Miliardy on Crabs
Huta Stalowa Wola has already launched serial production of Krabs guns, so far based on imported chassis. By the end of last year, the military was supposed to accept 12 cannon howitzers of the deployment module (two in April and ten in December), which passed acceptance tests. The rest, including eight previously used by Polish UPG-NG carriers, will be delivered consecutively until August this year.
On December 14 last year, the largest single contract between a Polish arms manufacturer and the Ministry of National Defense during the period of the Third Republic of Poland was signed. We are talking about the most important program for the modernization of the Rocket Forces and artillery of the Ground Forces - the purchase of equipment at Huta Stalowa Wola for four squadrons of 155-mm self-propelled artillery howitzers - Regina firing modules. Its value exceeds PLN 4,6 billion.
On behalf of the Armaments Inspectorate of the Ministry of National Defense, the contract was signed by its then head, Brig. Adam Duda, and on behalf of the equipment supplier Hut Stalowa Wola, Chairman of the Board, General Manager Bernard Cichotzky and Member of the Board - Development Director Bartłomiej Zajonz. The importance of this event is evidenced by the presence of Prime Minister Beata Szydło, accompanied by Minister of National Defense Anthony Macierewicz. The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the National Security Bureau and the command staff of the Polish Army, as well as the board of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA, to which HSW SA belongs, with President Arkadiusz Sivko and board member Maciej. Lev-Mirsky. Also present were the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Poland, Sung-Ju Choi, and representatives of the Hanwha Techwin concern, which supplies the chassis for the Crabs at the project implementation stage, and at the serial stage will be the supplier of components for tracked vehicles produced under license in Stalowa Wola.
Although this is not the first military order for serial howitzer guns and vehicles to ensure their operation, the significance of the contract, signed on December 14 in Stalowa Wola, is enormous for both the manufacturer and the recipient. For Huta Stalowa Wola, this is a guarantee of maintaining employment and, possibly, its growth, as well as further development of production capacities, which in the near future will allow the supply of other products, for example, Homar field missile systems, ZSSW-30 uninhabited towers, 155-mm wheeled chassis "Wing" and BMP "Borsuk". Already today, the HSW order book, together with the contract for the supply of Rak self-propelled mortars and cooperating command vehicles, signed in April 2016, is more than 5,5 million zł and guarantees work until 2024. Ministry orders should soon increase with a contract for the supply of additional elements of 120mm self-propelled mortar company firing modules: ammunition transport vehicles, electronics and weapons repair vehicles and reconnaissance vehicles, as well as the aforementioned, completely new products are waiting “in line”. For WRiA, the completion of this contract will ensure the completion of one of the most important modernization projects of the “barrel” component, which began in late 2012, and the achievement of completely new capabilities to hit targets at distances of 40 kilometers and more, and also, thanks to the flexibility of using new equipment, to provide fire support all battalion and brigade combat groups of operational troops. The equipment provided by the Polish industry meets the highest international standards, thanks to which the Polish gunners receive weapons that their colleagues from the British Army, the US Army and the German Heer can envy.
I am glad that today we can announce that we are signing this very large contract. This is also good news for employees and residents of the city. The work will be provided for the next eight years. This is an important moment for the army and an important project. But we must remember that we will implement even more such projects.
