Northrop Grumman has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Polish defense company Elaboracja Niewiadów to explore cooperation in producing 155 mm artillery rounds. The agreement aims to enhance Poland’s domestic ammunition capabilities while contributing to the resilience of NATO’s supply chain.
Under the deal, both companies will identify a potential pathway for Northrop to provide its austempered ductile iron shell technology. They will also advise Elaboracja Niewiadów on producing 155 mm rounds that meet the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces. Austempered ductile iron is created through a heat-treatment process commonly used in commercial metallurgy but relatively new in some defense applications. This method produces a shell that Northrop claims is lighter and less expensive than forged steel while maintaining equivalent strength.
“We expect this MOU will help Poland establish a diverse supply base to meet the growing demand for artillery in Central and Eastern Europe,” said Frank DeMauro, sector vice president and general manager for weapon systems at Northrop Grumman. “Our expertise with munitions and advanced manufacturing methods will allow the use of existing commercial facilities to increase supplies without adding strain to Poland’s defense industrial base.”
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Mirosław Klepaczewski, president of Elaboracja Niewiadów, highlighted that the collaboration is crucial for rapidly supplying 155 mm ammunition for Poland’s Krab and K9 howitzers. He added that the partnership positions Poland as a manufacturing hub for advanced artillery rounds within NATO.
For Grupa Niewiadów-PGM, which has a partial owernship stake in Elaboracja Niewiadów, the initiative could lead to facility upgrades or expansions to support the final assembly of ammunition. Grzegorz Niedzielski, president of Grupa Niewiadów-PGM, noted, “Our cooperation with Northrop Grumman will not only enable us to expand our technological and production capabilities, but also to strengthen Poland’s industrial sovereignty.”
The agreement was finalized as Poland advances its “Polonization” strategy, which focuses on transitioning from arms procurement to local defense production. At MSPO 2025, Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized this policy, stating that Poland is becoming more self-reliant by ensuring that weapons are built domestically.