Technical Modernization Plan

In 2021 the new plan provided for expenditure on modernization meeting the expectations of the soldiers of the Polish Army. This is as much as PLN 524 billion, or approximately US$133 billion, for new weapons and equipment for those who guard Poliand's security. "No government in the history of free Poland has been able to provide so much money for the modernization of the Armed Forces" said Mariusz Blaszczak, Minister of National Defense in Wesola.

On 10 October 2019 the head of the Ministry of National Defense approved one of the most important documents in the Polish Army - the Technical Modernization Plan for 2021-2035, including 2020. As the minister pointed out, for the modernization process to be more efficient, effective and, above all, more efficient, he decided to extend the planning period from 10 to 15 years. "Defense contracts are complex and costly orders that require hard work. The extension of the planning period opened the way to the creation of a legal basis for concluding long-term contracts", said the minister.

In his speech, the head of the Ministry of National Defense emphasized that although the soldiers of the Polish Army are well trained and have the necessary combat experience, without modern and proven equipment they will not be able to carry out their tasks properly. "A lot has been done in the field of modernization over the last four years. We bought, among others, the Patriot system, Himars launchers, helicopters from the plants in Mielec and Swidnik and a whole range of modern equipment from the Polish defense industry. It is a fact that the condition of the Armed Forces, which we inherited from our predecessors, would have surprised anyone. The level of delays, incompetence, helplessness and lack of interest in the PO-PSL's “prostitutes” for years made the complicated modernization process we had to carry out even more difficult. Nevertheless, we manage it" said the minister.

Speaking about the modernization programs, the head of the Ministry of National Defense pointed out that the key program already implemented by the Polish Army and which is of fundamental importance for Poland's defense is "Harpy". The program concerns the acquisition of 32 state-of-the-art fifth-generation F-35 aircraft. "We have already started the negotiation process with the US government after Congress has approved the purchase. The finalization of this largest contract in the history of Poland is a matter of time" said the head of the Ministry of National Defense.

A new program complementing the "Harpy" program and strengthening the strike capabilities of new fighters is the "Harpy's Claw" program. - Poland will strive to participate in the "loyal wingman" program, concerning the design and development of an unmanned aerial vehicle in stealth technology, ie not detectable by radars. Such a drone will learn the behavior of an airplane pilot already at the training stage. The aim of this training will be to perform reconnaissance or combat tasks together. Under the control of the pilot, the drone will be able to strike well-protected enemy objects, for example in the depths of his group, without exposing the pilot to a threat. The use of these systems, which are a combination of manned and unmanned aerial platforms.

The Technical Modernization Plan also includes funds for the purchase of additional F-16 aircraft for the Polish Army.

As the minister noted, the "Vistula" program, ie a program for the delivery of medium-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, will continue to be developed. The second element of the multi-layer air defense system of the country, next to the "Vistula", will be the "Narew" program. The Technical Modernization Plan also provides for the purchase of helicopters.

The latest Technical Modernization Plan includes, among others the "Miecznik" and "Orka" programs, for which a bridge solution is planned, which will allow the acquisition of two submarines in the near future and ensure the continuity of training of submarines. The Polish Army will also acquire 6 light missile ships in Polish shipyards as part of the "Murena" program. Pursuant to the assumptions of the new Technical Modernization Plan, the purchase of Krab howitzers, Rak self-propelled mortars and KTO Rosomak will be continued.

The new plan includes the "Balsa" program, thanks to which the Polish Army will acquire new, modern engineering robots supporting the work of sappers. They will ensure the detection, clearance and neutralization of munitions and remote explosive devices. The robots are entirely developed by Polish engineers and manufactured in our arms industry. The Daglezja program will also be implemented. One of the programs aimed at the Polish defense industry is the "Ottokar Brzoza" program, which involves the procurement of several dozen tank destroyers for the anti-tank regiment.

The Technical Modernization Plan of the Polish Armed Forces for 2019-2026, signed by the Minister of National Defense, Mariusz Blaszczak, provides for an expenditure of PLN 185 billion, 45 billion more than the existing PMT for 2013-2022. The minister presented a total of 16 most important, and also the most expensive, programs to be implemented under the TMP. According to the TECHNICAL MODERNISATION PLAN until 2026 presented by the Operational Centre of the Ministry of National Defence, the following tasks are worth considering:

1. HARPIA program - acquisition of a new generation multirole aircraft.
2. NAREW program - acquisition of short-range anti-aircraft missile batteries to combat, inter alia, unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as destroy missiles.
3. KRUK program - acquisition of modern assault helicopters for the land forces aviation component.
4. MIL program - a domestic tool and software for effective operations in cyberspace complemented with the most modern Polish cryptographic technologies.
5. WISLA program - medium-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence system, one of the main elements of the country's air defence system.
6. PUSTELNIK program - acquisition of anti-tank missile launchers with guided missiles.
7. REGINA program - acquisition of 155 mm division fire modules.
8. Company fire module - 120 mm self-propelled RAK mortars - acquisition of several-company fire modules as part of the modernisation of the Missile and Artillery Troops
9. HOMAR program - acquisition of a squadron module of multiple launch rocket system capable of hitting targets at 70-300 km distances
10. MIECZNIK program - acquiring a coastal defence vessel to replace the units withdrawn from service and to increase the ability to cooperate within allied and coalition task forces.
11. ORKA program - development of the capability to destroy surface and underwater targets with the use of a New Type Submarine.
12. PLOMYKÓWKA program - acquisition of comprehensive air reconnaissance aircraft.
13. GRYF program - acquisition of medium-range tactical unmanned aerial vehicles.
14. MUSTANG program - acquisition of high-mobility trucks and people carriers.
15. WAZKA program - micro-class unmanned aerial vehicles intended for use mainly in urban areas.
16. BORSUK program - introducing a new combat vehicle based on a universal modular tracked chassis, developed and manufactured by the Polish defence industry.

PMT is silent on other purchases for the Navy, incl. Heron patrols (over which dark clouds had gathered for a long time) and auxiliary units. Some of the latter may be built, but they are not considered the largest or key investments. The programs of the Kormoran II tugboats and minehunters, which are already in progress and therefore did not have to be included in the TMP, seem to be similarly unthreatened.

Technical Modernization Plan for 2013-2022

Polish Armed Forces will spend 91,5 bln PLN for new equipment and armament till 2022. On 17 September 2013 Polish government adopted a plan related to this subject, prepared by Ministry of National Defence. bThanks to the document the money that will not be spent on modernizing Polish army in particular fiscal year will not be lost but it will be available in the following year.

"Today Council of Ministers established long-term program "Priority tasks of technical modernization of the Armed Forces of Republic of Poland under operational programs." The bill confirms, at the governmental level, the particular priorities of armed forces modernization, included in 14 operational programs. The programs will be executed till 2022" - Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak wrote on Twitter.

For the last few years Ministry of National Defence, which thanks to the Law on the reform and technical modernization of Polish Armed Forces has the guarantee that every year 1,95% of GDP is allocated for the needs of PAF, has to give back the money which has not been spent on purchasing equipment and armament.

It happens so because the regulations oblige every ministry including MOD to reset its budget at the end of the year and to give back the money not spent on assets, among other things on purchasing armament, to the state's budget - Navy Capt. Janusz Walczak, Director of Public Information Department of MOD explains.

Ministry of National Defence, which prepared the long-term "Program of development of Polish Armed Forces in years 2013-2022" (this document comprises the schedule of purchase of equipment and armament, among other things helicopters, vessels for Polish Navy, air and missile defence systems, unmanned systems etc.) for a long time has been making efforts to gain permission for managing its budget in a more elastic way.

On 12 September 2013 the Council of Ministers Committee approved the planks of the program "Priority tasks of technical modernization of the Armed Forces of Republic of Poland under operational programs", which not only determines the key operational (modernization) programs for our Armed Forces but also specifies their budget task till 2022. On 17 September the government approved that document.

For the Ministry of National Defence and Polish Armed Forces putting the technical modernization in the shape of a governmental program has two advantages. Firstly, it will be possible to move the financial means from a particular modernization program, which will not be spent in a particular fiscal year, to consecutive years. Secondly, according to the bill on public finances that is currently in force, putting the operational programs in the frames of the governmental program guarantees that money allocated to it will not be spent on something else (article 173). As means from the state budget assigned for financing the long-term programs cannot be, with condition of section 2, used for other purposes.

"The priority tasks of technical modernization of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland within operational programs" will be included in the project of Budgetary Bill for 2014.

Among the priorities defined by the President Bronislaw Komorowski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk in November 2011, written in "Technical Modernization Plan for 2013-2022" the following key operational programs are listed:

1. Air defence system - among other things the following items will be procured under this program:

• air defence medium-range missile systems WISLA;
• air defence short-range missile systems NAREW;
• self-propelled air defence missile systems POPRAD;
• mobile air defence missile system GROM/PIORUN;
• air defence short-range artillery-missile systems PILICA;
• mobile three-coordinates radio stations SOLA/BYSTRA.

2. Helicopters - among other things the following items will be procured under the program:

• multipurpose-transport helicopters;
• search and rescue (SAR) helicopters;
• anti-submarine helicopters;
• attack helicopters;
• VIP-transport helicopters.

3. C4ISR - Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems - among other things the following will be procured under the program: