Military Institute of Armament Technology follows the tradition, experience and activities of former institutions wchich existed in Zielonka testing range since 1926.
The background of Military Institute of Armament Technology dates to 25 March 1926 when an Institute for Artillery Researches was formally founded by the Ministry of Military Affairs in the Republic of Poland.
All the time until the start of the II War the Institute had been a centre of analysis, studies and research works on armament and had been dealing mainly with weapon systems and ammunition testing and the upgrading of equipment left by the First War Allied and Occupant Armies. Before the II War more than 200 types of weapon systems and ammunition were adapted, deployed and upgraded and more than 100 new solutions were developed. Many of them were the real edge of technology at that time and following items may be used as an example: 7.9 mm model 35 “UR” antitank carbine round penetrated 22 mm steel armour and 7.9 mm self-loading carbine was one of the first designs in the world of such category. There were also efforts undertaken to investigate possibilities for application of rocket missiles in the field artillery.
Activity of Institute after the II War was determined by factors which hindered the exploitation of its capacities but even then the Institute supported the Armed Forces and the Defence Industry through its scientific and research – development works. And as new types of weaponry entered into the service the organisational structure of Institute was also tailored to these changes and some new types of specialisation appeared. Many challenging tasks were undertaken and in the result a dedicated team of researchers was created. Thanks to the reasonable and consequent scientific career program many groups of high qualified experts had been working at well equipped installations, labs and testing set – ups.
Here are some examples of developments entered into service at that time:
- WP-8 field launcher;
- elongated explosive charges to make passes in mine fields;
- training system for tactical rockets;
- training system for operational – tactical rockets;
- 64 “CZAK” model pistol;
- training heads for antitank guided missiles;
- WM – 18 ship launcher;
- antitank grenade launcher of single use;
- mortar rounds with boosting rocket motor;
- small arms and artillery training ammunition for different calibre values;
- tachometric gyroscopic sight.
In the nineties a lot of structural changes were carried out in Institute to adapt it better into more competitive market environment existing in the scope of its activity. New development perspectives were created after getting access to modern technologies and instruments and this was boosted also by these structural changes and upgrading of some testing installations.
Here are some examples of developments made at that time:
- gun-missile antiaircraft system “JOD” and its naval version “WRÓBEL”;
- tank reactive armour “ERAWA”;
- ceramic-reactive armour “CERAWA”;
- tactical rocket disrupting-fragmentation warhead “TYTANIT”;
- muzzle velocity radar “RUBIN-1M”;
- field ballistic radar station;
- noise jammers;
- electronically programmed time fuses;
- composite helmets;
- bullet proof jackets;
- 60 mm long range mortar;
- 60 mm paratroops mortar;
- salute gun;
- mortar battery fire control system;
- self propelled artillery battalion fire control system;
- cargo ammunition for calibre 98 and 122 mm;
- aerial target imitator;
- mobile testing station for “GROM” missile;
- explosive ordnance service protection systems.
Integration of the Polish Armed Forces with NATO military structures has been bringing some new challenges and Institute copes with them successfully. Weapon certification and test quality assurance systems were implemented according to European standards. Five testing labs received the accreditation from the Polish Accreditation Centre and Institute is authorised to issue certifications for more than 150 items.
As the Institute creates a scientific background for the Army being a part of NATO structure its main goal is to maintain the highest level of specialisation in domains which decide about art of technology level for weapon systems and equipment for the Armed Forces and which due to the prestige and economical reasons should be manufactured in country.