Army Equipment - Armor Modernization
Poland is in a different situation than Germany and France. It has much larger armored troops, more numerous than the combined forces of Paris and Berlin, but based mostly on older platforms generatively. According to the available information, the Polish Army has around 800 tanks, of which about 550 are T-72 and PT-91, and less than 250 - Leopards 2A4 / 2A5 / 2PL. In turn, Berlin plans to have about 320 tanks, Paris - 200 or slightly more.
In 1992 main battle tanks totaled 2,850, of which 2,065 were T-55 and 785 were T-72. The Soviet-designed T-55 tanks, introduced in the 1950s, were considered extremely limited against much more sophisticated Western tanks. Although the Soviet-licensed and Polish-produced T-72 is comparable to top Western tanks in maneuverability and traction, its effective range is less than that of the best German and United States tanks, and night vision is inferior. Poland's last fifty-eight light amphibious PT-76 tanks were eliminated as obsolete in 1992.
Some 685 amphibious reconnaissance vehicles were in use in 1992. Two types, the Hungarian-designed FUG and the Sovietdesigned BRDM-2, were included in that inventory; Poland began using the FUG in 1966 and the BRDM-2 around 1981. In 1991 Poland had 1,409 fully amphibious BMP-1 armored personnel carriers and 62 BMP-2 carriers. The BMPs were considered the only world-class armored vehicles in the Polish Army (although the BMP-1 had been in service since the early 1960s). Some 928 SKOT wheeled armored personnel carriers, a joint Polish and Czechoslovak design of 1959, remained in use in 1992. Many of these vehicles had been refitted as specialized command and communications vehicles, although the class was considered obsolete.
T-72M1R
At least until mid-2016, the Ministry of National Defense assumed that T-72 / PT-91 tanks would not be upgraded at all (apart from installation, as part of modifications, new Polish thermal imaging cameras on Hard), because they were to be replaced by new Gepard Direct Support Vehicles. "I would like to inform you that the modernization of the T-72 / PT-91 tank family is not planned, as well as the replacement of 125 mm 2A46 guns mounted on PT-91 tanks. (...) there are no plans to purchase anti-tank ammunition with a caliber of 125 mm. " - Deputy Minister Bartosz Kownacki responded to the parliamentary interpellation.
According to the signed agreement for PLN 1.75 billion, T-72 tanks are to undergo repairs together with modifications in the years 2019-2025. Modification of T-72 tanks is a necessary bridging solution. But the tank will still have the same (outdated) main armament in the form of a 125 mm cannon with stabilization, which has been known for years that it does not provide even minimally satisfactory parameters when it comes to conducting fire in motion. It will not receive additional reactive armor, or even the Obra laser beam warning system. A significant part of expenses, with the number of over three hundred tanks assumed for modernization, had to be spent on restoring the efficiency of the machines.
The modernized T-72M1R are delivered by a consortium consisting of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA, Zaklady Mechaniczne “Bumar-Labedy” SA and Wojskowe Zaklady Motoryzacyjne. In addition, sub-suppliers are companies from the domestic defense industry sector. The first serial tanks began to be delivered to the Polish Army in the middle of 2020 - incl. to the 19th Lublin Mechanized Brigade.
M1A2SEPv3 Abrams
Poland is seeking to replace its Soviet-era T-72 tanks and their descendants, PT-91s, with more modern Western machines. “Of course, this is a response to the challenges we face in terms of international security,” Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told a press conference 14 July 2021. “Our task is to deter a potential aggressor,” he said. “We all know who that aggressor is and what potential dangers are possible. Therefore, this is a swift and firm response to those dangers.” Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski announced"We believe that who wants peace, must prepare for war. We want peace, but in case of misfortune our defence will be stronger".
The Ministry of National Defence reported on 14 July 2021 that Poland would purchase 250 of the state-of-the-art M1A2 ABRAMS SEPv3 tanks. Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said the entire program will cost Poland PLN 23.3 billion (EUR 5.1 billion). "Of course, tanks constitute the bulk of the price but, apart from that, the programme also includes logistics and training packages as well as money we'll be spending on the development of infrastructure," Blaszczak said.
Kaczynski said at the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade, in Wesola, a district of Warsaw, that if everything goes according to plan, "next year, our armed forces will gain a large number of Abrams tanks which, at present, are the most modern tanks in the world."
He pointed out that the tanks were the newest version, "a version that is... now entering service with the US Army."
"They are state-of-the-art tanks that are able to perform various types of maneuvers, as well as conduct combat and fire with great precision and efficiency. This is... a new feature when it comes to arming land forces," he said. Kaczynski added that "there will be enough of these tanks to create at least four tank battalions, which is more than necessary to create a tank brigade."
"Our principle is that whoever wants peace, must prepare for war. Well, we want peace, but in the event of distress, our defence will be stronger," he said. Blaszczak said that the Abrams tanks would be deployed in the eastern part of the country. "They will be part of the 1st Armoured Brigade," he added. The first deliveries are expected in 2022.
"They will be used by the 19th Mechanized Brigade based in Lublin that is just being formed," he said. "So there will be no problems with deployment in an emergency situation. These tanks will be on the first line of defence, if of course there is such a need," he noted. The latest version of the M1A2 Abrams has been in service since 2020, but the first Abrams model was introduced in the early 1980s.
"We have very good news for you. Really soon, as we expect first deliveries already next year, our army will add a large number of the state-of-the-art Abrams tanks - the most modern in the world, as the latest version has just been added to American armament," said Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski announcing the deal at the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade headquarters in Wesola. He added that M1A2 Abrams are "cutting-edge tanks, that are capable of making various maneuvers, engaging in combat, including firing with great precision and effectiveness". "We can say that this is a new chapter in land forces armament," he underscored. On 17 February 2022 the US State Department made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Poland of M1A2 SEPv3 Main Battle Tanks and related equipment for an estimated cost of $6.0 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale. The Government of Poland requested to buy two hundred fifty (250) M1A2SEPv3 Abrams Main Battle tanks; two hundred fifty (250) AN/VLQ-12 CREW Duke counter-IED systems; twenty-six (26) M88A2 HERCULES Combat Recovery vehicles; and seventeen (17) M1110 joint assault bridges.
Poland said 17 July 2022 it would buy 116 used Abrams tanks from the United States in order to strengthen the country's military amid Russia's military operation in Ukraine. "We agreed a contract with the USA concerning the purchase on preferential terms of 116 used Abrams tanks," Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told public broadcaster TVP Info. Poland has pledged to increase its defense spending by 3% of GDP (gross domestic product), also saying it would double the size of its military to deter any foreign invasion.
The first used Abrams tanks should arrive in Poland early next year and replace more than 240 Soviet-era T-72 tanks, which Poland transferred to Ukraine in April 2022. Poland initially hoped to replenish its stocks with German Leopard 2 tanks, but the planned deal failed to materialize, after which Polish President Andrzej Duda in May accused Berlin of breaking its word. Earlier this year, Poland signed a contract worth close to $5 billion to purchase 250 Abrams tanks from the United States.
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