Poland turns to home-grown giant for its defense buildup

WARSAW — Poland wants domestic companies to supply more of its rapidly expanding military, but state-owned PGZ’s fragmented structure and political exposure raise questions about whether Warsaw can turn the spending surge into a stronger industry. The Polish Armaments Group, the country’s largest defense company, has won billions of złoty in new orders, placing it at the center of the military buildup.

The conglomerate was cobbled together in 2013 from about 50 fiercely independent smaller companies with their own management teams and often their own political backers. CEO Adam Leszkiewicz has been in the post since May 2025 — making him the holding company’s 12th CEO since its founding.

“PGZ is different from other European companies,” Leszkiewicz said, adding that PGZ makes more than 700 products. “I could say we make almost everything.