Mil News Polish Armed Forces News

[NoOne]

IBCS For Poland Moves Toward Initial Operational Capability

This is a BIG deal. Maybe not as flashy as an Abrams or Apache but it brings a massive capability in networked warfighting. The system features open architecture which will allow great flexibility in future development, and allow allies to better integrate assets such as the U.S., German and Polish Patriots currently deployed in Poland.

This system can link air defense assets from Patriot down to 23MM autocannons as well as certain VSHORADS. The capability can be extended into HIMARS and almost certainly tube artillery. This allows Poland to utilize assets whose eyes are not as capable or have been put out of action.

IBCS allows the user to get there fastest with the mostest. This is a critically important acquisition by Poland.

As I understand it, the system will be capable of countering the eventual deployment of Russian assets such as the Yak-1.

 

[NoOne]

Poland Signs Air Defence Deal

In about 6-7 years they will have a state-of-the-art air defence shield... providing the plans move ahead.

Quite a step up from S-200 & S-125 designs that were developed in the late 1950's and early 1960's.

 

[Conhoon]

The United States will provide Poland with eight Apache helicopters until Poland receives its own machines, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak on Friday after a meeting with US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon.

 

[NoOne]

The United States will provide Poland with eight Apache helicopters until Poland receives its own machines, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak on Friday after a meeting with US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon.

View attachment 433325

That is a good start, let the training and integration begin!

Not sure they will ultimately receive the full request of 96 helos but time will tell.

 

[Conhoon]

May 10, 2023 Krzysztof Płatek, spokesman for the Armament Agency, confirmed that the Polish modernized FA-50PL light combat aircraft will be equipped with a PhantomStrike radar with an AESA antenna (Active Electronically Scanned Array) of the American company Raytheon Intelligence & Space (part of Raytheon Technologies). The first unofficial reports on this matter appeared on April 2 this year. On the other hand, on May 9, The USA has approved the sale to Poland of Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATP optoelectronic observation and targeting pods, which will be equipped with these aircraft.

 

[Conhoon]

At the 1st Transport Aviation Base (1 Baza Lotnictwa Transportowego - 1 BLTr) in Warsaw, on May 15, 2023, the presentation of the first five M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers for the Polish Army took place.
The launchers were transported on May 14 on the An-124-100 Ruslan strategic transport aircraft of the Ukrainian Antonov Airlines to Warsaw Chopin Airport, from where they were delivered to the 1 BLTr. Another 15 HIMARS launchers are to be delivered to Poland by the end of 2023. All of them will be equipped with the 16th "Pomorska" Mechanized Division in North-East Poland. The photos are from yesterday, when the first launchers arrived.

 

[NoOne]

At the 1st Transport Aviation Base (1 Baza Lotnictwa Transportowego - 1 BLTr) in Warsaw, on May 15, 2023, the presentation of the first five M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers for the Polish Army took place.
The launchers were transported on May 14 on the An-124-100 Ruslan strategic transport aircraft of the Ukrainian Antonov Airlines to Warsaw Chopin Airport, from where they were delivered to the 1 BLTr. Another 15 HIMARS launchers are to be delivered to Poland by the end of 2023. All of them will be equipped with the 16th "Pomorska" Mechanized Division in North-East Poland. The photos are from yesterday, when the first launchers arrived.

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Well, that sends several messages!

The launchers were transported on May 14 on the An-124-100 Ruslan strategic transport aircraft of the Ukrainian Antonov Airlines to Warsaw Chopin Airport

 

[av405]

Can't wait to see them in Polish camo. So far all current HIMARS regardless of country have either been in all OD green or desert tan.

 

[NoOne]

May 10, 2023 Krzysztof Płatek, spokesman for the Armament Agency, confirmed that the Polish modernized FA-50PL light combat aircraft will be equipped with a PhantomStrike radar with an AESA antenna (Active Electronically Scanned Array) of the American company Raytheon Intelligence & Space (part of Raytheon Technologies). The first unofficial reports on this matter appeared on April 2 this year. On the other hand, on May 9, The USA has approved the sale to Poland of Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATP optoelectronic observation and targeting pods, which will be equipped with these aircraft.

View attachment 433966

Speaking of AESA I wonder if, and when, Poland will begin the upgrade their F-16s to V standard?

 

[BravoZulu]

Northrop Grumman has delivered key Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) components to Poland for its new medium-range air defense program.

According to company vice president Rebecca Torzone, the IBCS will provide the country’s air defenders with the ability to make faster, better-informed decisions to defeat a wide variety of threats.
The recent delivery of the IBCS Integrated Fire Control Network (IFCN) relays supports the WISŁA program’s fielding schedule, which is the first foreign military sale of IBCS. Reaching this milestone provides a critical capability to a key U.S. ally and achieves NATO interoperability goals.

 

[BravoZulu]

Poland is set to acquire early warning aircraft from Sweden, marking a significant step in enhancing the country’s air defense.

Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak announced the decision, emphasizing its importance in fortifying Poland’s defense infrastructure.

Poland’s acquisition of early warning aircraft signifies a strong commitment to bolstering its air defense. Detailed negotiations between Poland and Sweden, led by Minister Blaszczak, have been progressing well.

The positive outcome of discussions held during the Northern Group Meeting in Legionowo, where Minister Blaszczak met with Swedish Minister of Defense Pale Jonson, highlights the shared dedication to enhancing defense cooperation.

 

[Conhoon]

Poland is set to acquire early warning aircraft from Sweden, marking a significant step in enhancing the country’s air defense.

Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak announced the decision, emphasizing its importance in fortifying Poland’s defense infrastructure.

Poland’s acquisition of early warning aircraft signifies a strong commitment to bolstering its air defense. Detailed negotiations between Poland and Sweden, led by Minister Blaszczak, have been progressing well.

The positive outcome of discussions held during the Northern Group Meeting in Legionowo, where Minister Blaszczak met with Swedish Minister of Defense Pale Jonson, highlights the shared dedication to enhancing defense cooperation.
View attachment 435374

Initial talks in Legionowo concerned Saab 340B AEW-300 aircraft - due to the possibility of quick delivery. There was also talk of a later purchase of more modern aircraft.

Photo: Saab 340B AEW-300

 

[Conhoon]

June 2. The Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak announced on social media that the first transport with 14 M1A1FEP Abrams tanks and 3 M88A2 HERCULES recovery vehicles will soon leave the USA for Poland. Taking into account the pace of deliveries, and previous experience with the introduction of Leopard tanks, the units that will receive the M1A1FEP this year will reach full operational readiness at the end of 2026.

 

[Conhoon]

June 13 Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów S.A. and the Armament Agency signed further contracts for the supply of modified 7.62 mm UKM-2000P universal machine guns and TOR large-caliber anti-materiel rifles. The contracts cover the delivery of several hundred machine guns in 2023-2024 and several dozen TOR high caliber anti-materiel/sniper rifles in 2024.

 

[Conhoon]

On Monday, June 19, in the South Korean port of Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province, Hanwha Aerospace prepared for shipment the first Polish K239 Chunmoo multi-rocket launcher on the Polish Jelcz P882.57 TS T45 K-MLRS 8×8 chassis developed for the "Homar- K" program.
In the first half of August. military equipment will go to Poland.

The K239 Chunmoo is a South Korean multiple launch rocket system (K-MRLS) capable of firing several different guided or unguided missiles. The launcher is equipped with two rocket pods that can hold several types of rockets. Each pod holds, depending on the ammunition used: 6 guided missiles of 239 mm caliber with a range of 80 km, or 1 guided tactical missile of 600 mm caliber with a range of 290 km. The existing solutions also include pods for: 20 unguided 131 mm K33 rockets with a range of 36 km, 6 unguided 230 mm rockets of KM6A2 caliber (the same as previously used in the American M270 MLRS) with a range of 45 km, or 2 guided 400 mm caliber rockets with a range exceeding 200 km. The containers can be loaded with various types of rockets.

 

[Conhoon]

On June 28, the Ministry of National Defense announced that the first M1A1 Abrams tanks ordered by Poland had been unloaded in Szczecin.
This is the first company of 14 tanks so far. Together with the tanks, three M88A2 Hercules technical support vehicles were brought. This year, vehicles for two more companies will arrive in Poland, each of which will contain a similar number of tanks. In total, this should be the equipment for the entire armored battalion. Another Abrams battalion will be transported to Poland next year. The user of these tanks will be the 18th Mechanized Division (first bath - 1st "Warszawska" Armoured Brigade), which is currently training on Abrams vehicles provided by the US Army.

 

[BravoZulu]

The Polish government has signed a deal to purchase 800 Hellfire II missiles that are to be carried by a new fleet of attack helicopters, with a request to buy Boeing AH-64E Apaches still in the pipeline.

The contract for the sale of the missiles, which are manufactured by American firm Lockheed Martin, was inked by the Defence Ministry’s Armament Agency and U.S. Army Security Assistance Command.

The deal is worth about $150 million, according to officials. Deliveries are slated to begin this year and stretch through 2029.

Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said in a tweet Tuesday that the weapons are meant to arm “our AW149 support helicopters, and, eventually, the AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters.”

In July 2022, Poland’s government signed a deal to acquire 32 AW149 helos produced by Italy’s Leonardo. Deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled for the years 2023 to 2029. The contract includes a logistics package as well as training and simulators.

Also last year, the Polish ministry sent a letter of request to the U.S. government to purchase 96 Boeing AH-64E Apaches. Under the plan, the copters would first deploy to the military’s 18th Mechanized Division. Based in Siedlce, about 91 kilometers (57 miles) east of Poland’s capital Warsaw, the division was designated a bulwark against a potential Russian invasion, according to local defense officials.

 

[BravoZulu]

Poland will buy advanced Patriot missile defense systems worth up to $15 billion in a deal announced Wednesday by the Pentagon.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the sale would involve up to 48 Patriot PAC-3 launchers and up to 644 Patriot PAC-3 MSE missiles, along with radars and control components for the systems.

The agency said the State Department, which has authority over US arms export deals, had approved the sale, which will provide Warsaw with some of the most advanced US air defense systems.

 

[Conhoon]

July 4, 2023 The Armament Agency announced in social media about the successful completion of the delivery and acceptance tests of the "Bystra" Capable of Being Deployed Radiolocation Stations (ZPSR) .

Based on two contracts, the Polish Army is to receive a total of 38 such radars in the coming years.

 

[Conhoon]

The first two FA/50 aircraft for the Polish Air Force are already in Poland.