Poland’s Bumar-Łabędy tank plant to produce Krab gun howitzers: PM
The Polish prime minister has said that the country’s renowned Krab self-propelled gun howitzers used by Ukraine will now be manufactured at the Bumar-Łabędy tank plant in the southern city of Gliwice as Poland seeks to strengthen its arms industry amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki visits the Bumar-Łabędy arms factory in the southern city of Gliwice on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. PAP/Łukasz Gągulski
Mateusz Morawiecki made the announcement during a visit to the state-run Bumar-Łabędy arms factory in Gliwice on Wednesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The prime minister told the workforce: “We are bringing good news. The Bumar-Łabędy factory in Gliwice will be producing the Krab self-propelled gun howitzers.”
He added that the move reflected “the wishes of the workers and company management, among others.”
Morawiecki said that Poland must bolster its arms industry.
He told reporters: “Poland’s security also depends on the long-term potential of the Polish defence sector.”
The prime minister declared: “We will transfer part of Krab production to the Bumar-Łabędy factory. In addition, a centre to service and repair the Leopard 2 tanks will also be created here.”
Morawiecki also said that Poland would intensify cooperation with foreign arms makers to „further boost domestic industry.”
He said: “We are open to cooperation with Germans, Americans and Koreans – all these technological lines will serve the development of the Polish industry. This means raising the salaries of Polish employees and creating new jobs – this is the most important thing for me.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, who accompanied the prime minister in Gliwice, noted that Poland last week signed a letter of intent with Ukraine and Germany on the establishment of a maintenance facility for Leopard 2 tanks used in Ukraine.
The deal was signed at the latest meeting of the so-called Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Błaszczak signed the letter of intent on behalf of Poland, alongside Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
Polish maintenance centre for Leopard 2 tanks to open in May
Błaszczak told reporters in Gliwice that he had lobbied Reznikov and Pistorius to pick the Bumar-Łabędy factory as a maintenance centre for the Leopard 2 tanks used in Ukraine.
He said the factory was “ideally suited” to the task.
He announced that the maintenance centre would be launched in May.
Błaszczak also said that the Bumar-Łabędy factory „has 20 years of experience in servicing, repairing and modernising Leopard 2 tanks.”
Moreover, “due to its location, Poland is a natural hub for projects to help Ukraine,” he added.
Błaszczak stated: “It’s a big development opportunity for the Bumar-Łabędy factory.”
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, interia.pl
