On Tuesday, September the 7th, the 29th International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce was inaugurated, during which the head of the Polish Ministry of National Defence signed one of the most important contracts this year with the PGZ-NAREW for the purchase of 23 sets of the NAREW short-range air defence system. The contract was signed in the presence of President of the Republic of Poland, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Andrzej Duda.

As the head of the Ministry of National Defence pointed out, the signed contract, the value of which is one of the highest in the history of the Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), is not only of great importance for the Polish Army, but also for the Polish defence industry. - I am very glad that PGZ undertook this mission of integrating and creating short-range anti-aircraft missile systems, which will be used by the Polish Army, which will actually complement the anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence system, which I hope will also be an export product of the PGZ in the future - we count on it.     I hope that Narew will become a brand of PGZ, as well as a Polish brand, an export brand in the future - emphasized the head of the Ministry of National Defence after signing the contract of the Armament Inspectorate with the PGZ-NAREW.

The NAREW program is the largest and most complex modernization program in the history of the Polish Armed Forces. In accordance with the adopted solution, it will be directed to the Polish defence industry, giving an opportunity to establish new and develop existing competences in the field of advanced weapon systems.

The modernization of the Polish Armed Forces is closely related to the native defence industry and is an impulse for the development of innovation in this sector.

The head of the Ministry of National Defence also drew attention to the contract for the delivery of the Battlefield Simulation Systems to the Polish Army. - I would like to emphasize the importance of the signed contract, thanks to which a comprehensive battlefield simulation system will be created at the training ground in Drawsko Pomorskie, but at the same time at the four remaining training grounds: at the training ground in Orzysz, in Nowa Dęba in Żagań and Wędrzyn, available simulations will also be possible, so as to create one large system. Thanks to this, Polish soldiers and soldiers of the allied forces will be able to improve their skills - emphasized Minister M. Błaszczak.

- All contracts signed today are very important for the Polish Army. This is the implementation of the modernization program for 2017 - 2026. These processes are ongoing, but you can be sure that this equipment will go to the soldiers of the Polish Army. Polish soldiers will be able to carry out their tasks better and more safely, said President Andrzej Duda.

During the International Defence Industry Exhibition , contracts were also signed for the delivery of ROSOMAK RSK contamination identification wheeled armoured personnel carriers, medium and long-range interrogators of the "familiar-unfamiliar" system, analytical laboratory for ODRA radars and Battlefield Simulation Systems.

- My task as the minister of national defence is to create conditions for the military service to take place in the best conditions, for the soldiers of the Polish Army to have appropriate modern equipment. And this is exactly what the exhibition in Kielce is for. This is the purpose of the International Defence Industry Exhibition - said the head of the Ministry of National Defence during his visit to Kielce.

Minister M. Błaszczak recalled that since 2015 the government has been consistently modernizing the Polish Army and improving the conditions of servicing soldiers. - Poland is arming itself. Why, why is this the case? Because there is a need. Because the task of the Polish authorities is to ensure the security of our homeland. We consistently carry out these tasks - reminded the head of the Ministry of National Defence. The minister recalled the latest contracts, including for the purchase of the PATRIOT system, HIMARS missiles, F-35 aircrafts, frigates for the Navy or an order of 250 Abrams tanks. - In recent years, contracts have also been concluded to equip the Polish Army with Rak self-propelled mortars and Krab howitzers. This is how we consistently equip the Polish Army with the most modern equipment. We are increasing the numbers of the Polish Army - this is also extremely important. This is the only real and effective response to the threats that, after all, exist - added the minister.

On Tuesday, the head of the Ministry of National Defence also visited the exhibition of the Polish Armed Forces, which presents the equipment at the exploiting of Polish Army units - Leopard tanks, POPRAD self-propelled anti-aircraft missile sets, Rosomak armoured personnel carriers and individual equipment of soldiers. At the exhibition it can  also be  visited promotional stands of all types of the Armed Forces and the stand of the Become a Soldier Program Office, which is responsible for recruitment in the Polish Army. Military universities also present their achievements at the exhibition. This year, the Military University of Technology presents, among others The WABIK unmanned aerial vehicle developed at the Faculty of Mechatronics, Armament and Aerospace, equipped with, inter alia, into an optoelectronic head with a daylight camera and a thermal imaging camera or an oxygen therapy helmet supporting the treatment of patients with COVID-19, which was developed by the Military University of Technology cadets during the pandemic.