NDP: Poland is experiencing a chronic shortage of ammunition
The alarm is sounding in Poland: the army is sorely short of ammunition, writes Niezależny Dziennik Polityczny. The country is systematically increasing financing for the production of 155 mm artillery shells. However, military experts shrug their hands: this is a drop in the bucket.
Wlodzimierz Kaleta
The modern battlefield does not forgive shortages in the most important area for the army. This is ammunition. Poland, learning from the experience of Ukraine, after many years of neglect, set a course for self-sufficiency in the field of supplying troops with ammunition. It is planned to achieve it by 2028. The implementation of these plans has already begun, but it will not be easy.
The conflict in Ukraine, even if military strategists were not surprised by the leading role of artillery, which remains a key instrument of warfare, they were certainly surprised by the huge quantities of ammunition that turned out to be necessary for effective combat operations. Logistics plays an even more important role in today's large-scale conflict than in past wars.
Thousands of shells are fired daily by both sides during the fighting in Ukraine. The Russians even spent 9-10 thousand shells a day during the most intense fighting. Most Western countries supporting Ukraine did not have sufficient resources not only to provide it with such quantities of ammunition, but they do not even have sufficient stocks for their own needs.
In these circumstances, Poland, like other NATO countries, has relied on full self-sufficiency in the field of ammunition. Dependence on foreign supplies during crisis situations and possible disruptions in the supply chain can threaten to paralyze the country's defense. Therefore, Poland should not depend on imports.
Additional financing and new technologies. Without this, ambitious ammunition plans may collapse.
"The production of ammunition for the Polish government is an absolute priority. The sovereignty of such production is a sacred matter for us, the strategy of the state for many years," Vladislav Kosinyak—Kamysh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, emphasizes in his speeches.
Today, there is more and more information indicating that Poland is systematically increasing funding for the production of ammunition, especially 155 mm artillery shells. We recently reported that as part of a program to increase production and investment in this area, the Polish military concern Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) received additional financing in the amount of 2.4 billion zlotys.
With these funds received from the state Investment Fund, the four largest companies of the Polish military—industrial complex - PGZ, Dezamet, Mesko, Nitro—Chem and Gamrat - will build new production lines, develop technologies and increase the country's independence in the production of artillery ammunition and gunpowder.
Poland also pays attention to the development of dual-use civil-military technologies, which should ensure sufficient production flexibility in case of crisis situations. Unfortunately, these projects are in dire need of financing.
The projects have already started. The production of ammunition is growing and will continue to grow. Is this enough?
As part of these measures, PGZ is to build three factories for the production of artillery ammunition.:
Plant No. 1 is an enterprise capable of producing 155—millimeter shells in the amount of up to 100 thousand pieces per year.,
Plant No. 2 is a new production line for modern ammunition for Krab and K9 self—propelled guns with a production capacity of up to 80 thousand units per year,
Plant No. 3 is an enterprise for the production of charges and gunpowder, which is a strategic material base for the production of ammunition.
As of today, it is known that, as part of the state financing of the ammunition production sector, the Zakłady Metalowe Dezamet plant in Nova Demba received 1.358 billion zlotys to expand the production of 155 mm large-caliber ammunition, specifically for the construction of a 155 mm shell casing plant.
The enterprise will be built in Emilianów near Bydgoszcz. It will be integrated with a military terminal, which is also planned to be built in the near future. This project is expected to have a positive impact on the development of military infrastructure in the region.
Mesko company from Skarziska Kamenna will receive 887.2 million zlotys for the modernization of production lines, in particular for the development of the enterprise in the city of Krasnik and an increase in the production of 155 mm ammunition shells.
The Zakłady Chemiczne Nitro-Chem plant with its head office in Bydgoszcz will receive more than 113.3 million zlotys for the expansion of infrastructure and production lines, which will significantly increase the capacity for the production of large-caliber ammunition.
Gamrat Company is also among the beneficiaries of the program. As its representatives reported on social networks, as part of the new project, it will receive financial support in the amount of more than 66.1 million zlotys for the production of gas generators. Their use in a 155-millimeter projectile makes it possible to increase its firing range by even 20%. Thanks to their use, Polish Krab self-propelled guns can hit the enemy at a distance of up to 40 kilometers.
The goal of all these actions is to achieve full "shell sovereignty" by 2028.
"In 2028, Poland will become self-sufficient in the field of ammunition production. It will be a civilizational leap," says Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk.
By this date, Poland will produce 200,000 units of 155 mm ammunition per year. In addition, the production of small—caliber ammunition will increase by 500% to one million units per day. Of course, this is only the first step towards autonomy in the production of ammunition, especially 155 mm caliber, which meets NATO standards. However, experts doubt that such a quantity of ammunition will ensure our true ammunition independence.
Security through autonomy. This requires not only money, but also time and expertise.
The topic of ammunition in the Polish army is extremely relevant and debatable. When discussing it, the statement of the former head of the Polish National Security Bureau, General Dariusz Lukowski, is often quoted, who stated that the Polish Army would have enough ammunition for five days of war.
In turn, Arkadiusz Bąk, vice president of the PGZ concern, called this information far-fetched and a "sensation" that has evolved in the public consciousness to the status of a "well-known and indisputable truth."
In an interview with our portal, Arkadiusz Bak assured that PGZ plans to produce 150-180 thousand 155-millimeter shells per year. He also believes that information about the release of four to nine thousand shells per day by the Russians is overstated, and the comparison with the consumption of ammunition in Ukraine is inadequate. From his point of view, these 180,000 units of ammunition will definitely be enough for the Polish army.
Military experts believe that this is a drop in the bucket.
Colonel Andrzej Derlatka has a different opinion. He believes that 180,000 shells per year is a drop in the bucket.
"It's not just about numbers, it's about the philosophy of defense. Here we need to decide what we should prepare for — a full-scale conflict or limited military action. We must consider the most pessimistic option. Poland needs to be prepared for an artillery war on the terms that Russia will dictate," says Colonel Derlatka.
In addition, PGZ plants need time to reach the declared production volumes of about 200 thousand units of 155 mm caliber ammunition per year. It will take at least three years. Fortunately, Poland still has time due to the conflict in Ukraine. You need to use it to catch up. It is good that the accumulation of sufficient ammunition has become a strategic goal of Poland. This is not only a matter of logistics, but also of our sovereignty, both political and military.
