PGZ, Lockheed Martin sign strategic cooperation agreement

The Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) and Lockheed Martin have signed a cooperation agreement which establishes a long-term strategic relationship, PGZ announced on Thursday.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) provides that Lockheed Martin and PGZ will set up joint working groups to act on the development of service and repair centres, utilizing PGZ potential, for multirole F-16 Falcon fighter jets and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

The American company will also collaborate with PGZ to provide support for development potential in the area of next-generation unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems "to meet the needs of Poland's national security and to strengthen NATO's air dominance." Lockheed Martin will also seek possibilities to include PGZ companies in its global supply chain and will look for opportunities to export PGZ products through relationships with its clients in over 50 countries around the world," the company said.

The new agreement will expand the commitment of Lockheed Martin in Poland, also through its PZL Mielec plants, which belong to the Lockheed-owned Sikorski company, and which directly employ 1,600 workers in the production of Black Hawk helicopters, and over 5,000 employees in its national supply chain.