How Collins Aerospace is Clearing Supply Bottlenecks

Collins Aerospace has opened an expanded manufacturing facility in Tajęcina, Poland. The 22,000-square-meter site will produce landing gear systems for commercial and defence aircraft programmes.

The facility is owned by Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX. Collins Aerospace manufactures structures, avionics, interiors, mission systems, and power and control systems for commercial, regional, business aviation and military customers globally.

The expansion comes as European countries significantly increase defence spending due to rising global geopolitical tensions, including Russia's war on Ukraine and shifting relations with the US.

According to McKinsey, Europe's NATO members are projected to spend €800bn (US$920bn) on defence by 2030, representing a €300bn (US$345bn) increase from 2025 levels.

Production capacity increases

The US$69m expansion will increase Collins' landing gear system production capacity by nearly 25% across both commercial and defence programmes. The site will also create approximately 190 new jobs this year.

Matt Maurer, Vice President and General Manager of Landing Systems at Collins Aerospace, stated: "Collins is making a long-term investment in both the local workforce and the future of aerospace in the broader Poland ecosystem."

Maurer added: "Building on the strong foundation established in 2012, this expansion significantly increases critical production capacity, accelerates growth, and strengthens our ability to deliver the high-performance landing gear systems our customers depend on around the world."

Pratt & Whitney expands operations

Alongside Collins, fellow RTX business unit Pratt & Whitney announced a US$100m investment to expand production capacity at its Rzeszów facility, focusing on critical engine components like rotating compressor and turbine disks.

This investment responds to surging demand for Pratt & Whitney GTF, F135, and F100 engines. Output at the facility is expected to increase by 30% and become fully operational by 2028.

Notably, the F135 engine powers Lockheed Martin’s 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II supersonic stealth fighter jet.

European defence industrial readiness

The European Parliament emphasises that recent geopolitical shifts have heightened the urgent need for the EU to reinforce its military capabilities and achieve strategic self-defence readiness by 2030.

This marks a sharp turn from historical trends; Oxford Economics noted that European investment in defence-related manufacturing stagnated substantially between the early 1990s and 2022.

McKinsey highlights that Europe's recent steps to reverse this trend, driven by higher spending, new procurement programs, and a focus on industrial readiness—will see equipment spending alone nearly double over the next four years.

RTX footprint in Poland

Poland represents RTX's largest employee base and investment footprint outside the US. Operating in the country for over 50 years, RTX currently runs nine major engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, and R&D facilities.

Across its Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon businesses, RTX employs more than 9,400 people in Poland, cementing the country's position as a cornerstone of the company’s global manufacturing and defence strategy.