Good time for Yelcha

WR-40 Langusta field rocket launchers based on the Jelcz P662D.34 6×6 chassis during the August Great Independence parade in Warsaw.

Yelch Sp. z oo is currently fulfilling numerous orders from the Ministry of National Defence. The company also looks forward to further contracts, including under the Wisla medium-range air and missile defense program.

After the termination of production of Star military trucks at the Starachowice plant, Jelcz Sp. z oo, owned since 2012 by Huta Stalowa Wola SA (part of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA), became their sole Polish manufacturer. New prospects for an enterprise with almost 70 years of tradition appeared when it was included in the list of enterprises of special economic and defense importance in the Decree of the Council of Ministers of November 3, 2015. However, this comes with new responsibilities.

Jelcz offers medium and heavy duty vehicles designed from the outset for military use. The big advantage of Jelcz is its own design and research departments, which provide the ability to design in a short time and start the production of even single cars according to specific customer requirements. Thus, vehicles from Jelcz can be equipped with various drive systems (engines and gearboxes), filtration and air conditioning systems, wheels with inserts that allow you to continue driving with unpressurized tires, a hydraulic winch or a central tire inflation system. Jelcz also offers armored cabs that are currently compliant with STANAG 1 Level 4569 Annex A and B.

In the 4th century, the Ministry of National Defense is the only recipient of cars produced in Jelce. Today, the company from Wroclaw supplies the Polish Army with mainly various configurations of medium-duty, highly mobile vehicles with a 4×6 drive system. Jelcz has also developed chassis for specialized and general purpose bodies in 4×8 and 6×6 drive systems, as well as increased mobility in 6×8 and 8×XNUMX drive systems.

Currently, the army's largest orders concern medium-duty and highly mobile Jelcz 442.32 vehicles with a 4 × 4 wheel arrangement. One of their recipients is the youngest branch of the Polish armed forces - the Territorial Defense Troops. The contract, signed on 16 May 2017 with the Armaments Inspectorate, concerns the supply of 100 trucks with an option for another 400. The total value of this transaction is PLN 420 million. Its implementation should be completed next year. Previously, on November 29, 2013, the Ministry of National Defense signed a contract with Jelcz worth PLN 674 million for the supply of as many as 910 trucks model 442.32. Its implementation will be completed this year.

The contract for the supply of a Jelcz P662D.43 6×6 chassis for a special body for the Missile Unit of the Marine Corps is very important for the company. Other designs on a similar P662D.35 6×6 chassis are: Weapon and Electronics Repair Vehicle (WRUE) and Armored Artillery Weapon Repair Vehicle (AWRU), which are part of the 155 mm Krab self-propelled howitzer firing modules and 120 mm self-propelled mortar firing modules Rak companies from Huta Stalowa Wola. Previously, the WR-662 Langusta field rocket launcher was built on a similar P34D.40 chassis, 75 of which are used by rocket and artillery units, as well as training centers. The three-axle Jelcz P662D.43 chassis was also used in another artillery support activity, the Liwiec radar reconnaissance system, which will soon be operated in an amount of 10 copies. An important order is the supply of Ammunition Vehicles (WA) based on the Jelcz P882.53 8×8 chassis for Krab howitzer gun modules. A contract is expected to be signed soon for the supply of the same chassis for Rak firing modules for artillery ammunition vehicles (AWA). Other specialized versions are also sold to the military, such as the C662D.43 and C642D.35 tractor chassis. Along with the vehicles, Jelcz provides users with logistics and training packages.