Poland will increase annual production of 155mm artillery shells sixfold, from about 30,000 to 180,000 units by 2027, to strengthen its land-based firepower and meet NATO standards. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the expansion during a visit to the Nitro-Chem munitions plant in Bydgoszcz, a key European TNT supplier. Backed by a $31.2M investment, four state-owned defense firms under the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) are acquiring new production lines. Tusk emphasized that production in 2023 was just 5,000 rounds annually, highlighting the dramatic growth. The move is both a domestic security step and a contribution to NATO allies coping with ammunition shortages amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. The 155mm caliber, standard across NATO, provides longer range, better accuracy, and stronger interoperability compared to older Soviet 152mm rounds. This expansion will boost Warsaw’s defense independence and cement its role as an essential supplier of ammunition to Europe and Ukraine.
