Poland launches full-scale production of 155mm artillery shells for first time

In a major step toward defense self-sufficiency, Poland is set to launch full domestic production of 155mm artillery shells for the first time.

The project is being developed jointly by the Military Institute of Armament Technology and industrial manufacturer PGO, and is being hailed as a turning point for the country’s defense sector, Caliber.Az reports via Polish media.

The high-demand shells will supply Poland’s Krab and K9 self-propelled artillery systems — core components of the nation’s firepower. According to Andrzej Bulanowski, Vice Chairman of PGO, the program has reached the prototyping phase.

“This is truly a breakthrough moment for Poland’s defense industry,” Bulanowski said. “We are achieving complete autonomy in the production of heavy artillery ammunition — specifically the crucial 155mm caliber. It means independence from geopolitics and licensing restrictions. We’re becoming self-reliant.”

Field testing of the shells could begin later this year, with serial production scheduled to start by mid-2025 at a facility in Gorlice, in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.

The 155mm round, NATO’s standard artillery caliber, has become a symbol of modern warfare — often dubbed the “queen of the trenches” in Ukraine, where thousands are fired daily.

Poland’s move to establish full-cycle domestic production of these shells could significantly bolster national readiness and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers at a time when global demand for artillery munitions continues to surge.

By Tamilla Hasanova