In a short period of time, Poland has built one of Europe’s largest armed forces modernization programmes, in which one of the most crucial roles is played by cooperation with South Korea’s defense industry. The contracts concluded include, among other things, 1,000 K2 tanks (including, ultimately, production of the K2PL variant in Poland), of which around 180 have already been introduced into the Polish Armed Forces. We are also to have a total of about 672 K9 self-propelled howitzers, of which 180 have already been delivered, as well as 288 K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers (Homar-K), of which around 40 are already in military service. The contract for 48 FA-50 aircraft is also being implemented.

What is worth emphasizing in the context of cooperation with South Korea to date is that this cooperation usually goes beyond the delivery of weapon platforms and also includes technology transfer, localization of part of the production in Poland, and the building of a complete industrial ecosystem that may become one of the pillars of our country’s sovereignty and of the strengthening of the European security system. The Koreans are aware of how important it is for Poland to transfer production to our country, shorten the supply chain, and create the possibility of building production, servicing, repair, maintenance, and equipment modernization capabilities on site.

In the decisions taken under the Orka programme – in which Poland opted for the Swedish A26 submarine instead of the South Korean KSS III submarine offer – one of the arguments weighing against the Korean proposal was the excessive distance between our countries and the lack of certainty as to whether Poland would obtain real control over critical systems. Despite Hanwha Ocean’s earlier declarations regarding technological support and the transfer of selected competencies to Poland – including, among other things, submarine construction and integration technologies, air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, vertical launch system (VLS) integration, and selected elements of combat systems and platform management – on the Polish side there were nevertheless significant concerns related to the scope of full rights to technical documentation,  the real possibility of building MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) capabilities in the country, and potential export restrictions. South Korea will certainly also draw conclusions from the Orka project and, in subsequent projects, will strive to present even more personalized, optimized, and operationally advantageous offers, better aligned with expectations concerning Poland’s technological sovereignty.

See more about the Korean KSS III submarine offer:

Next-generation rocket artillery – from area suppression to precision strikes

The scale of acquisitions by the Polish military represents a qualitative change in Poland’s armoured and artillery capabilities, but at the same time it reveals a fundamental challenge – the ability to ensure an adequate volume of ammunition, in particular 155 mm calibre ammunition, necessary to maintain real combat readiness, something that practically all European NATO countries are currently struggling with.

The NRA (Next-Generation Rocket Artillery) programme represents a direction for the development of a new generation of long-range rocket artillery systems, fitting into the broader transformation of firepower capabilities among NATO states and their industrial partners. It is not a single, closed programme in the sense of one contract or one platform, but rather a development category encompassing a set of technologies, systems, and capabilities intended to replace or supplement currently fielded solutions such as HIMARS or the K239 Chunmoo.

The essence of NRA is the transition from classic rocket artillery, based mainly on area suppression, to systems capable of delivering precise effects against targets deep in the adversary’s operational and strategic depth. A key role here is played by modern effectors – guided missiles using GPS/INS systems, and in the future also solutions based on multi-sensor guidance – whose range exceeds 150–300 kilometres, and in some concepts extends even further. This effectively brings rocket artillery closer to capabilities traditionally associated with operational-tactical missile systems.

At the same time, the launcher platforms themselves are being developed, and under NRA they gain a higher degree of automation, shorter response time, and the ability to operate in a network-centric environment. Integration with C4ISR systems – encompassing satellite reconnaissance, unmanned aerial systems, and advanced command-and-fire-control systems – makes it possible to conduct fire missions on the basis of data acquired in near real time. As a result, NRA becomes not only a means of strike, but also an element of an integrated combat system, capable of dynamically responding to a changing operational situation.

In the Polish context, programmes of this class should therefore be analyzed primarily through the prism of cooperation with the Korean defense industry, in particular Hanwha Aerospace, and the development of systems such as Homar-K based on the Chunmoo platform. NRA sets the natural direction of further evolution here – both in terms of increasing the range of effectors and deepening system integration, as well as localizing production and industrial competencies. This includes not only the launchers and missiles themselves, but also the construction of a full support ecosystem, including logistics, servicing, and domestic production capabilities.

Proof of this is the establishment by Hanwha Aerospace and WB Group of a joint venture in April 2025 to build a guided missile factory in Poland (see more: Hanwha and WB Group signed the key terms of an agreement concerning a joint guided missile factory in Poland).

From an operational perspective, NRA significantly changes the role of rocket artillery on the modern battlefield. Systems of this class make it possible to strike high-value targets precisely – such as command posts, logistics hubs, airfield infrastructure, or elements of A2/AD systems – without the need to engage air power. Thus, rocket artillery ceases to be merely an instrument of tactical support and becomes one of the key tools for exerting effects at the operational and strategic levels.

Consequently, NRA should be regarded as one of the pillars of future deterrence and power-projection capabilities, especially in high-intensity conflicts in which range, precision, and speed of response are of crucial importance.

155 mm ammunition for Krab and K9 self-propelled howitzers

Poland also plans to acquire at least 1 million rounds of 155 mm ammunition by 2029. Long-term demand, resulting both from national requirements and from the broader process of Europe’s rearmament, will, however, extend far beyond this horizon. And this is not a hypothetical problem, but one of the most urgent industrial challenges facing European defense today.

In the fighting in Ukraine, the Ukrainians consume as many as 150,000–200,000 large-calibre shells per month, and at peak moments as many as 350,000. It is estimated that in 2025 alone, the Ukrainian side fired more than 2 million artillery rounds, while the Russian side fired more than three times as many. The question, therefore, is no longer whether Poland needs more ammunition, but whether there is a production base capable of delivering it on time.

The challenge is not for a single component. A complete 155 mm artillery round, typically configured as a separate-loading projectile and charge with a modular charge system (MCS), consists of multiple components – projectile, fuze, propellant charge modules, and primer – each of which requires specialized production lines, validated processes, and rigorous quality control.. Increasing the production of all these elements at the same time is an industrial undertaking of enormous complexity. Some components, especially those related to high-energy materials and the production of projectile charges, require dedicated plants that take years to build. No political ambition can reduce the time resulting from the conditions of physics, chemistry and engineering.

European and Polish manufacturers are working intensively to increase production capacity and their efforts deserve recognition. However, the scale of demand – from Polish itself, not to mention other NATO countries – far exceeds the ability of any single country or group of companies to deliver in the required time. This is not a failure of European industry. Rather, it is a reflection of how much ammunition production on the continent has been neglected for decades and how dynamically the security environment has changed recently.

Progress of the Polish defense industry in the field of 155 mm ammunition

PROJECT 155 concerns investment in the production of shell bodies for 155 mm artillery ammunition, which is currently the most sought-after ammunition because it is used in all NATO countries.

The project encompasses increased production of 155 mm ammunition in Poland and the development of the entire chain – shell bodies, explosives, propelling charges (MCS), assembly, and filling. The leader of the project is Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), and it is implemented primarily by companies belonging to the PGZ group:

• MESKO – the main producer of 155 mm ammunition,
• Nitro-Chem – explosive,
• Dezamet – components and fuzes,
• Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów – mechanical elements and subassemblies

As part of the project’s implementation, the company received support in the amount of PLN 887.2 million from the Capital Investment Fund. Implementation of the project began in 2024, and its full objectives will be achieved in 2028.

Another undertaking currently being implemented by MESKO is the launch of production of components and modular charges for 155 mm ammunition at its facility in Pionki.

In the second half of December 2025, Mesko launched in Pionki a new factory for the assembly and packaging of 120 mm tank ammunition and, in part, artillery ammunition. More than 1,500 rounds of tank ammunition have already been produced there.

Since then, modular charges (ready, standardized powder “increments”) for 155 mm ammunition used in Polish Krab self-propelled howitzers and Korean K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers have also been produced there. 10,000 such charges have already been manufactured. According to Adam Leszkiewicz, President of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, around 600,000 of these charges are to be produced there annually.

Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) assumes that the investment in Pionki will be completed by 2028. Let us emphasize that PGZ plans to build three 155 mm ammunition factories. This means that this ammunition will be produced “in stages” in different locations.

One of them will be in Pionki, where modular charges are to be produced and the ammunition is to be finally assembled. Another factory, in Kraśnik, will produce shell bodies, while other ammunition elements will be manufactured at Mesko’s subsidiary in Nowa Dęba.

On 13 March 2026, Grupa Azoty signed a letter of intent with Nitro‑Chem, a PGZ company, concerning cooperation in the field of explosives. The companies want to build competencies together that will allow Poland to become independent from imports (see more: Bydgoszcz-based Nitro-Chem is building a new TNT line).

– Europe must produce more ammunition, and Poland is to be one of the leaders. This requires investment in powder, in the facilities in Pionki, and in the entire supply chain. We cannot allow ourselves a situation in which we lack the basic components for defense. Powder and ammunition are the foundation, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

– Without nitrocellulose there is no powder, and without powder there is no ammunition. Therefore, rebuilding this production is one of the priorities. Poland must regain full capability to produce powder and ammunition. This is a matter of state security, not economic calculation, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz assured, among other occasions during a visit to Mesko in 2024.

Let us recall that under four investment agreements worth PLN 2.4 billion for the development of domestic ammunition production signed in 2025, Nitro‑Chem received PLN 113 million from the Capital Investment Fund to increase the production capabilities of its facilities in the field of filling and producing 155 mm ammunition.

The beneficiaries of these funds also include Zakłady Metalowe Dezamet – for the production of shell bodies and fuzes for 155 mm ammunition – and Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów, for the production of elements and parts for ammunition and ballistic subassemblies. The aim of these investments is to increase production to 150,000–180,000 rounds of ammunition annually by 2027.

This ecosystem is also being joined by Grupa Niewiadów, operating within the structure of Niewiadów Polska Grupa Militarna S.A., which on 17 March 2026 informed the Armament Agency of the Ministry of National Defence that a key stage in the expansion of the production model for 155 mm artillery ammunition had been completed (see more: Grupa Niewiadów increases Poland’s defense capabilities – finalization of the 155 mm ammunition factory project begins).

WB Group, hitherto associated primarily with unmanned systems and communications, is also developing its own 155 mm artillery ammunition designs, which have already passed the certification phase and initial tests and are to enter serial production in 2026–2027, ultimately reaching capabilities of 50,000–100,000 shells annually in a public-private model implemented, among others, by Polska Amunicja (see more:  WB Group – a new player on the 155 mm artillery ammunition market).

Visit of the Polish government delegation to South Korea

However, closing the ammunition gap at the pace required by security will require something more than domestic capabilities alone. It will require trusted industrial partners who will bring proven production competencies, transfer technology, and help build sovereign manufacturing capabilities in Poland – not as a substitute for Polish industry, but as its accelerator.

A responsible approach does not consist in choosing between self-sufficiency and partnership. It consists in the strategic use of partnerships – so as to build domestic capabilities faster while maintaining full control over the production base and its outputs.

During his visit to Seoul in April 2026, Prime Minister Donald Tusk clearly gave Polish-Korean cooperation a strategic dimension, placing it at the center of security policy and defense industry development.

During talks with President Lee Jae-myung, both sides announced the elevation of relations to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership, encompassing not only arms purchases but, above all, the development of industrial capabilities.

– South Korea is today Poland’s most important partner after the United States, especially when it comes to the defense industry – Donald Tusk said during the meeting in Seoul. – I want our cooperation not to be limited to equipment purchases, but to include technology transfer and joint production in Poland – he added, pointing to the need to build durable industrial capabilities.

Prime Minister Tusk also emphasized the operational dimension of this cooperation.

– I want Poland to become a competence center for modern weapons systems in Europe, including also in the area of artillery and ammunition – Tusk said, adding in another statement that “Europe’s security today requires not only strong armies, but also a strong industrial base – and that is precisely what we want to build together with Korea.”

The Korean side emphasized the importance of industrial and technological cooperation just as clearly.

– We want to develop partnership with Poland on the basis of joint production and technology transfer, and not only arms exports – South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stressed during the joint conference. – Poland is a key partner for us in Europe and an important element of our global supply chain in the defense sector – the Korean president noted, also adding that the cooperation includes joint production, technology transfer, and training, while at the same time pointing to the already operating systems – K2, K9, FA-50, and Chunmoo – as elements that are genuinely strengthening Poland’s security. He also added that the development of the partnership means building a defense ecosystem in Poland based on local production and the integration of supply chains.

And although official political communications do not directly refer to such details as, for example, Modular Charge Systems (MCS) components, the logic of both sides’ statements clearly encompasses this segment as well.

MCS – as an integral element of modern artillery systems, especially K9 howitzers – fits into the broader process of building ammunition and industrial sovereignty referred to during the visit.

In this context, announcements concerning production localization, technology transfer, and supply-chain stabilization should be interpreted as encompassing not only weapon platforms, but also their critical components – including propelling charge systems, ammunition, and the material base behind them. In practice, this means that the developing Polish-Korean cooperation is moving toward a full, integrated artillery ecosystem in which solutions such as MCS constitute one of the key, though not highlighted at the level of political communication, elements.

Poland’s strategic cooperation with South Korea is already working – and may develop further

The Republic of Korea is one of the few countries capable of playing such a role. The Korean defense industry has demonstrated world-class production capabilities in the field of ammunition, with experience in delivering at scale, on time, and in accordance with NATO interoperability standards. Importantly, Korean partners have consistently shown a readiness not only to export finished products, but also to invest in local production, transfer technology, and integrate themselves into the industrial ecosystems of partner states.

The K2 tank programme implemented with Hyundai Rotem, including plans for local production of the K2PL variant, is creating the foundations for armored vehicle production in Poland.

Deliveries of FA-50 aircraft by KAI are strengthening the Polish Air Force while at the same time building servicing and training infrastructure.

In the area of land systems, the Homar-K rocket artillery programme – with integration at Huta Stalowa Wola and broad participation from Polish industry – has shown that Polish-Korean cooperation can go far beyond the mere purchase of equipment and take the form of a genuine industrial partnership.

Across many programmes and with the participation of various companies, the same pattern is visible – technology transfer, local production, and long-term commitment.

MCS – Modular Charge Systems

One of the components of 155 mm ammunition is MCS (Modular Charge Systems). A Modular Charge System is a modular propelling charge system used in 155 mm tube artillery, developed within NATO standardization (JBMoU) as the successor to classic bagged propellant charges.

MCS systems are currently produced and developed by leading defense industry entities such as Rheinmetall (in cooperation with Nitrochem), KNDS, BAE Systems, and the Korean company Hanwha Aerospace. In the United States, there is an analogous system, MACS (Modular Artillery Charge System), including, among other things, the M231 and M232A1 charges. These solutions are integrated with a wide range of artillery systems, including the PzH 2000, CAESAR, K9 Thunder, Archer, and modernized variants of the M109, which confirms their status as a de facto standard in modern NATO artillery.

In operational terms, MCS constitutes one of the key factors increasing the effectiveness of artillery as a long-range strike system. It enables not only precise adjustment of the fire effect to the nature of the target, but also optimization of ammunition consumption and response time. In the context of contemporary conflicts, in which the importance of precision artillery and the ability to conduct fire at long distances is growing, modular propelling charge systems are becoming an indispensable element in building fire superiority and the interoperability of armed forces.

Its design is based on a set of repeatable, hermetically sealed modules containing uniform propelling charges with strictly defined ballistic parameters. These modules, made of materials that burn up completely during firing (so-called combustible cases), can be combined in various configurations – from low to maximum charges – allowing precise control of the projectile’s muzzle energy and thus of range and trajectory characteristics.

Unlike older solutions, in which various types of charges in bags or partially combustible cases were used, MCS ensures high repeatability of combustion parameters and minimizes ballistic deviations between shots. This directly translates into increased firing accuracy and more efficient use of ammunition, especially in the case of precision and extended-range projectiles (ERFB, VLAP, Excalibur). The modular design of the system also makes it possible to execute advanced firing modes such as MRSI (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact), in which several projectiles fired at different angles and with different charges hit the target simultaneously.

From the operational-use perspective, MCS represents a significant qualitative change in the handling of artillery. Standardization of the modules reduces the number of logistics variants, simplifies the supply chain and storage, and increases interoperability between artillery systems of different NATO states. At the same time, the use of modern propelling materials and “low vulnerability” technology (insensitive munitions) raises the level of safety – both during transport and during use in combat conditions. Cleaner and more controlled combustion limits the buildup of fouling in the bore, which contributes to extending barrel life and maintaining stable firing parameters during longer fire missions.

Sovereignty, international cooperation, and alliances – three equal pillars of defense

A state’s defense sovereignty is ultimately measured not by what it can buy, but by what it is able to produce and sustain. Poland has the ambition, strategic clarity, and industrial foundations to become a significant producer of 155 mm ammunition. What it needs most today is speed – and the right partners who will help eliminate and fill the ammunition gap as quickly as possible, before it turns out that it is too late.

The window of opportunity is open. But does the view from that window extend toward South Korea? We may find out quite soon.