Poland’s PGZ & Anduril Sign Memorandum Of Understanding On Cruise Missile Development Cooperation
Poland’s Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. (PGZ S.A., or Polish Armaments Group) announced Monday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Anduril Industries, with the Polish state-owned arms manufacturing consortium set to co-develop Anduril’s “autonomous aerial systems” to meet Polish requirements.
The memorandum of understanding focuses on cooperation on development of Anduril’s Barracuda family of cruise missiles, more specifically, a variant of the Barracuda 500M that will use components supplied by PGZ’s various suppliers.
“Today’s agreement is another step towards the development of the Polish defense industry. By combining PGZ’s industrial potential with Anduril’s experience in autonomous systems, we can introduce to our market a solution that meets the requirements of armed forces. This agreement paves the way for technology transfer, joint R&D and equipment development, which will strengthen the security of not only Poland but also the entire eastern flank of NATO. Through its partnership with Anduril, PGZ is opening up to new areas of activity, related to cruise missiles and rocket technology.,” said Adam Leszkiewicz, CEO of PGZ S.A.
PGZ notes that joint development of these systems will require U.S. and Polish government approval, but did not provide details on progress or a projected timeline for the approvals. “PGZ and Anduril will work closely with U.S. and Polish authorities to ensure full compliance with applicable trade compliance rules and regulations,” said the group in the statement announcing the memorandum of understanding’s signing.
“Poland is a key strategic partner for Anduril. Working with PGZ to localize production of the Barracuda demonstrates how allied industry and sovereign suppliers can deliver rapidly scalable, affordable capability to deter aggression,” said Brian Moran, VP Anduril Europe.
Anduril Industries announced a similar partnership with German defense contractor Rheinmetall during the Paris Air Show in June, with that partnership also extending to collaboration on Anduril’s Fury collaborative combat aircraft and rocket motor production technology in addition to the Barracuda cruise missiles.