Huta Stalowa Wola Begins Serial Production of Heron 6×6 Vehicles
Huta Stalowa Wola S.A., part of the Polish Armaments Group, will soon begin serial production of Heron 6×6 multi-purpose armored tactical vehicles. HSW S.A. placed an order with Tatra Defence Vehicle, a company belonging to the Czechoslovak Group, for the delivery of chassis that will be used to complete the first batch of these vehicles.
The order concerns chassis that will be used to produce the first batch of Heron 6×6 vehicles. The production process will continue to be fully carried out by HSW S.A.
The launch of serial production of Heron 6×6 vehicles is another example of technical cooperation between HSW S.A. and entities of the Czechoslovak Group. It began in 2020, when the first agreement with Tatra Export s.r.o. was signed on September 8 for the design and delivery of a tactical multi-purpose vehicle with a 4×4 drive system. The vehicle, which was developed as part of this cooperation, is now mass-produced under the name Waran by plants belonging to HSW S.A.
Video: MSPO Kielce 2025: MTV 6x6 Heron (TADEAS) / DEFENSE MAGAZINE
The transfer of technology for the production of the new type of vehicle to Huta Stalowa Wola was successfully carried out in cooperation with CSG. This was possible thanks to the great commitment and competence of high-class specialists employed in Stalowa Wola, as well as the experience gained in the course of the cooperation between Tatra Trucks, Excalibur Army a.s. and HSW in the production of Waran 4×4 tactical multi-purpose vehicles, which are already in service with the Polish Armed Forces, said Marek Karabuła, President of the Management Board and CEO of Huta Stalowa Wola S.A.
Based on the order received, we will deliver a batch of new-type chassis to HSW, which will enable the launch of serial production of Heron 6×6 vehicles. These are vehicles that use advanced solutions and meet the requirements of the modern and future battlefield. We are ready to continue our cooperation with the Polish defense industry and expand our partnership to jointly build the potential of the defense sector and the capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces. The Waran and Heron vehicle projects are excellent examples of the synergy generated by the cooperation between Polish and Czech defense companies, added Tomáš Mohapl, President of Tatra Defence Vehicle.
The Heron 6x6 vehicle is based on the TADEAS (TAtra DEfence Armored Solution) vehicle offered by TDV. However, its design has been adapted to the requirements defined by the Polish Armed Forces, with significant input from specialists from HSW S.A. This, in turn, has enabled a very high degree of Polish localization to be achieved. Serial production of Heron 6×6 vehicles will be carried out entirely by HSW S.A., while TDV will remain the supplier of chassis, as is the case with Waran 4×4 vehicles.
The Heron 6×6 tactical multi-purpose vehicle is a universal wheeled platform that can serve as a basis for the production of tactical vehicles for a variety of purposes: from command vehicles, through armored personnel carriers, to vehicles carrying specialized equipment (including weapon systems) to medical evacuation vehicles – the concept of the Medical Evacuation Vehicle was presented by CSG as a technology demonstrator during the 33rd MSPO.
The first prototype of the P1 Heron 6×6 was presented in May 2024. It was built by a Czech company and used in Poland to construct a demonstrator vehicle in the form of a command vehicle – first at the mechanized battalion level, then as a command vehicle for the squadron commander/chief of staff of the DMO chief of staff of the DMO multiple launch rocket systems (more details in “Wojsko i Technika” 9/2024). In the latter role, the Heron 6×6 became the subject of the first order from the Ministry of National Defense. On November 8, 2024, a consortium of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. and Huta Stalowa Wola S.A. (leader) signed a contract with the Armament Agency for the purchase of accompanying vehicles, including command and logistics vehicles, intended to complete the divisional fire modules (DMO) of WR-40 Langusta artillery rocket launchers, with a gross value of PLN 1.320 billion. In addition to Waran 4×4 command vehicles (battery commanders and fire platoon commanders), the contract also includes command and staff vehicles based on the Heron 6×6 vehicle (squadron commanders and squadron chiefs of staff).
In connection with the implementation of this program, TDV built another Heron 6×6, this time based on the TADEAS 6×6 P2 prototype. It was delivered to HSW S.A. in February this year and was already more Polish in nature (e.g., the filter ventilation system was supplied by a Polish entity) and took into account comments made during tests and demonstrations of the command vehicle for military representatives. It was equipped with, among other things, a Caterpillar 9.3B engine, an auxiliary power unit (APU) with a power of at least 10 kW, a modern land navigation system, target seats reducing the impact of detonations under the floor, and was adapted for the installation of a remote-controlled weapon station above the commander's station. In this configuration, it was presented, among others, during the 33rd MSPO in Kielce.
