The premieres of the latest equipment, talks about multi-million dollar contracts for military equipment, and presentations of equipment available to civilians – all this was included in the programme of the Kielce MSPO, which opened today. The RMF FM editorial team visited one of the most important defence industry exhibitions in the world.
The International Defense Industry Exhibition organized in Kielce is one of the most important defense industry fairs in the world, organized since 1993.
The 32nd edition of MSPO started on Tuesday in Targi Kielce. This year’s event attracted a record 769 exhibitors from around the world, including the United States, Australia and South Korea.
The event was officially opened today by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and President Andrzej Duda. In their speeches, both emphasized the need to increase defense spending.
Furthermore, the head of the Ministry of Defense announced the signing of contracts worth PLN 2 billion for the development of defense systems. You can read more about it HERE.
One of the biggest exhibitors at this year’s MSPO is Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa. When asked by an RMF FM reporter whether Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to a kind of arms race in the Polish arms industry, PGZ’s Jacek Matuszak replied that this was one of the elements that gave the Polish arms industry “new energy”.
This is certainly one of the elements that has given the Polish arms industry – and not only in Poland, because we see this trend throughout Europe – new energy. But for us, this new energy is also related to the fact that we are expanding our armed forces. As we know, we are building an army of almost 300 thousand people, new military units are being created, which require modern equipment. – Jacek Matuszak noticed.
The representative of the Polish Armaments Group also announced what PGZ will present at MSPO this year.
Another version, A3, Grota, i.e. the MSBS carbine from Fabryka Broni (“Łucznik”), will make its debut at the fair. We are presenting new radars, including: Sajna and Warta, which constitute an integral element of the multi-layered air defense that is being built – he pointed.
Visitors to the MSPO can also admire, among others: The Bóbr-3 armored vehicle produced in Kutno especially for our army. This reconnaissance vehicle debuted a few years ago, but as its designers assure, it is still being improved thanks to cooperation with the army.
Permanent four-wheel drive, six-speed automatic transmission, two-stage reduction gearbox – Kacper Pawłowski from the AMZ plant in Kutno listed the advantages of the vehicle.
In terms of protection level, it was designed using ballistic panels. The vehicle is also resistant to mine explosions under the steering wheel – he added in conversation with a reporter from RMF FM.
Beaver-3 can also swim. The vehicle has been tested several times on this terrain, we swam together with soldiers in Krosno Odrzańskie. The vehicle can swim 7 km/h forward and 3 km/h backward – said Kacper Pawłowski, adding that the vehicle may turn over on the spot.