Poland, a strategic site for technology transfer and defense-industry development

Today, at the Military Aviation Works No. 2 in Bydgoszcz, a cooperation agreement was signed between PGZ S.A., WZL-2 and Anduril Industries, an American company that develops advanced technologies and autonomous military systems.

This is an important moment for the Polish defense industry, for Polish security, and for Polish-American cooperation. (…) It confirms that, very effectively and through a range of tools, diplomacy, the cooperation of our companies with partners from NATO states, we are working effectively and realistically to safeguard Poland's security and the development of the Polish defense industry - Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during the signing ceremony.

The agreement provides for locating in Poland the assembly, and subsequently the production, of autonomous long-range Barracuda-500 cruise missiles (with a range of up to 900 km). Missiles of this type are one of the most important elements of the modern battlefield, and Poland is the first European country with which Anduril has signed an agreement of this kind.

We have never had this in Poland, we did not produce it, so we should appreciate this moment, because we are truly at a historic juncture, in a historic place, and we are moving forward with a great new project - said Minister of State Assets Wojciech Balczun.

The agreement envisages the participation of PGZ companies not only in producing the missiles, but also in their further development. In the first phase, this will mean assembly from components sourced from the American side. Subsequently, the parties will work on the Polonization and Europeanization of the system, which is built on Anduril's unique software solutions.

We are building Poland as a strategic site for technology transfer and for the development of a defense industry that is becoming the driving force of the Polish economy - said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The head of government thanked everyone involved in the successful negotiations.

Dear American friends, you made the right choice in pointing to Poland, to PGZ, to WZL as your partners. Poland today is the country best prepared to cooperate both with the American side and with other NATO partners - said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

This cooperation will enhance Poland's defensive capabilities as a key state on the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance. Launching the assembly and production of the Barracuda systems also aligns with NATO's need to build mass-produced, low-cost strike systems.

Poland's security requires unity and consistent support for Ukraine

Our security rests not only on modern equipment and the presence of allied forces in Poland, especially American ones, but also on a unified and consistent state security policy.

I repeat my appeal to everyone, beginning with the President and extending to all politicians: do not play with fire. Poland's assistance to Ukraine in its war with Russia has been the subject of our political and national consensus. We can debate history, our mutual relations. We can consider to what extent to help refugees and migrants here in Poland. But we cannot in any way put at risk our cooperation with Ukraine in its defense against the Russian assault - Prime Minister Donald Tusk appealed.

In this way, he addressed reports concerning Poland's transfer to Ukraine of missiles intended for Patriot systems. When the previous authorities handed over large quantities of Polish armaments to Ukraine at the start of the war, this drew no criticism, despite the risks. It was widely accepted that supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia lies in Poland's interest and directly affects our security, not only for reasons of solidarity or morality.

From the very start of our cooperation with Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz, we have taken great care to ensure that our donations and military equipment assistance to Ukraine do not jeopardize our own security. I am convinced — and the facts and figures will bear this out, that we are doing this far more effectively than those raising an outcry today. And those before us were taking decisions that carried a far greater degree of risk - the head of government said.

Today, Poland must above all safeguard the security of its eastern border, which is also part of the security of NATO as a whole. In negotiations with its North Atlantic Alliance partners, Poland yields where necessary, giving what it can give. Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed that an understanding has been built around this Polish approach.

We will state clearly what the truth is when it comes to support for Ukraine. We will refute every piece of disinformation and remind people that the enemy is in the Kremlin - announced Deputy Minister of National Defense Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka.

Deputy Prime Minister W. Kosiniak-Kamysz reported that, according to information conveyed by the US military attaché in Poland, the rotation of American troops that was suspended several weeks ago will be resumed and continued in the coming weeks.