GDLS Signs 52 Spare-Part Deals to Expand Poland’s Abrams Ecosystem

At this year’s MSPO International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) strengthened its partnership with Poland by signing 52 contracts with eight Polish companies for the supply of spare parts used in Abrams tanks. The agreements cover 52 different components and mark another step toward integrating Poland’s defence industry into the global Abrams supply chain.

Christopher Brown, Vice President of Global Strategy and International Business Development at GDLS, highlighted that these agreements are “further confirmation of our commitment to Poland,” stressing that Poland is becoming a key partner in building long-term production and service capabilities.

Poland’s Abrams Fleet

Poland has ordered a total of 366 Abrams tanks, including 116 M1A1FEP variants and 250 M1A2 SEPv3 versions.

• All 116 M1A1FEP tanks have already been delivered and are in active service with the Polish Land Forces.

• So far, 85 SEPv3 tanks have been received, with the first shipment arriving in January 2025. The remaining deliveries are scheduled to be completed by autumn 2026.

• Alongside the tanks, Poland has also taken delivery of M88A2 recovery vehicles to support the fleet.

Sustainment and Local Support

To ensure combat readiness, GDLS and Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne (WZM) are expanding the Regional Sustainment Center in Poznań. Poland’s Ministry of National Defence has officially designated WZM as the facility responsible for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of the Abrams fleet. GDLS will act as a strategic partner in this effort.

In May 2025, GDLS and WZM signed a framework agreement to support Abrams tanks not only for Poland but also for other users across Europe. The first initiative under this agreement was an industry training programme, launched in June 2025, with GDLS specialists training Polish personnel to ensure high technical standards and operational readiness.

The ecosystem, known as Team Abrams, continues to expand. In April 2025, BAE Systems and WZM signed a licence agreement for the support of M88A2 recovery vehicles, also handled at the Regional Sustainment Center in Poznań.

Strategic Significance

This development marks Poland’s transition from being simply a buyer of U.S. heavy armour to an active participant in the Abrams sustainment network. By producing spare parts and conducting maintenance domestically, Poland gains:

• Operational sovereignty – less reliance on foreign logistics during crises.

• Industrial growth – local firms become part of the global supply base, opening opportunities for future contracts.

• Cost and time efficiency – reducing dependence on overseas parts and shortening repair cycles.

Plans are already underway for WZM to service Abrams transmissions in cooperation with Allison, while WZL-1 in Poland is expected to handle overhauls of the AGT1500 gas turbine engines that power Abrams tanks.

If fully implemented, by 2026 Poland will not only maintain its entire Abrams fleet independently but may also serve as a hub for Abrams support across Europe.