Local contractors the Polish Armament Group and Bumar Labedy Mechanical Works have been invited to tender for the upgrade, which was initially planned for 2013.
Negotiations began on May 27 according to Polish MoD spokesman Col. Jacek So?ta, with discussions including capabilities within the scope of the contract and the schedule for work.
The role of, and demand for, armoured vehicles in Europe has quickly become one of the most significant military considerations of the 21stcentury. Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014 and the subsequent annexation of Crimea has changed the security environment in Europe and has forced the nations of Central and Eastern Europe to review their defence postures. In May, Poland announced it was increasing its defence budget by 18%, the biggest increase in military spending for any country in Europe.
The European armoured vehicles market is now estimated to lead the world in terms of demand over the next 10 years as a result, with the region accounting for approximately a third of the global requirement during that period.
