Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz announced the upcoming production of anti-drone systems at Zakłady Mechaniczne in Tarnów, funded by the SAFE program.
National Defense Minister Highlights SAFE Funding for Tarnów Mechanical Plant
The Minister of National Defense emphasized that Zakłady Mechaniczne in Tarnów (Lesser Poland) is one of the most important companies within the Polish Armaments Group and is receiving funding from the SAFE program. On Friday, the Deputy Prime Minister held talks with the company’s management, among others.
“I will not give up and will not allow any euro, złoty or dollar to be wasted, so that it is not used for the development of Poland’s security, the construction of the Eastern Shield, the protection of the Polish state, and the construction of an anti-drone shield,” said the head of the Ministry of National Defense. Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed out that the Tarnów plant is implementing several major projects to modernize the Polish army, including within the Narew and Pilica programs.
“The Monster from Tarnów” to Begin Battery Production
“The Monster from Tarnów” will soon begin production of batteries for the SAN program, which focuses on anti-drone defense—a defense that is currently the most important and must be delivered to the Polish army by the end of 2027. The plan is to produce 18 batteries.
Anti-Drone System as a Key Export Product
“The Monster from Tarnów” is a key element of the anti-drone program, Kosiniak-Kamysz noted. He believes that in the future, it will be a product protecting not only Polish critical infrastructure, such as airports, but also intended for export. The head of the Ministry of National Defense informed that countries in the Persian Gulf, which are being attacked by Iran, are interested in the Pilica anti-aircraft system, and may want to familiarize themselves with the offer from the Tarnów plant, including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
European Funds Fuel Polish Military Development
Recalling that the Tarnów enterprise was recapitalized with 310 million złoty and will build a production hall, the head of the Ministry of National Defense assured employees—not only at the Tarnów plant, but also at all defense industry plants in Poland—that “the construction of a driving wheel of the Polish economy through the defense industry will be realized.”
When asked how much Tarnów plant will gain financially thanks to the SAFE program, he replied that an estimated one to one and a half billion złoty could flow to Tarnów “within the framework of orders for the Polish army using European funds.”
Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów: A Long History of Arms Production
Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów S.A. has been operating industrially since 1917, making it one of the oldest enterprises in Tarnów. Since the 1950s, the company has been producing armaments and military equipment, which goes not only to the Polish armed forces and other uniformed services, but also to foreign customers.