Bumar takes 'Grom' missile contract from ZM Mesko

The contract with the Defense Ministry for the supply of 'Grom' anti-aircraf t ordnance has been ceded to PHZ Bumar by the existing contractor, ZM Mesko, and will be carried out next year. Furthermore, the production of Grom missi les has been put into question. Even though the Defense Ministry signed a co ntract last year with ZM Mesko for the delivery of 213 missiles to the mobil e anti-air-craft unit, the Ministry failed to make a down-payment on time. T he deadline for delivery was set for November 30, however the first payment was forwarded by the Ministry only in June, while the rest of the money was paid in July. "It is really too late, this contract will be fulfilled by the middle of next year," said Artur Weber from the Ministry's press office. For Mesko it was too late to meet the requirements of the contract so, due to fi nancial problems, the contract went to Bumar, which has already taken over a ll the shares in the production plant. "In the modernization plan of the arm ed forces for 2001-2006, the purchase of the Grom unit was foreseen at a pri ce guaranteeing Mesko profitability," said Deputy Defense Minister Andrzej T owpik. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) A.C.