The Polish Ministry of National Defense has signed a contract valued at approximately 800 million złotych ($190 million) for the delivery of the first 28 Kleszcz (Bóbr-3) light armored reconnaissance vehicles to the Polish Armed Forces.
According to Defence24, the agreement, signed at the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade in the presence of Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Bejda, and Armament Agency Chief Brigadier General Artur Kuptel, is part of a larger framework contract to procure a total of 286 Kleszcz vehicles.
The contract, which includes logistical and training packages, is scheduled for deliveries between 2026 and 2028. The vehicles are intended to replace the aging fleet of over 200 BRDM-2 reconnaissance vehicles currently in service. The full framework agreement spans from 2026 to 2035, a timeline adjusted from an earlier plan that anticipated deliveries beginning in 2025.
The Kleszcz vehicles are a result of the “Light Armored Reconnaissance Transporter” (LOTR) program, co-financed by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) between 2013 and 2022. The program was led by a consortium headed by AMZ-Kutno S.A., in collaboration with several military research institutes, including the Military Institute of Chemistry and Radiometry, the Military Institute of Communications, and the Military Technical Institute of Armament. The total value of the LOTR program was 36.45 million złotych, with 33.42 million złotych funded by the NCBR.
The Kleszcz vehicles have been showcased multiple times at the MSPO defense industry fair in Kielce, with two prototypes displayed in recent years. The upcoming Polish Armed Forces Day parade on August 15 will feature two of these vehicles, marking their public debut and symbolizing the beginning of the replacement process for the outdated BRDM-2 vehicles. For Polish soldiers, this transition represents a significant enhancement in reconnaissance, analytical capabilities, and protection.
Despite the strategic importance of this acquisition, the contract has sparked controversy, particularly regarding its value. The 800 million złotych price tag translates to approximately 28.5 million złotych ($7.3 million) per vehicle, raising questions about cost-effectiveness. However, the price includes additional expenses related to logistical and training packages, as well as investments in expanding AMZ Kutno’s production capacity for mass-producing the Kleszcz vehicles.
