Good hour for Rosomak SA
Today, Rosomak SA from Siemianowice Śląskie is one of the leaders of the Polish defense industry and a perfect example of how the purchase of a license and the successful implementation of technologies obtained from abroad, combined with the perseverance of the team, can completely change the face of underinvested, outdated and craving for every factory order, for the repair of tanks and combat vehicles of the Warsaw Pact.
In April 2003, the then Wojskowe Zakłady Mechaniczne signed an agreement with the Finnish company Patria Vehicles for licensed production for 10 years of the AMV XC-360P 8x8 family of wheeled armored personnel carriers, known in Poland as Rosomak. 690 of these vehicles were ordered by the Ministry of National Defense following a tender in December 2002, in which, in addition to Patria, European giants in the field of construction and production of combat vehicles of this class, such as Mowag from Switzerland or Steyr from Austria, participated. participated.
From the ugly duckling to the green devil
According to the agreement, the factories in Siemianowice-Slański, with the help of the Finns, were to first start assembling and then manufacturing cars, gradually increasing their share in it, as well as Polish partners, and supplying most of the ordered equipment. .
Although initially the choice of a Finnish company's transporter, its Polonization and the placement of production at little-known factories in Silesia caused a lot of doubts, over time, decision makers, and most importantly, users, were convinced of its advantages. Also, the program of industrial cooperation, transfer of technology and know-how began to bring tangible benefits to the Polish "arms industry". It quickly became clear that "Rosomak" was the notorious "bull's eye", which was also confirmed by the most important test for any military equipment - participation in hostilities. In the summer of 2007, transport workers were sent to support the Polish military contingent in Afghanistan, which was then expanded in connection with the task of taking responsibility for the province of Ghazni, operating as part of the NATO ISAF mission. Their high resistance to mines and fire, combined with the firepower of their own weapons, made them gain the trust of their own soldiers and at the same time became the terror of the enemy, whom the Taliban called the "Green Devils". It is worth mentioning that even the Americans envied the Wolverines, who did not have a single wheeled combat vehicle in Afghanistan that could compare with the Polish transporter. At its peak, Afghanistan's PMCs were supported by nearly 200 wolverines of several varieties, including combat, transport, and medical evacuation.
The importance of the flagship product for the Siemianowice Śląskie factories was most clearly emphasized by the decision to change the name of the company, which from March 2014 was no longer called Wojskowe Zakłady Mechaniczne SA, but Rosomak SA. In the same year, the company joined Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA, merging state-owned Polish defense industry factories.
In July 2013, the contract with Patria Land Systems was extended for another 10 years, in connection with the plans of the Defense Ministry to purchase another 307 Rosomakov by 2019. Several much more profitable contracts were concluded with the Finns, including: the modification and creation of new versions of the transporter and the export of cars made in Poland. They can also be repaired and maintained until 2052.
As part of the so-called Polonization, a number of components, assemblies and parts for the production of conveyors are manufactured in Poland, based on the documentation provided by offset. In addition to Rosomak SA, many other Polish companies are engaged in the production of conveyors, including: Zakład Doświadczalny Biskupiec Sp. z oo (manholes, fuel tanks), Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów SA (7,62 mm km UKM-2000C), Stomil Poznań SA (tires, wheel elements), Huta Stali Jakościowych SA (armor plates, additional armor), Radmor SA (radio ), PCO SA (surveillance devices), WB Electronics SA (intercom system), Borimex Sp. z oo (landing doors, breakwaters, winches, propellers) or Radiotechnika Marketing Sp. z oo (filtration system).
Today, the plants in Siemianowice Śląsk employ around 450 highly qualified employees and are one of the most attractive employers in the city. About a hundred domestic and foreign partners are involved in the production of conveyors built by Rosomak SA - in Poland alone they employ more than 3000 people.
The past year has been very successful for Rosomak SA, not only thanks to scheduled deliveries to the Ministry of National Defense, but also to the conclusion of several new contracts, which significantly increased the company's order book and expanded its traditional scope of activities. Also, the first major contract was signed for the supply of cars manufactured in Poland to a foreign recipient. The company's sales revenues amounted to almost half a billion zlotys, and the net profit was about 40 million zlotys.
2015 is a breakthrough year
Last year, fulfilling a long-term contract with the Ministry of National Defense, Rosomak SA produced 45 base variant aircraft carriers, which will be used to equip specialized variants.
Also, development work on the technical identification vehicle (Rosomak-WRT) was successfully completed and an agreement was signed with the Arms Inspectorate for the supply of 33 production vehicles of this version by the end of 2018. The machine is designed to ensure the safety of operations of combat units equipped with Rosomaks. It has specialized technical equipment that allows you to perform elementary repairs of damaged equipment right on the battlefield. Rosomak-WRT, as the first production vehicle of the Polish Army, was equipped with a remote-controlled weapon station ZSMU-1276A3 with a 7,62-mm machine gun manufactured by ZM Tarnów SA.
The company's development department is also working on new specialized versions. The first is a combined-arms reconnaissance vehicle, a combat vehicle designed to cover the activities of the reconnaissance units of the Ground Forces, in the R1 and R2 variants. The construction of the first prototypes of both varieties is currently underway. Completion is scheduled for 2017, and their serial production should begin next year.
Using the competencies gained during the work at Rosomak-WRT, a Technical Assistance Vehicle (Rosomak-WPT) is being developed, equipped with a 3-ton crane, a blade and an additional side winch. To date, a preliminary design has been developed, including tactical and technical assumptions. Currently, work is underway on the technical design and construction of a prototype, and in 2018 the first production machines of this version should leave the factories in Semyanovitsy.
