Poland invests $196 Million to produce more Krab 155mm howitzers.

According to a Defense24 article on July 29, 2023, during his visit to Gliwice, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki unveiled plans for a substantial investment of over $196 million in the production of Krab howitzers. The Ministry of State Assets will be involved in facilitating the transfer of facilities to support the manufacturing of these advanced self-propelled artillery systems.
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The Polish-made Krab 155mm self-propelled howitzer (Picture source PGZ)

During the press conference held at the Bumar-Łabędy Mechanical Works plant in Gliwice, Prime Minister Morawiecki expressed his support for the project, stating that the additional investment will exceed $196 million for the Krab. He emphasized their current utilization on battlefields and the increasing demand for these artillery systems. The production is expected to be strengthened to fulfill both domestic and international orders.

The Krab is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer, designed and developed by Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) in collaboration with BAE Systems and the Polish company OBRUM. Mounted on a tracked chassis with the turret of the British AS90 Braveheart 155mm self-propelled gun, the Krab has a crew of five, with the driver located at the front left side of the hull and four crew members in the turret.

The artillery system is equipped with a 155mm 52-caliber gun manufactured by BAE Systems, enabling it to fire all standard 155mm NATO projectiles with a range from 4.7 to 40 km. The Krab's automated loading system allows for a burst rate of three rounds in under ten seconds, a rapid rate of fire of six rounds per minute for three minutes, and a sustained rate of two rounds per minute. The vehicle can carry up to 40 shells and 48 charges, with 29 rounds in the turret and 11 in the chassis.

The investment comes in response to the growing demand for Krab howitzers. Recent orders for two Regina fire modules with 48 howitzers from the military, along with an additional 54 Krabs ordered by Ukraine, have brought the total number of contracted howitzers to 224, including the 122 previously ordered for the Polish Armed Forces.

The Krab's deployment on the Ukrainian battlefield has garnered user feedback, highlighting its performance and reliability. Prime Minister Morawiecki's announcement represents a significant step forward in bolstering Poland's military capabilities and reinforcing the nation's position in the defense industry.