended for special forces and based on the Gladius 2.0 set Soldier systems connect individual warriors on the battlefield with other actors bringing them into the network-enabled operational loop A leading defence technology enterprise Rheinmetall has extensive experience in this area the Group unveiling a new version of its Gladius 2.0 soldier system specifically designed to meet the needs of special operations forces Photos: Rheinmetall AG the system’s designers kept a sharp focus on the need for lightweight flexible systems that enable maximum mobility The Gladius Light configuration has therefore been stripped down to its essentials care was taken to maximize flexibility making it possible to include accessories needed for special operations the new configuration is specially designed to enable subsequent upgrades and extensions The Gladius Light configuration is based on a lightweight tactical harness with scalable ballistic protection FN Herstal’s deFNder Medium remotely operated weapon station accepts Northrop Grumman M230LF 30mm Bushmaster Chain Gun FN Herstal’s deFNder Medium remote weapon station can be fitted with FN machine guns – including FN Herstal’s exclusive fast firing (1,100 rpm) .50 Cal (12.7x99mm NATO) FN M3R - Thanks to its modular architecture this proven remote gun turret can be adapted for a very wide range of applications such as static positions Photo: FN Herstal It is now possible to order the deFNder Medium configured for a Northrop Grumman M230LF 30x113mm cannon or a reversible conversion kit to upgrade existing RWS The deFNder Medium equipped with the 30mm cannon is exceptionally low profile (< 80cm) and light (300 kg with gun and 50 rounds) compared to other similar systems The larger calibre gun gives increased range (effective up to 2,000m) and greater capability against a wide range of targets such as light armoured vehicles and many manned or unmanned aerial threats FN Herstal offers the market a unique proposition being the only partner to qualify its RWS with FN machine guns 40mm AGL and M230LF for a total combat ready weight of less than 300 kg The deFNder Medium fitted with the M230LF is on display on the FN Herstal’s booth at Eurosatory 2024 in Paris from 17 to 21 June on booth F95 First three Leopard 2PL MBTs were delivered to the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade The Polish Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed that the first batch of three Leopard 2PL main battle tanks (MBT) was delivered to the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade in Wesoła near Warsaw which is subordinate to the 18th Mechanised Division in Siedlce A Leopard 2PL MBT, one of the modernized vehicles, which have latelly been delivered to the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade / Photo by: 18th Mechanised Division, Polish MoD The new equipment was already tested during a series of field exercises conducted by elements of the 18th Mechanised Division which aside from the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade also includes: 19th Lublin Mechanized Brigade in Lublin and 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade in Rzeszów An independent 25th Air Cavalry Brigade in Tomaszów Mazowiecki also took part in the event Delivery of the first batch of Leo 2PL MBTs to the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade indicates that the Polish Army has probably taken over as much as 9 modernized main battle tanks The first 6 vehicles are said to have already been handed over to the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade in Świętoszów subordinate to the 11th Armoured Cavalry Division in Żagań They are used for training of future Leo 2PL crews and maintenance personnel At the end of May 2020 the Polish Army took delivery of a number of prototype Leopard 2PL MBTs The vehicles were to be delivered to the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade stationed in Świętoszów shortly after For the past several years modernization of the fleet of 142 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks to the 2PL standard remained a top priority for the Polish Armed Forces The project is run by a consortium of ZM Bumar-Łabędy a subsidiary of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa) and a number of other companies of the Group German Rheinmetall Landsysteme is a strategic partner of the project The contract for modernization of a first batch of 128 vehicles was signed at the end of 2015 At that time it was expected that the project would be finalized by late 2020 The contract included and option for the upgrade of an additional batch of 14 MBT The follow-on vehicles were to be transferred to the Army in 2021 according to information provided recently by the Armament Inspectorate which acts on behalf of the Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) the full fleet of 142 modernised Leopard 2PL vehicles should be delivered to the Army by 31st July 2023 (with 43 vehicles in 2020) On 24th December 2019 the Armament Inspectorate signed an amendment to the original agreement covering additional works and services which need to be provided as part of Leopard 2PL modernization PLN569 million (€124 million) had to be added to the programme’s budget bringing the total cost of Leopard 2PL modernization to PLN3.2 billion (€700 million) The Polish Army took delivery of another batch of RPP robots from the Lukasiewicz – PIAP (Industrial Institute for Automatics informed that the Army took delivery of a batch of 17 Portable Patrol Robots (Robot Patrolowo Przenośny RPP) from the Lukasiewicz – PIAP (Industrial Institute for Automatics and Measurements) Institute Delivery package also included spare parts and repair sets The Polish Army took delivery of another batch of RPP robots from the Lukasiewicz – PIAP (Industrial Institute for Automatics and Measurements) Institute. / Photos by: Lukasiewicz – PIAP Institute Delivery of RPP robots was preceded by training of 26 operators members of the service personnel and instructors The training course was conducted at the premises of the Engineering and Chemical Defence Troops Training Centre in Wroclaw In all, under the terms of the agreement signed in November 2018 the Polish Army will receive 35 RPP robots. The first set was handed over in early 2020. Final batch of 17 robots should be delivered in 2021. The contract has a value of nearly 81 million Polish Zloty (€19 million) (The first RPP delivered to the Polish Army The RPP robot will support a number of missions identification and neutralization of improvised explosive devices (IED) or other hazardous loads and materials RPPs will be delivered with a full mission set which means that they will be equipped with sensors for visual reconnaissance of objects and items mine and hazardous material detection devices mass destruction weapon usage sensors and toxic chemicals usage sensors or explosives launcher for remote neutralization Tracks and electric drive will allow RPP to operate both in urban and rugged terrain The Lubawa Group will showcase a wide range of its products offered to the armed forces during the upcoming 32nd International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Kielce The Lubawa Group will showcase a wide range of its products offered to the armed forces during the upcoming 32nd International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) at Targi Kielce which will take place from September 3-6 this year The products will be displayed at booth ZC-17 Gryf plate carrier Gryf plate carrier MKO 2.0 modular bulletproof vest MKO 2.0 modular bulletproof vest NS-9 tent PNP 2T PRO field patrol tent WS Rigid Frame Base (NS-26) / Photos: Grupa Lubawa German-based Rheinmetall AG has been commissioned by the Swiss Confederation to manufacture and supply 81mm mortar cargo ammunition 26 July 2024 The Düsseldorf-based technology group Rheinmetall has been commissioned by the Swiss Confederation to manufacture and supply 81mm mortar cargo ammunition The total value of the order is in the mid double-digit million euro range Photo: Rheinmetall AG The entire scope of supply comprises 81mm MX2-KM mortar weapons from Rheinmetall EXPAL Munitions SA as well as 81mm mortar cartridges Cargo for illumination white light illumination infrared and smoke discharge based on RP (Red Phospor) which are manufactured by Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH at the Neuenburg am Rhein plant The delivery is scheduled to be completed by 2025 and includes various additional services as part of the product launch The cartridges are qualified for the MX2-KM mortar of the Swiss armed forces and form a mortar system in which both the ammunition and the weapon system are manufactured by Rheinmetall the cargo cartridges were verified at a test site on the Spanish coast The order underscores Rheinmetall’s expertise in the production of state-of-the-art steep-fire mortar ammunition — Rheinmetall (@RheinmetallAG) July 26, 2024 Multi-million order: Rheinmetall modernizing Skyguard 35mm air defence systems – order value in the three digit million-euro range Photo: Rheinmetall AG Rheinmetall is upgrading the customer’s 35mm twin guns bringing them up to the latest Oerlikon GDF009 standard which will be capable of using AHEAD airburst ammunition This will enable the country to protect itself and its vital assets from a wide range of aerial threats The contract is of great importance to Rheinmetall It not only strengthens a strategic customer relationship that has existed for decades but also underscores the high degree of confidence in Rheinmetall’s world-leading expertise in the field of ground-based air defence Rheinmetall is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of advanced air defence systems the company is the market leader and the only comprehensive systems supplier of fire control technology integrated guided missiles and Ahead airburst ammunition Air surveillance systems and AESA radar technology powerful sensor technology and high-energy laser effectors round off its product portfolio An international customer has contracted with #Rheinmetall to modernize its #35mm cannon-based #airdefence systems — Rheinmetall (@RheinmetallAG) January 10, 2023 a part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) announced the first mobility trials of the 3rd generation Jelcz trucks On Wednesday, June 26, 2024 a company that is part of the Polish Armaments Group Photos: Justyna Orzechowska The 3rd generation Jelcz trucks with independent suspension – the three-axle model 663.45 T60 TS 6×6 and the four-axle model P883.57 T80 TS 8×8 – were developed from scratch by Polish engineers at the company is intended to serve as a carrier for the Homar-A rocket system which is the Polish designation for M142 HIMARS multiple launch rocket system The other 8×8 model is designed for various applications depending on needs these vehicles will become the primary off-road vehicles of the Polish Army The architecture of these vehicles is much more modern than the previous versions providing significant development potential The vehicles premiered at last year’s XXXI International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO in Kielce the chassis with the Homar-A launcher was presented again at the Artillery and Armament Training Center (CSAiU) in Toruń during the approval of the framework agreement for 486 launchers for 27 rocket artillery divisions Conceptual work on the new generation of Jelcz vehicles began a few years ago and work on the prototypes started after the first executive contract was signed on December 14 between the State Treasury – Armament Agency and the PGZ-WWR consortium for the delivery of Jelcz vehicles and special chassis for the WWR Homar-A (M142 HIMARS) and WWR-Homar-K (K239 Chunmoo) modules Polish Straz Graniczna (Border Guard) will accept this year’s last delivery of wz Polish Straz Graniczna (Border Guard) will accept the last of this year’s deliveries from Fabryka Broni 96C Mini Beryl subcarabines will be handed to Border Patrol officers Mini Beryl fires 5,56×45 mm ammunition The weapons were procured as a part of modernisation program for Police Fire Service and Government Protection Bureau Border Patrol plans to replace the AKM/AKMS 7,62×39 mm rifles with the new weapon, chambered in 5,56×45 NATO ammunition. The guards chose a handy, short and efficient wz. 96C Mini Beryl with 235-mm (9 1/4 in.) barrel / Photo: Pawel Scibiorek Border Guard purchased and tested a number of Beryl rifles with 475-mm barrel a batch of 235-mm barrel models was delivered as well the short variant was chosen as the main personal weapon for Straz Graniczna and will replace currently used 7,62×39 mm AKM/AKMS rifles Border Guard plans to spend 46,98 mln PLN (over 10 mln EUR) on modernizing their weapons and equipment by the end of 2020 Procurement plans include 1500 semi-automatic 40 of 9×19 mm SMG’s and 4420 5,56×45 mm rifles is a direct result of the situation in Ukraine Border Guard trains intensively with army-derived weapons such as PKM machine guns and AKM/AKMS rifles Change in the Executive Board of Rheinmetall AG: Ursula Biernert succeeds Peter Sebastian Krause as Chief Human Resources Officer 15 May 2024 The Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Employee Relations Director of Rheinmetall AG in office since 2017 will officially retire at the end of his Executive Board contract on December 31 bringing his long career at Rheinmetall to a close just before his 65th birthday Photo: Rheinmetall AG After joining the Rheinmetall subsidiary Pierburg GmbH in 1997 the law graduate held a number of different management positions at various subsidiaries and at the holding company before finally being appointed to the Executive Board of Rheinmetall AG in 2017 He will be succeeded by Dr Ursula Biernert (54) after working in human resources at Volkswagen previously worked as CHRO and Employee Relations Director at the automotive supplier Leoni AG Biernert will take place with effect from October 1 2024 already to allow for a rapid and smooth orientation the Executive Board of Rheinmetall AG will therefore consist of Armin Papperger (CEO) Dagmar Steinert (CFO) and Dr Ursula Biernert (CHRO) the Supervisory Board and his colleagues on the Executive Board would like to thank Mr Krause for his valuable work over many successful years together Change in the #ExecutiveBoard of#Rheinmetall AG: Ursula Biernert succeeds Peter Sebastian Krause as Chief #HumanResources Officer https://t.co/Lq6zxsMNpn pic.twitter.com/0ROwRcpBjc — Rheinmetall (@RheinmetallAG) May 15, 2024 The Polish Army took delivery of the 1st batch of light at the premises of the 16th airborne battalion in Krakow The event was presided by the Minister of Defense of Poland ‘I’m very happy that the soldiers of the 6th Airborne Brigade will enhance their operational capabilities It’s essential for the Polish Armed Forces to operate modern equipment’ Deliveries of light, high mobility vehicles and trailers for Polish Army’s airborne and air cavalry brigades should conclude in 2022 / Picture: Polish MoD New high mobility vehicles were delivered under a contract signed in 2018 between the MoD and a consortium of the following companies: Kafar Bartlomiej Sztukiert The agreement calls for delivery of 55 vehicles and 105 specialized trailers plus additional 25 vehicles and 55 trailers as an option will be operated by the 6th Airborne Brigade future delivers will also include equipment for the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade New vehicles will be used to transport troops equipment and wounded personnel as well as to tow light artillery guns They are designed to be either transported by a helicopter (while hanging on an underbelly mounted hook) or airdropped from C-130 and C295 transport aircraft of the Polish Air Force Polish authorities don’t plan to withdraw its military contingent from Iraq despite growing instability in the region ‘Withdrawal of Polish soldiers from Iraq is not being taken into consideration currently We are stationed there as members of a coalition and we are a reliable ally’ head of the Armed Forces Operational Command Polish authorities don’t plan to withdraw its military contingent from Iraq despite growing instability in the region / Picture: Polish MoD He reminded that there are 268 Polish soldiers and contractors currently serving as members of the Polish Military Contingent in Iraq ‘Not more than 100 members of the contingent serve at the Al-Asad airbase while several others are stationed at Erbil’ The Polish Military Contingent is stationed in Iraq as part of a global multinational coalition fighting with the Islamic State insurgency It is tasked mainly with training and advising Iraqi and Jordanian special forces in fighting with Islamists as well as enhancing security and stability in the region in a longer perspective in result of decisions taken during the 2017 NATO summit in Brussels Poland took the role of a Lead Nation responsible for training of Iraqi operators and maintenance personnel in repairing and servicing of ex-Soviet military equipment which is widely used by the Iraqi armed forces Patria and SIA Unitruck have established a jointly owned company in Latvia system integration services and logistical operations to the Latvian National Armed Forces Patria and SIA Unitruck have established a jointly owned company in Latvia / Picture: MM D&S The new company is located in Cesis. The parties acknowledge that SIA Defence Partnership Latvia could become part of the Latvian defence’s mobilisation organisation and to support the ongoing planning and build-up of Latvia’s comprehensive defence (Finland and Latvia will develop a new armoured vehicle ‘Establishing SIA Defence Partnership Latvia is a part of Patria’s strategy to grow its international maintenance and life-cycle support business This joint venture is a long-term commitment to support Latvia’s National Armed Forces’ President of Patria’s International Support Partnerships business unit ‘Would Latvia decide to procure Patria 6×6 vehicle platform we believe SIA Defence Partnership Latvia will be a very capable key contributor to the Latvian security of supply in the program and for ensuring long-term sustainment of the vehicles’ Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki met in Warsaw with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Boris Johnson's visit is a proof of allied solidarity in bilateral relations and in NATO in the face of threats to European security Prime Ministers discussed security in the region particularly with regard to Russia's actions against Ukraine After the meeting at the Prime Minister's Office both prime ministers visited British and Polish soldiers at the military base in Wesoła - London is more than 2,000 kilometres from Kiev but the fact that we are trying to work together today for peace on NATO's eastern flank shows how important transatlantic ties are for Britain and for Poland A meeting between Prime Ministers Mateusz Morawiecki and Boris Johnson was held at the Prime Minister's Office in Warsaw The main topic of their discussion was security in our region Special attention was paid to Russia's actions against Ukraine The prime ministers discussed support for Ukraine and the preparation of sanctions in the event of an invasion of that country anything can become a tool of aggression - be it a gas pipeline migrants or the Internet - and this is what we are seeing today Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has once again appealed to Germany to declare as soon as possible that the Nord Stream will not be used for blackmail The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of migrants who are part of the hybrid warfare on the Polish-Belarusian border - Cyberattacks are a weapon that is unfortunately being used more and more by our eastern neighbours Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki pointed out The Prime Ministers of Poland and the United Kingdom stressed the importance of the right of a nation and state to self-determination Poland and the UK stand unequivocally for peace and security more than 100 British military engineers arrived in Poland they are helping Polish Army soldiers to repair and build a temporary fence in the border area with Belarus the eastern border of NATO and the European Union - Putin's political goal is to break up NATO we must definitely show how cohesive we are There is a great understanding between us regarding the tensions that are happening on NATO's eastern flank As declared by the British Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace and the Minister of National Defence of Poland Mariusz Błaszczak another 350 servicemen from the 45 Commando Royal Marines British soldiers will support the Polish armed forces in joint military exercises contingency planning and capacity building in the face of a build-up of Russian forces on the border with Ukraine I would like to thank the Polish and British soldiers We go to meet them together with Prime Minister Boris Johnson he added: - We are together and we act together to maintain peace That is why we are strengthening the eastern flank of NATO we are also strengthening peace in this part of Europe We can be sure that this peace can be maintained only through cooperation and coherent policy The Prime Ministers met in November 2021 in London The main discussion topic was the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border of the European Union and potential threats from Russia The Lukashenko regime's hybrid actions are receiving a strong reaction from world leaders The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with our country as a NATO member and long-time friend of Poland Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Boris Johnson additionally discussed a topic related to increasing energy prices The British Prime Minister emphasized the need for joint actions to deal with current challenges Poland and the United Kingdom stand for prosperity The goal of both countries is to ensure the unity of the transatlantic and Western world I also visited Prime Minister Boris Johnson and we talked about all these issues that are threatening those fears that we shared together turned out to be correct so it is necessary to act very decisively now.” The Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki emphasized And he added: “The word ‘West’ cannot just be a term for a geographical direction