Skip to content
Welcome, thoughtbot's Giant Robots listeners!Start here
PGZ
AI-generated illustration
OrganisationPL

PGZ

Poland's state-owned arms holding company, formed in 2013 from the country's defence manufacturers.

At the MSPO show in Kielce on 10 September 2026, two PGZ units, ZMT and PCO, signed weapons and optics agreements with Milrem Robotics for its THeMIS ground robot.

Last refreshed: 7 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Will PGZ's deals with Milrem put armed THeMIS robots in Polish service?

Timeline for PGZ

#13 7 Oct
View full timeline →

Background

PGZ, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, is Poland's state-owned arms holding company. In September 2026 two of its units, ZMT and PCO, agreed to supply weapons and optoelectronics for Milrem Robotics' THeMIS ground robot, building on a framework signed in March.

The Polish government formed PGZ in 2013 to bring the country's state-owned defence manufacturers under one holding. The group lists more than 50 member companies and holds stakes in 32 others, across arms, ammunition, shipbuilding, electronics and new technologies. Its units supply the Polish armed forces with weapons, vehicles and optics.

Poland is one of NATO's largest defence spenders on the eastern flank, and PGZ is the main domestic channel for that spending. Partnerships such as the Milrem agreements let its units fit their weapon stations and sights to foreign uncrewed platforms rather than build every system in-house.

Key Issues
Ground robots

PGZ arms an Estonian robot

On 10 September 2026, at the MSPO defence show in Kielce, two PGZ subsidiaries signed cooperation agreements with Milrem Robotics, the Estonian maker of the THeMIS ground robot. ZMT is to pair its weapon systems, including a 12.7mm remote weapon station, with Milrem robots; PCO is to supply optoelectronics.

The agreements build on a framework PGZ signed with Milrem in March 2026. They make the Polish group a supplier of weapons and sights to a robot that Milrem sells well beyond Poland: Hanwha Aerospace bought two THeMIS units, announced on 7 October, for Korean research and Australian work. No value or quantity has been published for the PGZ agreements, so the deals mark access to the ground-robot market rather than confirmed orders.

Common Questions
What is PGZ in Poland?
Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, the holding company that unites Poland's state-owned defence manufacturers. The government set it up in 2013.Source: Wikipedia
What did Milrem sign with PGZ at MSPO 2026?
On 10 September 2026 Milrem agreed cooperation with PGZ units ZMT (weapon systems for ground robots) and PCO (optoelectronics).Source: Milrem Robotics
How many companies are in PGZ?
More than 50 companies, plus stakes in 32 others, according to Wikipedia.Source: Wikipedia
Who are ZMT and PCO?
Units of Poland's PGZ group: ZMT supplies weapon systems and PCO makes optoelectronics, per Milrem's announcement.Source: Milrem Robotics
Source Material