Armed Forces
Wisła Programme: MBDA and Thales Sign Four Memorandums with PIT-RADWAR
PIT-RADWAR has signed four memorandums of understanding with MBDA and Thales, concerning the anti-aircraft and anti-missile system based on the SAMP/T missiles, which are one of options considered within the “Wisła” air-defence programme. The French Party stresses the fact that not only do the solutions discussed make it possible to gain full access to the technologies and the source codes, but they also facilitate shared research and development and export activities.
Two documents have been signed by the Thales and MBDA companies and the Polish PIT-RADWAR company. The former is related to cooperation within the scope of command and management of the unit, certification and engineering of the armament, communications and support, assessment of the system operation during simulations and documentation and training activities.
The latter memorandum is related to the technology and skills transfer within the scope of the equipment of the missiles. One of the important elements of that document is assumption of cooperation when designing and manufacturing the elements of the homing warhead in Poland. Additionally the booster rocket is also to be developed, along with the future variants of the Aster 30 missiles, in Poland.
Subsequent documents have also been signed by Thales and PIT-RADWAR companies. First one is related to the process of integration of the Wisła system with the battlefield management and command systems, both at the national, as well as at the NATO level. Scope of the second memorandum focuses on works within the area of the radar systems. On the basis of the second document, works may be undertaken aiming at development of a multi-function radar, with a 360 degree scanning capability with a phased-array antenna, which is to be equipped with sending-receiving modules based on gallium nitride semiconductors. The semiconductors are to be procured from the European manufacturers.
Representatives of the French authorities and MBDA and Thales companies have stressed the fact that the documents are aimed at enhancing the scope of cooperation, and they are a result of both negotiations between the Companies, as well as bilateral memorandums signed between France and Poland. Due to the fact that these are unconditional guarantees independent from the future administrative decisions, the French have decided to accept the technology transfer and cooperation, which may also assume export activities related to the system which is to be the result of the cooperation.
The French government supports this offer. Any propositions included are guaranteed, also those related to the export activities. Both Parties are interdependent and they will share the efforts of implementing the development works, production and potential export operations. The Polish industry will rely on us, and we will rely on the Polish industry. You will get everything à la carte – you may use the same product as France does, you may also develop technologies tailored to your needs.
Support from the French government is a significant element of the Eurosam consortium offer placed in the Wisła programme tender. The French stress the fact that the Polish industry will have an option to be involved in the future R&D works on the system and achieve additional benefits from potential future export agreements.
At the same time it has been stressed that during the simulations and tests, which have been shared with the Polish scientists and experts, it has been proven that a missile system capable of striking targets within 360 degrees sphere (such as SAMP/T) will be significantly more effective in air defence environment similar to the Polish airspace, contrary to the systems which have solely sectoral capabilities.