Grupa Niewiadów, the largest private ammunition producer in the country, has announced plans to construct a new large-caliber ammunition factory in Niewiadów, Łódź Voivodeship. This ambitious project aims to commence production within two years with an annual output target of 180,000 units of 155 mm artillery shells. The investment is pegged at approximately PLN 250 million.
According to Grzegorz Niedzielski, the CEO of Grupa Niewiadów, the company is at an advanced stage of starting production of 155 mm caliber ammunition, a NATO standard and a crucial component in modern artillery systems such as the Krab self-propelled howitzer and the K9 Thunder, recently acquired by the Polish military from South Korea.
The new facility will encompass a production line, storage areas, and a research and development center, revitalizing the site of a former factory in Ujazd commune near Tomaszów Mazowiecki. “Building on a century-long legacy of the original ammunition factory, we are prepared to launch production utilizing existing infrastructure, a testing range, and the requisite permits and expertise,” Niedzielski stated.
Recent global events have underscored the strategic importance of 155 mm artillery ammunition. In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, between 3,000 to 10,000 of these shells are reportedly used daily, highlighting a significant shortfall against the needs, which Niedzielski noted are also substantial for the Polish Armed Forces. Current Polish production capacity stands at a maximum of 30,000 shells annually, starkly insufficient against a backdrop of escalating storage needs estimated at up to 3 million units.
“We have awakened from the illusion of living in a safe world,” Niedzielski emphasized. “Knowing the procurement levels and the current production capabilities of our national industry, the establishment of this new factory in Niewiadów is both a strategic and a business imperative.”
The company has already undertaken preparatory steps, including modernizing decaying storage facilities to house up to 1.1 million kg of trinitrotoluene (TNT). The phased project will initially focus on assembling the explosive charges into shell casings sourced externally. Within about 20 months, the first production lines will be operational, with plans to eventually manufacture the shell casings domestically. The facility’s eventual capacity will be 180,000 units annually, supported by robust security zones and storage capabilities.
In addition to local production enhancements, Grupa Niewiadów is collaborating internationally, incorporating components from Indian, German, and Slovak partners, with oversight from the Swedish arms manufacturer Bofors. Furthermore, Niedzielski revealed ongoing efforts to develop proprietary Polish technical documentation for the ammunition, aiming for self-reliance in production and future development.