Rheinmetall and PGZ Launch Joint Venture for Armored Support Vehicles
Rheinmetall and PGZ have signed an MoU to create a new joint venture in Poland — the European Support Vehicles Center — focused on producing armored recovery, mine-clearing, and bridge-laying vehicles for the Polish military and allied markets.
Warsaw, Poland - German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall and Poland’s state-owned arms conglomerate Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a joint venture focused on producing next-generation armored support vehicles for the Polish Armed Forces.
The newly created venture, called the European Support Vehicles Center, will develop and manufacture key battlefield platforms such as armored recovery vehicles, mine-clearing systems, and bridge-laying vehicles — all designed to enhance mobility and survivability in modern military operations.
Rheinmetall, already active in Poland through its Warsaw subsidiary, brings decades of expertise in armored systems including the Keiler NG mine-clearing vehicle and other advanced support platforms. PGZ, which oversees much of Poland’s defense industrial base, will provide local production capacity and integration through its network of companies.
Strengthening Europe’s Defense Backbone
The two sides framed the partnership as a direct response to the shifting European security environment. In a statement, Rheinmetall said the agreement was formed “in view of the current threat from the East,” emphasizing that the collaboration aims to expand Europe’s capacity to produce, sustain, and modernize heavy military vehicles.
“The MoU symbolizes our mutual understanding, aligned goals, and the intention to work closely together — to exchange knowledge, harness our collective strengths, and explore new opportunities,” said Björn Bernhard, Rheinmetall’s Managing Director for Vehicle Systems Europe.
“By signing this agreement, we are contributing to building an all-European defense potential, establishing new multinational supply chains, and reinforcing Europe’s industrial readiness,” he added.
Expanding Poland’s Defense Ecosystem
PGZ CEO Adam Leszkiewicz described the partnership as a strategic step forward for Poland’s defense sector, highlighting that it not only deepens industrial cooperation with Western partners but also broadens the group’s portfolio of capabilities.
“This agreement opens the way to expand our collaboration to include additional solutions, including those we can jointly offer to export markets,” Leszkiewicz said. “It is also significant for the Military Industrial Automotive and potentially the H. Cegielski plants in Poznań — offering development opportunities and further diversification within the PGZ Group.”
The initiative aligns with Poland’s broader effort to localize defense production, strengthen NATO interoperability, and enhance resilience within Europe’s defense supply chain. With the creation of the European Support Vehicles Center, Poland and Germany are positioning themselves as key industrial partners in building a more secure, self-reliant European defense ecosystem.
