Poland and Slovakia deepen defence cooperation. They will jointly produce ammunition, there is also interest in tanks and mobile air defence systems
The Polish and Slovak governments sign an agreement to expand defence cooperation between the two countries. In Warsaw, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and his counterpart Robert Kalinak confirmed a pact on the joint production of 155 mm artillery shells and armoured fighting vehicles. In addition, the Slovak side is interested in South Korean K2 tanks and Piorun mobile air defence systems. The production of large-calibre ammunition in our closest neighbours is led by the MSM Group holding company, which is part of the Czech arms giant CSG and has recently invested in expanding production capacity and modernising its plants.
Another reaction to Russian aggression and the need to expand its own defence capabilities, this time between two traditionally close and neighbouring countries, Poland and Slovakia. The head of the Slovak defence ministry arrived in Warsaw for the meeting to sign a four-stage declaration on joint military projects and purchases. Firstly, a key agreement on the joint production of 155mm ammunition, a standardised NATO calibre used in a wide range of guns and howitzers. Slovakia has a large capacity in this field, also thanks to the Czechoslovak Group holding, which dominates the production of large-calibre ammunition in Slovakia through the MSM Group.
As Slovak TA3 points out, the company has recently announced investments worth hundreds of millions of euros in expanding production capacity and modernisation. The artillery shells are handled in Slovakia by the companies CSG VOP Nováky, ZVS Holding and the Spanish Fábrica de Municiones de Granada, which take care of the complete process from production to disposal. No details have yet been announced as to what proportion or when the two countries will start joint production.
Video: Meeting of the Polish and Slovakian defense ministers / YouTube
The joint project also concerns the development of an armoured fighting vehicle based on the KTO Rosomak eight-wheeled armoured personnel carrier, which is produced by the Polish armaments company PGZ under licence from the Finnish company Patria. It is to be complemented by the Turra 30 remote-controlled turret developed by the Slovak EVPU with a 30mm automatic cannon, anti-tank guided missiles and a 7.62mm machine gun.
The Slovaks are also interested in South Korean K2 tanks, of which Poland has ordered 180 from its Asian partner. Two years ago, Hyundai Rotem took a major step by allowing the Polish side to produce these tanks and other military equipment under licence on its territory, thus becoming a production and distribution centre for the South Korean armourer in Europe. At least 1,000 units of the K2PL type are to be produced, and there is also cooperation on the development of the newer K3 type. According to the Slovak head of the defence ministry, Robert Kaliňák, in the current times of crisis it is crucial to strengthen defence self-sufficiency and the development of military and production capacities. Bratislava wants to buy 104 new tanks and is also interested in Leopards 2A8 or older 2A4 from Germany.
"We also talked about the cooperation of the territorial defence forces, we also touched upon the issue of the security of our borders. (...) We also have a common position on the issue of military spending by the European Union and NATO. Everything related to security should be an absolute priority for the European Union," Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz explained the broader context after signing the agreement with Kalinak in Warsaw.
Another point of interest from Slovakia is the Piorun air defence systems - portable air defence systems designed by Polish armourer Mesko to shoot down low-flying aircraft, helicopters and drones. The same systems are also supplied by Poland to Ukraine, and their accuracy and reliability against Russian aggressors has already earned the Polish manufacturer orders in the United States, Japan and Indonesia.
"It is very important for us to cooperate with Slovakia, with our neighbour, with our ally," the Polish government report said, adding that the defence minister there continued to sound a positive note in relations. "Our good cooperation is essential for building unity within NATO and the European Union and for strengthening NATO's eastern wing. Poland and Slovakia have a big role to play. Our nations are friends, we have very good relations, people like each other, cooperate and run joint economic activities. (...) Today we are entering an even higher level of cooperation - cooperation for security, which is an absolute priority."
Already in November, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that as far as the increase in the budget for munitions production is concerned, the Polish government intends to spend over 18 billion crowns. This will create a fund to encourage investment by domestic and foreign players with the aim of increasing production, focusing specifically on the widely used 155mm calibre. "The production capacity (...) of Slovakia (...) is, in my opinion, much higher than in Western Europe, than in any other country in this part of Europe, and Poland can participate in this and be a co-leader in ammunition production if it benefits from this experience," the Polish defence minister commented on future cooperation at the time, according to Reuters.
