Polish Rifle Manufacturer Łucznik Saved Through SAFE Program

Polish defense company Łucznik, the manufacturer of MSBS Grot rifles, is being stabilized through financing under the EU SAFE program.

Łucznik is one of 12 companies that have received funding under the European SAFE mechanism.

The arrangement does not involve new procurement contracts but rather a shift in the financing source for already-signed defense orders, Defence24 reported.

An additional agreement between the plant and the Polish Armaments Agency provides for refinancing a contract signed in December 2024.

Instead of funding from the Polish state budget, the contract will now be financed through the SAFE mechanism.

The SAFE program is one of the European Union’s key instruments for supporting defense investment.

The total value of the contract is approximately PLN 1.1 billion, covering deliveries of small arms to the Polish Armed Forces between 2026 and 2029.

Within a guaranteed package worth about PLN 736 million, the company is to supply around 45,800 MSBS Grot assault rifles, 13,400 Vis 100 pistols, and 1,300 40 mm underbarrel grenade launchers.

The contract also includes an option worth approximately PLN 363 million for additional procurement.

If exercised, the Polish Armed Forces would receive a further 22,900 Grot rifles, 7,400 Vis 100 pistols, and 500 grenade launchers.

Threat of production cuts

In April, Poland’s opposition called on the government to place additional orders for Grot rifles to prevent layoffs at the Łucznik plant.

Despite significant investment in modernization and production expansion in recent years, the factory lacked a long-term guaranteed production load.

To remain sustainable, Łucznik required annual orders of around 40,000 Grot rifles.

The Radom-based arms manufacturer is part of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and has a long tradition of small arms production. Its main product is the Grot rifle, which is gradually replacing the older Beryl rifles in the Polish Armed Forces.

Since 2017, the Polish military has ordered more than 250,000 rifles, of which over 170,000 have already been delivered.