Following the news that Poland has chosen MBDA UK to supply its tank-destroyer vehicle program (locally known as the Ottokar Brzoza program) with Brimstone anti-tank missiles;

Madeline Wild, Associate Defense Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, shares her view:

“The agreement to equip Polish Armed Forces with the Brimstone missile creates a valuable new axis of interoperability amongst NATO members operating in Eastern Europe. Both the UK and Germany already use the model, albeit in air-to-surface configurations whereas the Polish missiles will be mounted on a vehicle replacing the BRDM-2.

“The acquisition makes Poland the first NATO operator of Brimstone in Eastern Europe, as the alliance attempts to support and reinforce Ukraine’s efforts to fight the Russian invasion. The missiles used by the UK and Poland might be mounted on different platforms but can be modified to be transferable between platforms in times of crisis. Ukrainian forces are also currently using Brimstone missiles transferred from the UK. It has been adapted to be fired from armored vehicles rather than combat aircraft, (namely Eurofighter Typhoons) that the UK usually equips with the Brimstone.

“Interoperability and transferability are a lynchpin of NATO strategy. It enhances the ability of members to act militarily as a unified force, which is of the utmost importance when considering the collective defense agreement that underpins NATO. There is also an industrial component to the importance of interoperability. Polish Brimstone missiles will be domestically produced by a Polish consortium led by state-owned PGZ. Not only does this benefit the Polish defense industry by transferring valuable knowledge to local companies, but it also offers an alternate production source should other factories struggle to meet demand.

“It is notable that Poland has chosen a UK supplier for its requirements with a large proportion of its ongoing procurement programs normally being awarded to US primes. Within the missile and missile defense sector, GlobalData figures reveal that 93% of procurement programs have been awarded to US-based companies, including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.”