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Northrop Grumman and Polish arms maker aim to produce more than 180,000 artillery shells a year in Poland
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 11, 2026
3 min readLast updated: February 11, 2026
Home > Finance > Northrop Grumman and Polish arms maker aim to produce more than 180,000 artillery shells a year in Poland
Quick Summary
Northrop Grumman and Niewiadow-PGM aim to produce 180,000 artillery shells annually in Poland, leveraging ADI technology to meet European defense needs.
Northrop Grumman and Polish arms maker aim to produce more than 180,000 artil...
Joint Production of Artillery Shells
WARSAW, Feb 11 (Reuters) - U.S. defence supplier Northrop Grumman and Polish arms group Niewiadow-PGM aim to make more than 180,000 artillery shells annually in Poland, Northrop Grumman's managing director for Poland said on Wednesday.
Production Capacity and Technology
Niewiadow said on Tuesday that the companies had signed a framework deal to jointly produce the 155-mm ammunition.
Strategic Importance of Poland
When asked about the expected production volume, Quinn Canole, Northrop Grumman's managing director for Poland, pointed at Niewiadow's output target of 180,000 shells per year.
Future Collaborations with Mesko
"The capacities that we are able to support with our technology can support that level of production," Canole told Reuters.
Production would start "definitely inside this year," he said and cater to the U.S., Polish and broader European market. He did not rule out sales to Ukraine. The 155-mm shell is widely used by Ukraine in its war with Russia, but has been in short supply.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY
Cooperation with Niewiadow would help Northrop Grumman further its Austempered Ductile Iron technology, an iron heat treatment and casting method, which uses cheaper and quicker-to-adapt commercial processes in artillery round production than traditional forging methods, Canole said.
"Given the strong need in this region, we felt that Poland was a natural location to help bring forward this technology on an international basis."
He added that using ADI enables boosting production.
"As this technology matures, as it gets out into the field, and as it proves itself over time, we're going to be able to scale that capacity greatly."
Also speaking to Reuters, Krzysztof Krystowski, Northrop's country manager for Poland, called the deal a "natural opportunity" given the ramp-up of defence spending in Europe. Poland expects to spend a NATO-leading 4.8% of its gross domestic product on defence this year.
Krystowski said the company decided about two years ago "that Poland would become a strategic continental Europe location of Northrop Grumman because of Poland's spending on defence and the importance of Poland from a security point of view, but also from an industrial point of view."
He added that separate talks with Polish state-controlled ammunition maker Mesko regarding co-production of 30-mm and 120-mm rounds were "very advanced."
"Poland is a strategic market for Northrop and for our plans related to the development of our industrial footprint in this country."
(Reporting by Karol BadohalEditing by Rod Nickel)
Key Takeaways
- •Northrop Grumman partners with Niewiadow-PGM to produce artillery shells.
- •Target production is over 180,000 shells annually in Poland.
- •Production to support U.S., Polish, and European markets.
- •ADI technology to enhance production efficiency.
- •Poland's defense spending influences strategic production location.
Frequently Asked Questions about Northrop Grumman and Polish arms maker aim to produce more than 180,000 artillery shells a year in Poland
1What is artillery?
Artillery refers to large-caliber guns used in warfare on land. It includes weapons like cannons and howitzers, designed to fire projectiles over long distances.
2What is defense manufacturing?
Defense manufacturing involves the production of equipment and materials used by military forces. This includes weapons, vehicles, and technology for national security.
3What is a partnership in business?
A partnership in business is a formal arrangement where two or more parties agree to manage and operate a business together, sharing profits and responsibilities.
4What is technology advancement?
Technology advancement refers to the process of developing new technologies or improving existing ones to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and capabilities in various fields.
5What is market reach?
Market reach is the extent to which a company can sell its products or services to a target audience, often measured by the number of potential customers.
