BAE Systems and WZM sign licence agreement on support of Polish M88A2 ARVs

BAE Systems has entered into an agreement with Polish tracked AFV specialist Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne (WZM) to enhance the operational readiness of the Polish Land Forces’ M88A2 Hercules armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) fleet, BAE Systems announced on 10 April 2025.

The agreement ensures the Polish defence industry will play a critical role in supporting the Polish Land Forces with their newly acquired equipment.

Under the terms of the arrangement WZM, which is part of PGZ Capital Group, will use BAE Systems’ intellectual property to perform maintenance, repair and overhaul operations, ensuring that the Polish Land Forces’ M88A2 ARVs are fully operational and able to conduct battlefield recovery and repair activities.

BAE Systems was awarded a USD 128 million (EUR 113 million) contract to supply 26 M88A2s to the Polish Land Forces in December 2022.

With enhanced horsepower and upgraded armour protection compared to previous M88s, including armoured track skirts and armour panels, the M88A2 can manoeuvre and extract a 70-tonne stranded vehicle and its crew to safety from the battlefield. It is built and equipped to be capable of recovering the US M1 Abrams main battle tank, which is also in the Polish Land Forces inventory.

“This relationship enables the timely sustainment of critical recovery vehicles, supporting the Polish government’s efforts to strengthen its defence-industrial base and promote local economies,” Dean Medland, vice president of Sustainment & International Programs at BAE Systems, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “We understand the importance of working together with local industry in allied nations. This is an exciting example of how we can create a more responsive regional support network in addition to the critical manufacturing base in the United States.”