The manufacturer of the Abrams main battle tank has been trying—at least since September last year—to persuade the Polish government to launch joint production of Abrams tanks in Poland for both domestic needs and European allies. So far, however, the effort has yielded no results, with Warsaw yet to make a decision.
Abrams tanks are produced by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), which supplies the vehicles to customers around the world. The company is currently fulfilling orders for more than 600 M1A2 SEPv3 tanks for the U.S. Army, 116 M1A1 FEP and 250 M1A2 SEPv3 tanks for Poland, 75 M1A2 SEPv3 tanks for Australia, 54 for Romania, 50 for Bahrain, 108 M1A2T tanks for Taiwan, and 218 M1A2K tanks for Kuwait.
According to information obtained by our newsroom, the company has been “running into a wall” in its efforts to establish Abrams co-production in Poland. We therefore asked whether talks with the Polish government had progressed. GDLS’s press office in Poland responded.
“GDLS has presented the Polish government with updates on our activities and investments. We have also demonstrated the potential for Abrams tank co-production in Poland and remain engaged in dialogue on the matter. The decision rests solely with the Polish government. GDLS, together with its Polish industrial partners, stands ready to support this requirement. Abrams offers Poland the fastest path to meeting its operational needs while providing a significant level of local content, opportunities for co-production, and strategic regional capabilities for maintenance and sustainment,” the company said.
Industrial footprint already expanding
Despite the lack of a government decision, GDLS has continued investing in Poland’s industrial capabilities related to the Abrams program.
In 2024, Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne (WZM) and GDLS officially launched the Regional Competence Centerin Poznań. Within weeks, the first Abrams tanks arrived at WZM to undergo post-shipment preparation following their transport by sea. These activities continue today for every Abrams tank delivered to Poland.
In 2025, the companies launched an industrial training program enabling WZM employees to acquire specialized expertise in Abrams maintenance and sustainment.
“This technology transfer allows Poland to build sovereign industrial capabilities within the Abrams program, supporting the country’s growing fleet of tanks. In 2026, both Polish Army and U.S. Army Abrams tanks will be serviced and repaired at the center by a joint Polish-American team,” the company said.
Expanding the supply chain
In May 2026, Honeywell and WZL-1 signed an agreement establishing a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center in Dęblin for the engines used in Abrams tanks.
GDLS has also begun integrating Polish companies into its global supply chain and localizing the production of components.
Currently, 52 unique Abrams parts are manufactured in Poland. Some of these components are already being used in the production of Polish M1A2 SEPv3 tanks assembled in the United States.
According to the company, these Polish suppliers have become part of GDLS’s global supply chain, with components produced in Poland also destined for international orders, including Abrams tanks for countries other than Poland.
The long-term objective remains the same: establishing Abrams tank co-production in Poland for both the Polish Armed Forces and European partner nations.
A similar strategy is being pursued by BAE Systems, the manufacturer of the M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle that supports Abrams tank operations. In June 2026, BAE Systems, WZM, and H. Cegielski–Poznań (HCP) signed a memorandum of understanding on the co-production of M88A2 recovery vehicles in Poland.
Whether the Polish government will ultimately seize the opportunity to launch Abrams co-production remains unclear. Supporters of the project hope it will not meet the same fate as the long-delayed agreement on the co-production of South Korea’s K2 tanks, which has remained unresolved since 2023.