Northrop Grumman and Polish Firm Plan Major Artillery Shell Production in Poland

Post by : Saif Nasser

A new defense partnership between U.S. company Northrop Grumman and Polish arms manufacturer Niewiadow-PGM aims to produce more than 180,000 artillery shells each year in Poland. The plan shows how Europe is increasing its defense production as security concerns grow across the region.

The two companies have signed a framework agreement to jointly produce 155-millimeter artillery ammunition. This type of shell is widely used by NATO forces and is also heavily used in the war in Ukraine. Demand for these shells has been very high, while supplies have often been too low. Many countries are now trying to increase local production so they are not dependent on limited foreign stock.

Northrop Grumman’s Poland managing director said the company’s technology can support production at the planned level. He explained that the first step will be to produce qualification rounds within this year. These are test rounds used to confirm that the design and manufacturing process meet required standards. Full commercial production would follow later.

The shells produced in Poland are expected to serve several markets. These include Poland itself, the United States, and other European countries. Company officials also did not rule out future sales connected to Ukraine’s defense needs, though final decisions would depend on government approvals and export rules.

This partnership is also important because of the manufacturing method being used. Northrop Grumman plans to apply a technology known as Austempered Ductile Iron, or ADI. This is a special metal treatment and casting method. Company engineers say it can be faster and cheaper than traditional forging methods used to make artillery shells. If it works as expected, it could help increase output without raising costs too sharply.

Defense experts say production speed now matters almost as much as weapon design. Modern conflicts use large amounts of ammunition. If factories cannot keep up, even well-equipped armies can face shortages. That is why many governments are pushing defense companies to expand factories and modernize production lines.

Poland has become one of the fastest-growing defense spenders in NATO. The country plans to spend about 4.8% of its total economic output on defense this year, one of the highest shares in the alliance. Its location near the war in Ukraine and its history with regional conflicts have shaped its security policy. Leaders in Warsaw see strong defense industry capacity as both a safety need and an economic opportunity.

Northrop Grumman officials say they chose Poland as a key European base after studying both security and industrial factors. Poland offers trained workers, existing arms factories, and strong government support for defense projects. The company also confirmed it is in advanced talks with another Polish state-controlled ammunition maker for possible co-production of other types of rounds, including 30-mm and 120-mm ammunition.

From an editorial point of view, this deal reflects a larger shift happening across Europe and the United States. Defense supply chains are being expanded, localized, and modernized. Governments no longer want to rely on small production lines that cannot respond quickly during crises.

However, growth in weapons production also raises serious questions. More factories and more shells can improve national security, but they also show how tense the global security climate has become. Increased arms output should go hand in hand with strong diplomatic efforts to reduce conflict and prevent wars from spreading.

Industrial strength can support peace only when it is matched with careful policy and international cooperation. Otherwise, higher production simply feeds longer conflicts.

For Poland, this project could bring jobs, technology transfer, and a stronger place in the European defense network. For Northrop Grumman, it strengthens its footprint in Europe. For the wider region, it signals that ammunition supply is now a top strategic priority.

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