Poland is preparing for a major expansion in ammunition manufacturing, targeting a sixfold increase in annual 155mm artillery shell output — from roughly 30,000 to 180,000 — by 2027.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the initiative during a visit to the Nitro-Chem ammunition plant in Bydgoszcz, Europe’s leading TNT supplier, with the goal of fully meeting the Polish military’s needs and cutting dependence on foreign imports.
The program follows investments by the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) to scale up 155mm production across four state-owned firms, including $31.2 million allocated to Nitro-Chem for new production lines. Tusk noted that when he took office in 2023, annual output was just 5,000 shells.
Bordering Ukraine, Poland sees the boost as vital for its own defense and that of its allies, particularly as Europe faces tightening ammunition supplies amid the war in Ukraine.
About 155mm Shells
The 155mm caliber, NATO’s standard artillery round, offers superior range and precision over Soviet-era 152mm shells. Ukraine, while not a NATO member, relies heavily on them through Western military aid.
