Poland Expands Orders for Rosomak Wheeled IFVs
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Poland’s 2002 export order for 690 armored vehicles put Patria’s AMV on the international map. Now, the Poles are ordering another 307, which will be built in-country at WZM SA’s Siemianowice Slaskie plant. Terms weren’t disclosed, but the 2nd round of production will be worth several hundred million dollars.
Finland’s Patria Oyj has extended their license to produce, sell, upgrade and modify Rosomak armored vehicles from 2013 to 2023, and support and maintenance rights were extended to 2052. Oto Melara’s HITFIST 30P turrets are also manufactured in Poland, if the Poles want to grow that capability beyond the 359 Infantry Fighting Vehicle variants bought under the previous round.
The Polish Army has a total of 570 Rosomak variants in service, and the remaining 117 vehicles will be handed over by the end of 2013. Rosomaks currently serve in Poland’s 12th Mechanized Brigade in Szczecin and 17th Mechanized Brigade in Miedzyrzecze. The new order will add the 21st Rifle Brigade to the list, among others.
The Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan has had Rosomak vehicles in service since 2007, and these Rosomak M1M IFVs and M3 APCs have additional armor and electronics, as well as QinetiQ’s Q-Net RPG protection. Polish MON [in Polish] | Polish MON [in English, much abridged].
