T-72 tank overhaul deal a milestone for Polish arms industry - PM
Poland's PM Mateusz Morawiecki described a deal for the overhaul of T-72 tanks at a Polish plant in Gliwice (southern Poland) on Monday as "a milestone leading to the rebuilding of the Polish army potential."
The PM together with the Defence Minister, Mariusz Blaszczak, visited the Bumar-Labedy plant to attend the signing of the contract.
Addressing the plant's workforce, the PM said he was very glad the deal was signed "since it was an opportunity to develop skills and keep over 1,000 work posts here in Gliwice, as well as in companies cooperating with Bumar-Labedy."
"This huge contract, worth nearly PM 2 billion (EUR 470.6 million), will provide jobs in the coming six years," he stressed.
Minister Blaszczak expressed his hope that Polish plants would soon be able to produce a new generation tank. He announced that the plan of technical modernisation of the Polish army, worth PLN 185 billion (EUR 43.5 billion), comprised both purchases and modernisation.
"We have been modernising and modifying the equipment owned by the Polish army. This also concerns T-72 tanks," he said, adding that their overhaul will equip soldiers with state-of-the-art sights, as well as navigation and observation instruments. (PAP)
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