The Armament Inspectorate of the Polish Ministry of Defence has just procured 888 Jelcz 442.32 high mobility trucks, along with a training/logistics package. The contract covers a guaranteed procurement of 473 vehicles in a boxed variant. The agreement also envisages optional procurement of 415 trucks configured in an identical manner (302 examples) and ones configured for special purposes (113 examples).

The deliveries have been scheduled to take place between 2019 and 2022. The vehicles are to be operated by all branches of the Polish military. Conclusion of the contract on Tuesday has been announced by the head of the MoD, Mariusz Błaszczak.

These vehicles have been well proven, they are already being operated by the Polish military – said Mariusz Błaszczak during an event held at the HQ of the 2nd “Mazowiecki” Sappers Regiment in Kazun Nowy, near Warsaw. The aforesaid element is one of the units that is to receive the vehicles.

The satisfaction is even greater, as the equipment in question has been made in Poland, by the Jelcz company. (...) For me this is especially relevant, as by modernizing the Polish military and equipping it with modern equipment we also make contributions to providing the Polish economy and defense industry with a new impulse. It is important to direct the money spent on modernization of the military towards the Polish defence industry.

Meanwhile, the acting President of the Jelcz company, Leon Szuturma, placed an emphasis on the fact that the contract will provide work, throughout the upcoming 4 years, for 650 employees and will also support several hundred jobs at the subcontracting companies.

Acting president of the Jelcz Sp. z o.o. company, Leon Szuturma (on the left) and head of the MoD, Mariusz Błaszczak. Image Credit: Rafał Lesiecki / Defence24.pl

The Armament Inspectorate announced the proceedings related to delivery of medium load/high mobility vehicles back in November. The contract was to be signed with Jelcz at the time. Negotiation involving a single contractor has been justified by the Inspectorate. The Armament Inspectorate suggested that the agreement concerned continuation of deliveries of equipment that has already been used by the military. Acquisition of any other vehicle, as the Armament Inspectorate claimed, would mean that a need would emerge to create a new operational support system, and to collect spares and expendables, acquire systems for diagnostics, along with workshop equipment, and to train the personnel.

This is the third agreement concerning the Jelcz 442.32 vehicles. Up until now the Polish military has received 1242 platforms of the type, including 1039 vehicles in a boxed variant and 203 trucks without any specific bodywork. The Jelcz vehicle constitutes a replacement of Star 266 and Star 660 trucks.

Image Credit: Rafał Lesiecki / Defence24.pl

The first agreement has been signed in 2013. Back then, the contract concerned 910 platforms, with a pricetag of 674 million zlotys. Another contract, concluded with the Territorial Defence component in mind, was covering procurement of up to 500 vehicles, including guaranteed acquisition of 97 platforms and optional procurement of 403 trucks.

Jelcz Sp. z o.o. belongs to the HSW S.A. company which is a part of the Polish Armaments Group. Up until now the company has provided the Polish Armed Forces with mores than 1300 vehicles. Trucks made by Jelcz are being utilized in the Polish military modernization programmes including Regina, Rak, Pilica, Langusta, Liwiec and Baobab. In the future Jelcz trucks will also become a part of the Wisła and Narew air defence programmes. Jelcz is also getting ready to participate in the Jak programme, within the framework of which the military is willing to acquire low platform trailer vehicles that will be used to transport cargo with total weight of up to 120 tonnes.