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New repair and logistics centre opened
in Czosnów will help protect Poland's airspace,
using UK expertise.
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Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry MP opens new
defence facility in Poland, supporting jobs in
Bristol, Stevenage and Bolton.
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Part of UK's commitment to protecting NATO's
eastern flank against increasing Russian aggression.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry MP joined the Polish
Deputy Minister of National Defence, Pawe Zalewski to
open the MBDA missile logistics facility in Czosnów,
Poland.
UK personnel will work alongside Polish
counterparts at the site to help protect Poland's
airspace. Its development will also support jobs in
Bristol, Stevenage and Bolton, with more than 400 UK MBDA staff
working on programmes that support Poland's defence.
The centre will enable faster and more direct
maintenance, support and training
for Poland's PILICA+ programme - a
multi-billion-pound project building an integrated air
defence network to defend Poland's
skies in conjunction with the UK.
MBDA's expanded footprint in Poland will drive
innovation and investment
into the Czosnów region, while
reinforcing stability across NATO's eastern flank.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, MP said:
The UK is proud to stand alongside Poland as a close friend,
trusted ally, and partner in security,
industry collaboration and defence.
At a time when Europe faces its most serious security challenges
for generations, the opening of MBDA's
new site demonstrates that the relationship
between our two nations has never been more important.
Stronger Polish air defences means stronger NATO
air defences, and that work is taking place while
also backing jobs in both nations.
MBDA UK Managing Director, Chris Allam,
said:
We are very pleased the Minister was able to attend the
opening of our new facility in Poland.
Our site in Czosnów is evidence of how MBDA, as a strategic
partner to governments, is helping deliver national sovereign
capability, and by extension, facilitating cooperation
and supporting the security of NATO partners.
Poland and the United Kingdom have a strong, longstanding
security relationship, and MBDA is very proud to work with both
nations, to find opportunities for co-development of future
technology.
While in Poland, Minister Pollard will also
visit MSPO, central Europe's largest defence
show, where 38
UK defence companies are showcasing their
technologies.
The event comes as the UK and Poland continue collaboration on
the NAREW programme, worth more than £4
billion, which will deliver over 1,000 air defence
missiles and more than 100 launchers to Poland, helping the
country build its own sovereign missile manufacturing
capability. The UK-Poland defence relationship is also being
strengthened through the MIECZNIK programme, in which the UK is
co-developing three Arrowhead-design frigates, similar to
Babcock's Type 31s for the Royal Navy. The
first arrowhead entered the water last
month.
Following the Security and Defence Partnership Treaty signed by
the UK and Poland in May this year, the relationship between the
two nations has entered a new phase, deepening cooperation across
defence, security and economic resilience.
The UK has committed £298 billion over four years as part of
the Defence Investment Plan, helping to
bolster both national security and the
strength of the NATO alliance.
