The construction of a new factory for 155 mm artillery shell casings has officially begun in Kraśnik. During the cornerstone-laying ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz highlighted the strategic importance of this investment — both for Poland’s security and for the development of the local economy and the national defence industry.
The new MESKO S.A. facility is being built directly adjacent to an existing 9,000 m² production hall. The plant’s infrastructure is ultimately expected to expand by an additional 18,000 m². “This is a major investment for Kraśnik, a major investment in security and in the people who will find employment here,” said the defence minister, stressing the plant’s importance in strengthening Poland’s sovereignty in the production of large-calibre ammunition.
PLN 887 million for MESKO expansion from the Capital Investment Fund
MESKO S.A., the only manufacturer of 155 mm shell casings in Poland, secured PLN 887 million in mid-2025 as part of the PLN 2.4 billion raised by the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) from the Capital Investment Fund. The funding will be used not only for the construction of the new production hall but also for the modernisation of existing infrastructure and the launch of additional technological lines. The company has already announced plans to increase employment — a move that, as the minister emphasised, will serve as an important boost to the local job market.
Ammunition production is a matter of national sovereignty
Kosiniak-Kamysz reminded that until recently, Poland did not have full capability to independently produce 155 mm ammunition. “We lacked sovereignty in this area. This is not just a matter of ambition — it is the state’s obligation to ensure its own security,” he said. He also pointed out that in the context of the war in Ukraine, independence from foreign supplies and the ability to rapidly produce and respond to frontline needs are absolutely crucial.
U.S. confirms long-term military presence in Poland
During his remarks, the defence minister also addressed Polish–U.S. strategic cooperation. Despite personnel changes within the U.S. administration, he noted that all recent discussions — both in Warsaw and at the Pentagon — confirm the continued, and potentially expanded, military presence of the United States in Poland. “The United States is the backbone of NATO. There is no NATO without the U.S. Poland and the United States are ironclad allies,” he stressed.
Source: https://ceo.com.pl/mesko-wybuduje-nowa-fabryke-amunicji-155-mm-w-krasniku-50994
