Mil News Polish Armed Forces News

[Conhoon]

On Thursday, July 20, 2023, the press service of the 16th "Pomorska" Mechanized Division announced in social media that soldiers of the 1st "Mazurska" Artillery Brigade (1st BA) are starting training on M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) multiple rocket launchers.

 

[Conhoon]

On Friday, July 21, 2023, the Armament Agency of the Ministry of National Defense announced in social media that it had launched the procurement procedure for a batch of Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk International multi-role helicopters for the Aeromobile Forces, which are part of the Land Forces.

The procurement procedure for the S-70i Black Hawk multi-role helicopters for the Aeromobile Forces has begun. An invitation to negotiate was sent today. Black Hawk will be able to cooperate with the AW149 currently acquired from WSK PZL Świdnik and the AH-64E Apache planned to be acquired - we read on the profile of the Armament Agency on Twitter.

The above means that the invitation was sent to PZL Mielec, a company belonging to the American corporation Lockheed Martin, which produces S-70i Black Hawk International and S-70M Black Hawk multi-role helicopters in Poland.

 

[NoOne]

On Friday, July 21, 2023, the Armament Agency of the Ministry of National Defense announced in social media that it had launched the procurement procedure for a batch of Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk International multi-role helicopters for the Aeromobile Forces, which are part of the Land Forces.
View attachment 440784
The procurement procedure for the S-70i Black Hawk multi-role helicopters for the Aeromobile Forces has begun. An invitation to negotiate was sent today. Black Hawk will be able to cooperate with the AW149 currently acquired from WSK PZL Świdnik and the AH-64E Apache planned to be acquired - we read on the profile of the Armament Agency on Twitter.

The above means that the invitation was sent to PZL Mielec, a company belonging to the American corporation Lockheed Martin, which produces S-70i Black Hawk International and S-70M Black Hawk multi-role helicopters in Poland.

Crickets chirping on the Apache deal.

 

[Conhoon]

On Tuesday, July 25, the Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak announced in social media that the Armament Agency signed a contract for the supply of two used Swedish Saab 340B AEW-300 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft.

 

[Conhoon]

First seen at Venegono, new AW149 for Polish Armed Forces .

 

[Conhoon]

K239 Chunmoo multi-rocket launcher on Jelcz P882.57 TS T45 K-MLRS 8×8 chassis developed in Poland for the Homar-K program / Photo: Hanwha Aerospace

 

[BravoZulu]

Polish Minister of National Defense, Mariusz Blaszczak, announced that his country is purchasing several hundreds of Spike LR anti-tank guided missiles for the Polish Army.

The Polish Armament Agency added in a release that the deliveries will be made in the years 2023-2026, and the contract is worth about $100 million.

On the agenda is another contract for the purchase of additional launchers for LR/LR2 spike missiles. The Spike-LR missiles and launchers are locally manufactured under a license from the Israeli company Rafael by Mesko in Poland.

https://www.army-technology.com/new...urchase-of-spike-fibre-optic-guided-missiles/

 

[Conhoon]

On Thursday, August 10, 2023, the Armament Agency of the Ministry of National Defense sent an invitation to negotiations with WSK PZL-Świdnik (part of the Italian company Leonardo Helicopters) regarding the acquisition of another 22 heavy multi-role AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters for the Polish Army.

The first information about plans to purchase another 22 AW101 appeared on May 25 this year. Now, therefore, the negotiation procedure has been formally launched, which opens the way to their acquisition. As declared, the new helicopters will be delivered to the Aeromobile Forces, which are part of the Land Forces.

This is important because on June 21, A similar invitation was sent to PZL Mielec (part of Lockheed Martin) regarding the purchase of a batch of lighter Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk International multi-role helicopters.

As mentioned above, the Italian-British and American rotorcraft will complement the 32 AW149 battlefield support helicopters ordered earlier in Świdnik, the first of which was flown on July 27 this year. from Leonardo's company airport in Varese-Venegono, Italy.

 

[Conhoon]

On Monday, August 14, 2023 in Warsaw, the Minister of National Defense approved a framework agreement for the purchase of Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicles (CBWP - Ciężki Bojowy Wóz Piechoty) with adjustments.

The subject of the framework contract, concluded between the State Treasury - the Armament Agency and the Consortium composed of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), is the delivery of several hundred Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicles (CBWP).
The implementation of the framework contract for the supply of CBWP will result in a purchase with adjustment. This will allow the first CBWP to be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces in 2025, together with a logistics and training package. The contract also includes the expansion of the production and service infrastructure.

 

[Conhoon]

On Monday, August 14, 2023, in Warsaw, the Minister of National Defense approved the contract for the supply of Light Reconnaissance Vehicles (LPR). The subject of the contract, concluded between the State Treasury - the Armament Agency and the Consortium composed of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and Rosomak, is the delivery in the years 2024-2030 of several hundred Light Reconnaissance Vehicles (LPR) along with a logistics and training package. The agreement also provides for the establishment of an industrial potential enabling the production and provision of maintenance services and repair of vehicles in the country.

The Light Reconnaissance Vehicle is a vehicle with high off-road capabilities, with a 4×4 drive system, designed to transport 4 soldiers along with their individual and specialist equipment, in all weather conditions, day and night.

The vehicle provides the level of ballistic protection required by the Polish Armed Forces and will be equipped with a rotating handle (turntable) enabling the installation of a machine gun or automatic grenade launcher, which will enable LPR to fire while ensuring the protection of the crew during the execution of tasks. Light Reconnaissance Vehicles will be intended for reconnaissance units in armored and mechanized forces. The war in Ukraine clearly showed that strengthening the ability to recognize translates into later successes on the battlefield.
The 4×4 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle is a polonization of the Korean family of KLTV vehicles by KIA. From the first deliveries, the vehicle will receive a new, modernized body prepared for the needs of the Polish project. Over the next few years, Rosomak plans to gradually transfer the production of vehicle components to Poland, starting with the transfer of body production technology and the introduction of structural changes in terms of the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces. One of the priorities, as in the case of the development of the KTO Rosomak platform, is the maximum adjustment of the structure based on the comments of vehicle users.

 

[Conhoon]

Also on August 14, 2023, a framework contract was signed in Warsaw for the development of a new wheeled AT / IFV.

According to PGZ, the New Wheeled Armored Transporter (NKTO) is to be another domestic product, next to the NBPWP Borsuk, designed from scratch on the basis of the experience and competence of Polish engineers. Currently, preparations are underway to negotiate an executive contract with the ordering party regarding the development of a vehicle, the rights to which will remain in Poland, and license restrictions will be reduced to the necessary minimum. The action is aimed, among other things, at free management of vehicle configuration and independent development of Polish specialist versions. In connection with the above, joint NKTO design with foreign partners is not planned at the present stage. PGZ allows for such a possibility at the stage of work on specific components.

 

[Conhoon]

On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, the ceremony of the first sheet metal cutting for the project 106 multi-purpose frigate, built as part of the Miecznik program, took place. Built at the PGZ Stocznia Wojenna shipyard in Gdynia, under construction number B106/1, the ship will be named Wicher.

All three planned vessels will receive the names of weather phenomena traditional for Polish destroyers. The first two ships will inherit them from the pre-war destroyers ORP Wicher and ORP Burza, built in France in 1927-1932. The last ship is to be named Huragan, which before World War II was intended for one of the two Grom-type destroyers planned to be built in Poland.

 

[Old Dog 90-94]

Also on August 14, 2023, a framework contract was signed in Warsaw for the development of a new wheeled AT / IFV.
View attachment 444246
According to PGZ, the New Wheeled Armored Transporter (NKTO) is to be another domestic product, next to the NBPWP Borsuk, designed from scratch on the basis of the experience and competence of Polish engineers. Currently, preparations are underway to negotiate an executive contract with the ordering party regarding the development of a vehicle, the rights to which will remain in Poland, and license restrictions will be reduced to the necessary minimum. The action is aimed, among other things, at free management of vehicle configuration and independent development of Polish specialist versions. In connection with the above, joint NKTO design with foreign partners is not planned at the present stage. PGZ allows for such a possibility at the stage of work on specific components.

So how good are you guys? Combined arms tactics and all?

 

[Conhoon]

So how good are you guys? Combined arms tactics and all?

In this case, the sum of experience from building hundreds of transporters and poor negotiations with the Finns and Koreans prevail. Our government, in agreement with the industry, decided not to use, among other things, the license for Patria XP vehicles, but to build such a transporter ourselves, so as to have the unlimited right to make changes ourselves and avoid license fees. Ambitious, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it succeeds.

 

[NoOne]

So how good are you guys? Combined arms tactics and all?

Poland is in a critical situation right now. They would need to rely heavily on NATO (primarily U.S.) air power and close support among other things. Their air defence capabilities are only now being rebuilt and their armoured force will require 3-5 years to re-equip and assimilate M-1s, K-2s, Leopard2PL, K-9s, Krabs, K-239 & M142 MLRS, Borsuk IFV, etc .

Much of their legacy Soviet-designed weapons have been donated to Ukraine, and good riddance to it, but that process depleted their arsenal in the short-medium term. They presently have gaps in important areas.

The special forces are first class but as far as combined arms and the readiness of mechanized units I imagine there will be some challenges ahead both in capabilities and numbers. Hopefully, the reserve forces will be given some attention and with the on-going introduction of new equipment Poland will field a quite formidable force within the next 5-6 years.

Given the struggles of Russian forces in Ukraine I think that if Poland remains focused and removes politics from the military reorganization as far as possible, they should have a window in which to develop a highly credible deterrence to Russian adventurism in the Baltic, especially when networked within NATO.

 

[NoOne]

On Monday, August 14, 2023, in Warsaw, the Minister of National Defense approved the contract for the supply of Light Reconnaissance Vehicles (LPR). The subject of the contract, concluded between the State Treasury - the Armament Agency and the Consortium composed of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and Rosomak, is the delivery in the years 2024-2030 of several hundred Light Reconnaissance Vehicles (LPR) along with a logistics and training package. The agreement also provides for the establishment of an industrial potential enabling the production and provision of maintenance services and repair of vehicles in the country.

The Light Reconnaissance Vehicle is a vehicle with high off-road capabilities, with a 4×4 drive system, designed to transport 4 soldiers along with their individual and specialist equipment, in all weather conditions, day and night.

View attachment 444245

The vehicle provides the level of ballistic protection required by the Polish Armed Forces and will be equipped with a rotating handle (turntable) enabling the installation of a machine gun or automatic grenade launcher, which will enable LPR to fire while ensuring the protection of the crew during the execution of tasks. Light Reconnaissance Vehicles will be intended for reconnaissance units in armored and mechanized forces. The war in Ukraine clearly showed that strengthening the ability to recognize translates into later successes on the battlefield.
The 4×4 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle is a polonization of the Korean family of KLTV vehicles by KIA. From the first deliveries, the vehicle will receive a new, modernized body prepared for the needs of the Polish project. Over the next few years, Rosomak plans to gradually transfer the production of vehicle components to Poland, starting with the transfer of body production technology and the introduction of structural changes in terms of the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces. One of the priorities, as in the case of the development of the KTO Rosomak platform, is the maximum adjustment of the structure based on the comments of vehicle users.

I would imagine the Cougars have come in quite handy along the Belarus border.

 

[Old Dog 90-94]

Poland is in a critical situation right now. They would need to rely heavily on NATO (primarily U.S.) air power and close support among other things. Their air defence capabilities are only now being rebuilt and their armoured force will require 3-5 years to re-equip and assimilate M-1s, K-2s, Leopard2PL, K-9s, Krabs, K-239 & M142 MLRS, Borsuk IFV, etc .

Much of their legacy Soviet-designed weapons have been donated to Ukraine, and good riddance to it, but that process depleted their arsenal in the short-medium term. They presently have gaps in important areas.

The special forces are first class but as far as combined arms and the readiness of mechanized units I imagine there will be some challenges ahead both in capabilities and numbers. Hopefully, the reserve forces will be given some attention and with the on-going introduction of new equipment Poland will field a quite formidable force within the next 5-6 years.

Given the struggles of Russian forces in Ukraine I think that if Poland remains focused and removes politics from the military reorganization as far as possible, they should have a window in which to develop a highly credible deterrence to Russian adventurism in the Baltic, especially when networked within NATO.

I hope we are not counting on them to be the defenders of Europe. I know they now can draw from that Prussian manpower that the Nazis did but I don't think they will ever be a well rounded force.

 

[NoOne]

I hope we are not counting on them to be the defenders of Europe. I know they now can draw from that Prussian manpower that the Nazis did but I don't think they will ever be a well rounded force.

Certainly they have a ways to go toward having a balanced force, but they don't necessarily need everything. What they do need is heavy forces in place with close air support in the form of attack helicopters, fixed wing, drones and long range fires. NATO can provide air, sea and tactical missile support as well as the trump card of nuclear deterrence. The U.S. also is putting in place infrastructure to support a heavy brigade with the possibility of a second in the future. The British could play a small but important role as well. Notice I leave out the French & Germans.
With the addition of Finland and probably Sweden, Krolewiec becomes a carbuncle rather than an asset to the Soviets. Russian threats to Poland will soon be seen as the pathetic empty rants of a dying empire aimed at a gullible and irrational domestic audience.

 

[NoOne]

Poland Cleared to Buy 96 AH-64 Apaches

Congress must also approve the sale but that is usually a formality.
No word on delivery time but eight leased air frames will probably arrive within a year. My guess is that new builds will begin shipping within 3-4 years.
While the approval is for 96 units I will be surprised if Poland actually receives that many Apaches.

 

[NoOne]

F-15EX For Poland?

I would be surprised but anything is possible in these times. I would say a better use of funds in the immediate future might be to get 36 F-16s operable and up to V standard but it ain't my money!
I guess the other option would be to donate their F-16s to Ukraine and buy another 32 F-35s along with a quantity of F-15XE but the lead times are long and the F-16s have greater logistics synergy with the FA-50.