After arriving at the Łucznik plant, Andrzej Duda visited the factory floor, where he was shown the technology behind the Grot rifles, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
The president later met with the company’s executives in the boardroom.
Grot rifles are 'one of Poland’s export sensations’
While at the plant, Duda described the Grot rifle as a “world class” weapon and “one of Poland’s export sensations,” telling reporters that it was used by the Polish army and the Border Guard.
“We are hoping for new contracts in the future,” he added.
The president told reporters that the Grot rifles “are currently being tested in the tough conditions of the war in Ukraine.”
'Immensely valuable insights'
He stated: “Our Grot rifles are being used by Ukrainian soldiers, who are defending their homeland against Russian aggression.”
Duda said that the use of Grot rifles in frontline combat provided “immensely valuable insights” for Łucznik’s engineers, who are “working constantly to improve this weapon.”
‘Poland should have a million rifles’
The president noted that Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak earlier this year signed a deal to secure 70,000 more Grot rifles for the Polish army.
Błaszczak said at the time that more orders would follow and mentioned a target of at least 300,000 rifles, state news agency PAP reported.
Duda told reporters on Friday it was “vital” for Poland’s security and defence potential that weaponry be produced and maintained domestically.
The president stated that, for security reasons, Poland should have “a million rifles” at its disposal, and that these weapons should be designed and produced domestically.
On Thursday, Poland’s Błaszczak announced that Ukraine’s armed forces had decided to order more Grot rifles from Łucznik to strengthen their war effort against the Russian invasion, news outlets reported.
Friday is day 387 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, prezydent.pl