Poland Signs First SAFE Defence Contracts Worth Over 100 Billion Zloty in Three-Day Sprint

A historic spending sprint

Poland has launched an unprecedented defence procurement drive, signing the first contracts under the European Union's SAFE (Security Action for Europe) loan mechanism. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that by Saturday 30 May, approximately 40 contracts and annexes worth around 100 billion zloty will be signed. "This is the day — the dot over the 'i' has been placed: European money is guaranteed, and Poland is the most advanced in implementing its projects," Tusk said during a ceremony at the Cyber Defence Forces Component Command in Legionowo.

This is the day — the dot over the 'i' has been placed: European money is guaranteed, and Poland is the most advanced in implementing its projects.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz later clarified that the number of contracts could rise to as many as 59. Poland is the largest beneficiary of the SAFE programme, with access to 43.7 billion euros — roughly 185 billion zloty — in low-interest loans for defence and security purchases.

First contracts signed in Legionowo

The initial four contracts were signed on Thursday at the Cyber Defence Forces Component Command in Legionowo, near Warsaw. These agreements cover deliveries for the Cyber Defence Forces, including a post-quantum IP encryptor from Enigma, a high-trust cryptographic system from Krypton Polska, a secure data exchange system from Filbico, and a mobile cybersecurity laboratory prepared by the firm Media.

Following the Legionowo ceremony, the Armament Agency took over, signing further contracts at its headquarters and in Ożarów Mazowiecki. These included agreements with WB Electronics for Warmate loitering munition systems, FlyEye unmanned aerial systems, and battery fire modules for the Gladius system.

Helmets, vests, trucks, and tankers

The Armament Agency signed five contracts and annexes with companies from the state-owned Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) and private industry. A contract with Maskpol, based in Konieczki in the Silesian Voivodeship, covers the delivery of over 300,000 HBT-02 helmets developed under the Tytan programme, valued at approximately 740 million zloty net. A second Maskpol contract covers around 50,000 KKZ-01 integrated ballistic vests worth about 720 million zloty net.

We are buying modern equipment for the Land Forces, Drone Forces, the Polish Navy, and the Cyber Defence Forces from Polish companies. We are signing agreements with, among others, Maskpol, Celtech, Jelcz, WB Group, and Remontowa Shipbuilding.

Three annexes were also signed: one with Celtech for CD-10s fuel tanker-distributors, increasing the order to 320 units on Scania 6x6 chassis with a total value of 870 million zloty net, and two with Jelcz for medium and high-mobility trucks and heavy-duty vehicles. Jelcz, based in Jelcz-Laskowice in Lower Silesia, produces chassis for rocket launchers and specialist military vehicles.

A race against the deadline

The urgency stems from the SAFE regulation, which allows single-country procurement — purchases made by one member state alone — only for contracts signed by 30 May. After that date, purchases must involve at least two participating countries. Poland is the only EU member state to fully exploit this derogation window.

The SAFE regulation was adopted exactly one year ago. I think some people's teeth are aching today. Lies have short legs. We are signing contracts not in Berlin, but near Warsaw.

Mariusz Cielma, editor-in-chief of Nowa Technika Wojskowa, cautioned that while contracts are being signed rapidly, delivery timelines remain a challenge. "For some components for military equipment we will have to wait a while, especially engines for combat vehicles," he said, noting current lead times of around two years.

Political friction and opposition criticism

The signing blitz has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. Law and Justice (PiS) MP Jacek Sasin dismissed the programme as "a great sham, a great humbug," arguing that most of the agreements are hastily prepared annexes. He claimed helmets and vests do not significantly strengthen Poland's defence potential and alleged the SAFE mechanism was designed so that "this money cannot be spent in any purposeful way."

Sasin also accused the government of bypassing parliamentary and presidential oversight, referencing President Karol Nawrocki's veto of related legislation. "They signed this regardless of any consent or law. The fact that a bill was proceeding through the Sejm or that the president vetoed it had no influence on them signing the agreement," he said.

Economic ripple effects

Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk defended the spending, stating that Poland spends 5 percent of GDP on defence "so we don't have to spend 30 percent in wartime conditions." Kosiniak-Kamysz said over 10,000 Polish companies stand to benefit from the programme. Key beneficiaries include not only PGZ subsidiaries like Maskpol and Jelcz, but also Wojskowe Zakłady Łączności Nr 2 in Czernica, which develops anti-drone systems, and firms such as Radmor, APS, Rosomak, Dezamet, Huta Stalowa Wola, Belma, and Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów.

The programme is expected to be one of the largest investment impulses for Poland's defence sector and new technologies, with the government emphasising that the majority of funds will remain within the domestic defence industry.