The programme will provide Polish armed forces with an enhanced ground-based air defence system capable of launching missiles to engage the most modern air threats at ranges of more than 40 kilometres

MBDA has signed a sub-contract with Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. company (PGZ) for the NAREW programme that will provide Polish armed forces with an enhanced ground-based air defence system capable of launching missiles to engage air threats, such as cruise missiles and fighter jets, at ranges of more than 40 kilometres.

The PGZ-NAREW Consortium was awarded the executive contracts for NAREW in September from the Polish Armament Agency. The new agreement enables PGZ to implement these executive contracts, valued more than €4,6 (£4) billion, and concludes the terms of MBDA’s unprecedented transfer of key technologies and knowledge to PGZ. It enables the PGZ-NAREW Consortium to make more than 1,000 MBDA’s CAMM-ER air defence missiles – which were developed jointly by the UK and Italy, and, flying at supersonic speeds, can destroy modern air threats, including stealth aircraft and high-speed missiles – and over 100 launchers for the NAREW programme on the Polish soil. In addition to that, the NAREW will include Polish radars, vehicles and other equipment together with the United States’ Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS).

Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, said: “The scale and ambition of NAREW is truly impressive – building a Polish air defence shield using our CAMM family missiles and iLaunchers that will protect the entirety of Poland’s skies. The transfer of technology in NAREW will be transformative for Poland’s sovereign complex weapons capabilities, and we are deeply proud of the trust placed in us by Poland and excited for the future of our partnership with the eleven members of the PGZ-NAREW Consortium.”

Commenting on the deal, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “This is another crucial step forward for our historic defence ties with Poland, supplying next-generation air defence capabilities to act as a clear deterrent to our adversaries.”

NAREW programme highlights the growing relationship between MBDA and PGZ and provides further evidence of the success of the Strategic Co-operation Agreement signed between the companies in 2017. The technology transfer in NAREW and associated growth across Polish industries, is unique in the UK-Poland defence partnership and paves the way for deep ties on complex weapons with Poland.

NAREW is the latest in a series of air defence projects utilising the CAMM missile family that MBDA and PGZ have been jointly contracted for in Poland. It follows from the Mała Narew urgent operational requirement contract placed in 2022 and now in service, the PILICA+ short-range air defence system acquired earlier in 2023, work on the MIECZNIK frigate programme, and studies for the future joint development of CAMM-MR. In addition, MBDA and PGZ are also cooperating on the OTTOKAR BRZOZA tank destroyer project.