"Queen of the Ukrainian Trenches" - Polish 155 mm Artillery Shell Nears Production
This is undoubtedly a historic project for the Polish defense industry. The Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU) and PGO S.A. are approaching the production phase of one of the most sought-after artillery munitions on today’s battlefield - the 155 mm shell. After years of intensive development, the shell is entering the prototyping stage, followed by field testing.
PGO - experts in metal forming
PGO S.A. specializes in a wide range of metal forming technologies. With production facilities located in Gorlice, Piotrków Trybunalski, Leszno, Zielona Góra, and Śrem, the company is fully capable of handling even the most demanding contracts - including those for the defense sector.
"The war in Ukraine has changed the perception of barrel artillery, which was previously considered outdated in favor of rocket artillery. However, it has now proven its striking power on the battlefield, and the 155 mm caliber has become an undeniable line of defense. That is why our over two-year collaboration with the Military Institute of Armament Technology has focused on developing a fully Polish 155 mm projectile body. Today, we are at the penultimate stage of these efforts" ~ Andrzej Bulanowski, Vice President of Sales at PGO S.A.
Compliant with NATO standards, the fully Polish shell body is designed to eliminate dependence on licensed production, giving Poland complete autonomy free from restrictions imposed by foreign licensors.
Sovereignty and military security
PGO S.A., which specializes in forming cast iron, steel, aluminum parts, and producing both open-die and closed-die forgings, is responsible for the technological side of the project and preparing the production process. WITU, on the other hand, is in charge of design and testing. The 155 mm shell marks another milestone in the fruitful cooperation between the two institutions that began in 2023.
"We have already successfully launched the serial production of the first forged 60 mm mortar shell body and initiated the production of an aluminum 155 mm shell base (known as the boat tail) at PGO. Currently, 120 mm mortar shell bodies are undergoing field tests. In parallel, we have been working on the Polish design of the 155 mm shell body - a type of ammunition consumed by the thousands each day on the Ukrainian front. In light of growing threats, we accelerated the design phase and recently handed over the technical documentation for the metal components of the largest Polish artillery shell to PGO" ~ Colonel Dr. Eng. Paweł Sweklej, Director of the Military Institute of Armament Technology.
PGO is now preparing the technological documentation required for building prototypes of the new ammunition. The R&D phase is expected to conclude by the end of 2025 or early 2026, and field testing is scheduled for 2026.
At the heart of this project - as well as many others - lies the Polish national interest. Developing our own solutions and building domestic production capabilities in the face of real threats is no longer just a priority, but a necessity.
