Land Forces
Billion Purchase in Stalowa Wola: Support Vehicles for Langusta MLRS
Photo. Senior Pvt. A. Trypuć / 1st “Mazurska” Artillery Brigade
On Friday, 9th of Novbember, a contract was signed for the delivery of several dozen support vehicles for WR-40 Langusta battalion-level fire modules. The contract, valued at 1.3 billion PLN, will see deliveries continue until 2028.
For and on behalf of Treasury, the agreement was signed by the Head of the Armament Agency, gen. Artur Kuptel. Wojciech Kędziera, Chairman and CEO, represented Huta Stalowa Wola, the lead consortium member supplying these vehicles to the Armed Forces. The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Bejda.
The contract covers the delivery of several dozen command vehicles (WD), command and staff vehicles (WDSz), artillery munition carrier vehicles (AWA), and artillery repair and maintenance vehicles (AWRU) for Squadron-level Fire Modules (DMO) equipped with WR-40 Langusta multiple rocket launchers. All vehicles will be outfitted with elements of the integrated Topaz fire control system.
The contract also covers upgrades to previously delivered WR-40 Langusta units. The fire control systems in these launchers will be modernized by updating communications systems, computers, and software to bring the Topaz system to the latest standard and ensure compatibility with new command and command-staff vehicles. The contract includes a logistics and training package as well.
Photo. PGZ
Notably, the architecture of the Langusta DMO elements allows the same support vehicles to potentially support Homar-A and Homar-K rocket launchers in the future. Should the Polish Armed Forces decide to retire the Langustas, these launchers could be replaced on a 1:1 basis by the Homar systems without any changes made to the DMO. The Homar-K, a highly localized variant of the Korean K239 Chunmoo launcher, will be integrated with domestically produced 122 mm rocket ammunition, which is currently used by the Langustas.
The exact number of support vehicles purchased and the chosen platforms were not disclosed. It is speculated that the ammunition and repair vehicles will be based on Jelcz truck chassis, while Autosan may supply command vehicles based on the Czech Tatra chassis, namely the Waran (WD) and Heron (WDSz).
Written with: Antoni Walkowski
Photo. Adam Świerkowski/Defence24