Poland, Türkiye discuss strategic defense collaboration on ammunition production

Polish Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Bejda met with Ilhami Keles, the Director-General of Turkish state-owned defense company Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE), to explore strategic cooperation between Poland’s defense industry and Türkiye’s weapons manufacturer.

The talks focused on a potential technology transfer for the domestic production of 155mm artillery ammunition.

In a statement MKE said, “We held technical discussions on future joint projects between MKE & PGZ with a delegation led by Mr. Arkadiusz Bak, Board Member of Poland-based PGZ Company.”

As part of our business development initiatives, our General Manager, Mr. Ilhami Keles, paid a visit to His Excellency Rauf Alp Denktas, the Ambassador of Türkiye to Warsaw, and provided insights into our company’s activities,”

As part of our business development efforts in Poland, our General Manager, Mr. Ilhami Keles, held a meeting with the Polish Deputy Minister of Defense, Mr. Paweł Bejda, to discuss potential cooperation opportunities.

MKE

Exploring technology transfer for domestic production

During the meeting, MKE presented an offer that includes the complete transfer of technology for manufacturing 155mm ammunition, which would enable Poland’s PGZ S.A. to independently produce all components of the artillery shells.

This proposal aligns with Poland’s current military needs as the country looks to increase its firepower capabilities, particularly in artillery.

In a statement, Bejda emphasized that the Polish defense sector faces significant challenges due to the dynamic security situation in the region. At the same time, he pointed out that these challenges present an opportunity for the Polish defense industry to grow and reduce reliance on external suppliers.

“The Polish defense sector is currently facing enormous challenges due to the dynamic security situation in the region. At the same time, in this demanding reality, the Polish defense industry is also presented with significant opportunities for growth and the ability to make production capacities independent of external suppliers,” Bejda said.

Strengthening military cooperation with Türkiye

The talks are part of a broader push by Poland to strengthen its defense ties with Türkiye.

Poland’s defense minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, reportedly confirmed the government’s interest in the collaboration, particularly in the context of recent discussions between Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The talks centered on enhancing military cooperation between the two nations.

“We are very interested in this cooperation,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said during a press briefing. He highlighted the ongoing efforts to connect military and defense industries, particularly focusing on the production of ammunition and other defense technologies.

Meeting Poland’s defense needs

MKE’s offer, which aligns with the needs of Poland’s Armed Forces, focuses on the local production of 155mm ammunition.

Poland has been seeking to increase its defense production capabilities, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the country’s efforts to reduce dependency on foreign military supplies.

A Polish government statement noted that MKE’s proposal fits well with Poland’s defense objectives and the country’s current security requirements. The possibility of increasing local ammunition production, especially for artillery shells, is seen as an important step in strengthening Poland’s military readiness.

Poland’s growing defense industry

Poland has made significant strides in expanding its defense capabilities.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, global defense industries have seen a heightened focus on the need for more ammunition, particularly artillery shells of NATO-standard calibers such as the 155mm.

Ukraine’s daily demand for such ammunition has underscored the importance of boosting production.

To meet these demands, Poland passed a law at the end of last year allocating 3 billion PLN ($775,854K) to support companies planning to expand their ammunition production capacities.

This funding is expected to bolster Poland’s defense industry and help reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers for critical military components.

The road ahead for Poland and Türkiye

Kosiniak-Kamysz reportedly expressed hope that Poland’s defense companies, including the Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), would maintain close contact with their Turkish counterparts.

“We are creating a climate, the conditions for this cooperation. I think after the recent meetings, the conditions are as favorable as possible, and we must seize this opportunity,” he said.

The Polish Ministry of National Defense continues to work on strengthening defense ties with Türkiye, looking to implement joint production capabilities, particularly in ammunition, which is critical to Poland’s strategic defense objectives.