WZT-3 vehicle

Polish Defence Holding (PHO) is expected to sign a contract with the Indian Army this month for delivery of additional WZT-3 armoured recovery vehicles (ARVs).

Considered to be the biggest defence contract for Poland in a decade if signed, the PLN800m ($247.6m) contract covers delivery of 200 ARVs to the army, Gazeta Wyborcza reports.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

PHO spokesperson, Stanislaw Wojtera, was quoted by the newspaper as saying that negotiations are currently underway, but the contract has not yet been signed.

”We of course hope for a positive outcome,” Wojtera said.

Meanwhile, the company’s labour unions have also withdrawn their previous demands for restrictive fines in an event of failure to honour the contract terms, which had nearly bankrupted the company and led to the resignation of its then chief executive officer, Edward Nowak, in the last deal, as reported earlier by the newspaper.

"It will be considered the biggest defence contract for Poland in a decade, if signed."

Previously called Grupa Bumar, PHO had to pay fines for delay in delivery of 204 vehicles as part of the $275m contract awarded by the Indian Army in October 2011.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Powered by a PZL-Wola S12U four-cylinder diesel engine, WZT-3 is a tracked ARV based on the chassis of the Russian-made T-72 main battle tank (MBT).

Primarily intended to recover damaged MBTs, tracked armoured vehicles and heavy vehicles from the battlefield, the vehicle is also fitted with special equipment for conducting repairs in the field, obstacles clearance and earth-moving works.

The equipment include a crane that can lift up to 15t and a front-mounted stabilising dozer blade and towing device, as well as a main and secondary winch.

The Indian Army currently uses 556 WZT-3 vehicles to support its T-72 and T-90 MBT units.


Image: WZT-3 armoured recovery vehicle on a military parade in Warsaw, Poland. Photo: courtesy of Hiuppo.

Defence Technology

Army Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Army Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact across the defence sector.

Excellence in Action
Virtualitics has clinched both the Innovation and Business Expansion awards for its Integrated Readiness Optimization (IRO) AI suite, transforming maintenance, sustainment and operational decision-making across the US DoD. Discover how explainable AI and predictive insights are redefining mission readiness, risk management and joint-force efficiency.

Discover the Impact