The agreement, between Poland's state-owned defence group PGZ, its Bydgoszcz-based subsidiary WZL-2 and Anduril, will see the plant first assemble and later fully manufacture Barracuda-500M missiles for the Polish armed forces.
The Barracuda-500M is a long-range autonomous cruise missile that can travel about 900 kilometres, carrying a warhead of more than 45kg.
It can be launched from combat and transport aircraft as well as ground-based launchers.
PGZ chief executive Adam Leszkiewicz, who signed the deal in the presence of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, said the partnership with Anduril "puts Poland in a unique position in Europe."
He told Polish Radio the missiles would eventually be supplied to the Polish military, NATO allies and, in the future, to Ukraine.
Speaking at the signing, Tusk said the Bydgoszcz plant had come through its toughest period, thanking officials for their support of the works there as well as in Radom and Poznań.
"Our opponents were shouting very loudly that these plants had to collapse, but fortunately we got down to serious work," he said.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said that "from today, PGZ can boast the only contract and cooperation of its kind in Europe with the American company Anduril", calling it a sign of trust that showed Poland's defence industry had changed.
He described the capabilities it would bring as full integration between the military, industry, the economy and security strategy, and said he would take the message of Poland as the region's military and economic leader to the forthcoming NATO summit in Turkey.
State assets minister Wojciech Balczun called the deal a major opportunity for the Polish defence sector, promising new jobs, regional economic growth and tax revenue to help fund the country's security and development.
"We are at a historic moment, in a historic place, and we are moving forward with a great new project," he said.
Deputy Defence Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said national resilience was built on many levels, including a strong defence industry, and confirmed the contract was the first of its kind that Anduril has signed anywhere in Europe.
The Barracuda programme involves not just the Bydgoszcz works but a wider network of companies across the region, according to officials.
The contract follows a strategic agreement signed in October 2025 aimed at establishing a production site in Poland.
Under Monday's deal, the two sides will also go on to work on a Polish version of the missile.
(ał)
Source: PAP, IAR