Rosomak S.A. company based in Siemianowice Śląskie, constituting a part of the Polish Armament Group, announced that the first Rosomak wheeled APC (AMV 8x8) has been delivered to its first foreign user at the end of January. The contractual agreement, on the basis of which the vehicle was delivered, is a result of an agreement concluded with the Finnish Patria Land Systems Oy company. According to the contract, Rosomak S.A. company is going to manufacture 40 carriers in their basic variant. The agreement in question is said to have a value of PLN 170 million. Procurement of the above vehicles is to be completed until May 2016.
Adam Janik, Rosomak S.A.’s President of the Board stated that even though the above agreement is the “first export deal of such scale” realized by the company, it is “not a crowning achievement, but just the beginning of the export initiatives, to be realized with PGZ S.A. [Polish Armament Group]”. As President Janik claimed, the value of the agreement is going to have an impact on the overall shape of the company, within the scope of its finances.
The carriers manufactured for the foreign buyer, out of which the first one has just been transferred, in line with the buyer’s requirements, have no ability to float, they are also equipped with heavier armour and enhanced anti-mine protection system, in comparison with the basic variant. The Agreement also covers optional procurement of another several vehicles in a variety of variants, including a version with longer hull. Should the optional procurement be realized, the value of the deal will exceed half billion zlotys.
Referring to the success of the Rosomak S.A. company, Maciej Lew-Mirski, member of the board of the Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. claimed that “realization of this agreement, pertaining the foreign procurement of the armoured personnel carriers, is a proof that the Polish defence industry is capable of creating world class products, selling them abroad, having advantage over the industry leaders not only within the scope of the price, but, above all, within the scope of high quality”.
One should recall the fact that the Siemaniowice-based Rosomak S.A facility, since some time now, has also been manufacturing locally the last element of the carrier structure - the integrated suspension system supports. This means that the Polish plant became the main supplier of the above mentioned parts for the AMV 8x8 vehicles around the world.