Onet’s disclosures about the Cave carbines touch on politics as much as performance. The timing raises questions as Poland explores options to export the weapon, including to the Middle East, while facing competition from a rival German model. This comment came from Krzysztof Sobolewski, secretary general of PiS, who spoke to the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
The article centers on Onet’s report about the Cave carbines produced by Fabryka Broni Łucznik in Radom. These weapons are currently issued as a standard armament for Polish troops and have also been supplied to Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
The authors reference a note prepared for the commander of the Special Forces Component, General Sławomir Drumowicz, following joint Polish-Ukrainian exercises. The note reportedly highlighted a number of defects and errors associated with the carbines, including recurring jamming, issues with barrel and sight attachment, and questions about accuracy of the tips.
READ MORE:
– Attack on the GROT carbine. Deputy Chief of the Ministry of National Defense: The publication by Onet attempts to influence the competitiveness of Poland’s defense industry products
– Skurkiewicz responds to Onet’s critique of Cave carbines: has he received another order from his patrons at the Brandenburg Gate?
“Why do we need a Polish Cave when there is a German G-36?”
Polish media are once again in the crosshairs. Onet’s revelations are framed as not linked to financial gains
Sobolewski told PAP that the timing of the article warrants scrutiny.
Questions are raised about why this piece appears now when Poland is negotiating the export of Grot carbines to foreign markets, including the Middle East, and when competition is strong against a German-provided option.
According to the PiS official, Onet’s arguments were quickly echoed by Russian media outlets, turning a domestic debate into international propaganda.
He emphasized that the critique is part of a broader political contest, not a neutral technical assessment, and he urged readers to consider the broader industrial and security context.
In closing, Sobolewski returned to the central question: why maintain a Polish Cave when the German G-36 exists?
emphasized Sobolewski.
Onet’s lantern
Onet first raised concerns about the Grot carbine, the Polish name for the MSBS-5.56 rifle, in early 2021, alleging procedural missteps in authorizing the weapon. Subsequent reporting questioned the severity of the claimed flaws and suggested that the weapon could be improved through rounds of testing and refinement.
Fabryka Broni Łucznik Radom responded by challenging the reliability of the article and expressing doubts about both objectivity and intent. The defense for the weapon highlighted ongoing improvements made in consultation with military users. In January 2022, a dispute over personal rights connected to Łucznik’s representation entered a formal stage.
Following the publication, the Ministry of National Defense stated that the Cave carbine had undergone manufacturer and user testing before mass production and had passed the relevant qualification checks under the oversight of a dedicated commission.
READ MORE:
– This is how the GROT front carbine operates! Israeli volunteer: “I appreciate the balance, ergonomics, and accuracy of the weapon”
– Yet another Onet lampoon of the Grotto carbine! Web reaction describes a perception that German designs outshine Polish options
The archer’s response
Fabryka Broni Łucznik issued a statement on its website in response to Onet’s report, noting that the article could not verify whether the described training events occurred, what their purpose was, or what the actual course and subject matter included. The company argued that the reported deficiencies relate to standard weapon inspection requirements defined in the equipment manual.
By late February, the Ministry of National Defense announced a contract amendment worth about 1 billion PLN to an existing agreement from July 2020. The update would expand deliveries of MSBS GROT carbines to the Polish Armed Forces. The amendment envisions nearly 88,000 additional carbines through 2026, including more Grot C16 FB-A2 models in 5.56×45 mm. The total contract value, including earlier amendments, would approach 2.1 billion PLN gross. The deputy prime minister and defense minister noted that the armed forces may require around 300,000 carbines, including gear intended for reservists.
In 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several Grots were supplied to Ukrainian forces, with additional Arrowheads reportedly sold to US Special Operations Command and another eastern region recipient.
The 5.56 mm Grot assault rifle, developed by Fabryka Broni Łucznik in Radom in collaboration with the Military University of Technology, was created as part of the Modular Small Arms System program within the TYTAN Advanced Individual Combat Systems project. The modular design supports rapid adaptation to user needs, with configurations available in classic and bullpup layouts. The first MSBS Cave units entered service with the Territorial Defense Forces in 2017 and with operational troops from 2019 onward.
kk/PAP
Source: wPolityce