BAE Systems and PGZ win British-Polish Collaboration Award

Above: Munitions shells inside a furnace.
Courtesy BAE Systems

Launched in 2025, this joint award initiative recognises outstanding companies and individuals for their contributions to the British-Polish trade and investment relationship. A jury of senior Embassy and BPCC experts selected the winners.

Dame Melinda Simmons DCMG, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Poland, said: “The economic partnership between the United Kingdom and Poland is stronger today than ever before. The second edition of the UK–Poland Business Awards demonstrates how dynamically and on multiple fronts our cooperation is developing, from growing direct investment and trade to joint initiatives in energy transition, new technologies and security. The recipients of these awards perfectly illustrate the ambition and potential of our cooperation.”

The award commends the landmark cooperation between the two companies on the production of 155 mm artillery ammunition, bringing together UK technological expertise and Polish industrial capability to significantly strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity in Poland at a time of heightened demand. This collaboration is especially significant following Poland and the UK signing a defence partnership agreement earlier this week in London.

Miroslaw Janicki, Director, BAE Systems Poland, said: “We are honoured to be recognised in such a positive way alongside our friends at PGZ. As Poland’s proven defence partner, BAE Systems remains dedicated to the mission of helping to ensure national security through the provision of 155mm artillery ammunition in great quantities and high quality to meet our nation’s objectives.”

In September 2025, the two companies entered into a strategic partnership to establish a new 155mm artillery ammunition manufacturing facility in Poland, aimed at increasing the nation’s production of battlefield ammunition. The strategic partnership provides further opportunities for potential collaboration, knowledge and technology transfer, on a broader range of munitions and components, as well as manufacture of energetics.

Adam Leszkiewicz, President of the Management Board of PGZ S.A., said: “We are delighted that the British Embassy and the BPCC appreciate the collaboration between Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa and BAE Systems, as evidenced by today’s award. This is an example of collaboration with a foreign partner – on the one hand, we are benefiting from BAE Systems’ vast experience and know-how and on the other, we are opening a path to the British market, where we can introduce our explosives production technologies. I am confident that this collaboration will continue to develop in a direction beneficial to both sides and, above all, the Polish Armed Forces and the Polish defence industry."

Underpinned by a Strategic Partnership Agreement, the collaboration reflects a shared long-term commitment to joint industrial development, technology transfer and skills enhancement across the defence sector. Developed through an intensive year-long collaborative process, the partnership has established a strong platform for future joint programmes and export opportunities. By aligning complementary strengths, scale and ambition, BAE Systems and PGZ have created a partnership that materially reinforces European defence resilience and marks a major step forward in UK–Poland defence and industrial cooperation.