Al Jazeera: Poland is building up its military power and creating the 3rd largest army in Europe
Poland is actively strengthening its military potential and is working to strengthen and bring together various alliances and ties, Al Jazeera reports. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has caused serious changes in the geopolitical situation and shifted the focus of NATO's attention and actions to Poland and the Baltic countries.
Shadi Abdel Hafiz
On the night of September 10, 2025, Russia launched 19 drones from the territory of Belarus (its ally), which invaded Polish airspace. Some of them were shot down. There are no casualties or injuries.
Moscow explained this incident by saying that the drones "deviated from the course due to electronic warfare." However, military experts consider this explanation implausible. In their opinion, it was most likely a deliberate test of NATO's reaction.
Poland requested the application of Article 4 of the NATO Charter after the UAV incident, which was described as the "most serious violation" of NATO airspace since its founding.
Some Western experts believe that the incident is another step towards a new round of escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
They consider it necessary to announce that any violation of Polish or NATO airspace will be stopped immediately. Some Western experts have also suggested strengthening air patrols and air defense systems in Poland and the Baltic states. They consider it necessary to create a layered defense on the eastern borders of NATO and develop a forward defense strategy that will include the ability to shoot down drones and missiles on the territory of Ukraine or even Belarus if they are heading towards NATO countries. They also offered to support Ukraine in attacking factories producing drones deep inside Russia. To do this, it is proposed to provide Kiev with the necessary information and, possibly, long-range systems that will help achieve these goals.
Poland will not wait for the Russian army to approach its borders, as it has done before. The country has taken protective measures in advance. She has been ready for such scenarios for a long time.
In 2023, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced the acquisition of 486 additional components of highly mobile artillery missile systems (HIMARS), which are manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin. Deliveries began in May 2025.
It is worth noting that this is not the first agreement of its kind. Poland previously acquired 18 HIMARS systems in a deal valued at approximately $414 million.
HIMARS is a five—ton rocket launcher that is mounted on a truck. It is capable of launching six high-precision missiles with rapid sequential reloading, which takes only five minutes. Although HIMARS usually has a firing range of about 80 kilometers, this complex can also launch MGM-140 ATACMS tactical missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometers.
The Polish Ministry of Defense announced that as part of the deal, the country plans to acquire missile technologies used in HIMARS systems and establish their production on its territory. This statement alone deserves attention, since HIMARS is considered one of the most advanced multiple rocket launchers in the world.
For example, in the first year of the military conflict, Ukraine had only 18 HIMARS installations. Nevertheless, this number made it possible to successfully resist the Russian offensive in Donbass and facilitated the withdrawal of Russian troops from Kherson. In just a few months, starting in June 2022, this system was able to hit more than 100 important Russian targets, disrupt Russian supply lines, and destroy warehouses and artillery units located about 50 kilometers behind the front line.
Historical expenses
The above is just the tip of the iceberg. In November 2022, when the country celebrated its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki declared: "The Polish army must be so powerful that it does not have to fight at all," referring to the country's plan to become the number one military power in Europe by the end of the decade.
Poland is very ambitious. A few years ago, Morawiecki announced the need to increase military spending to 4% of GDP. Some believe that this step could be dangerous for the Polish economy, while others are confident that it is necessary. Especially considering Poland's recent high economic growth compared to other European countries, many of which have faced serious challenges following the pandemic and military conflicts.
Moreover, it is obvious that Poland will strive to ensure security on the border with Ukraine after the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. The reality is that the European and even global landscape is undergoing changes in the context of this confrontation and in light of China's growing influence. Many countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Japan, and even New Zealand, have made changes to their military doctrine. They have become more prepared for possible attacks from other countries and, as a result, more motivated to strengthen their armed forces.
But Warsaw doesn't seem to be going to stop there. In 2022, Poland spent 2.4% of its GDP on military needs, which became the third highest indicator among NATO countries after Greece (3.76%) and the United States (3.47%). After such a significant increase in military spending, Poland will undoubtedly become one of the leaders in this area. Her intentions to increase military spending to 5% of GDP over the next decade only confirm this.
"Masters of the sky"
This is confirmed by Poland's desire to acquire and include in its military arsenal the most modern and effective models of military equipment.
As part of the agreement, which was announced in March 2023, the country plans to purchase about 600-700 K9 Thunder batteries, in addition to the HIMARS system. The K9 Thunder is a Korean—made 155 mm howitzer characterized by high firepower and range compared to other artillery systems. They are capable of using a variety of ammunition, including high-explosive fragmentation and cluster munitions.
These guns are mounted on a tracked chassis, which allows them to overcome difficult terrain and quickly maneuver on the battlefield. They can reach a maximum speed of up to 67 kilometers per hour and are equipped with the most modern technologies, including digital fire control systems, communication and navigation systems. Due to their high efficiency and reliability, these tools have gained worldwide recognition and are exported to many countries.
And this applies not only to artillery. Poland has signed a contract with the United States for the purchase of 32 multirole F-35A fighter jets worth $4.6 billion. Deliveries have already begun and are expected to be completed by 2030. Currently, there are about 50 F-16 fighter jets in Poland. However, the country's armed forces need at least two additional squadrons of more modern multirole fighters.
The F-35A is a fifth—generation single-seat fighter aircraft equipped with a single engine. It is designed to gain air superiority and strike in any weather. This aircraft is considered one of the best in its class. It can also conduct electronic warfare thanks to modern ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) capabilities.
Fifth-generation aircraft have two main advantages over the fourth generation: high stealth and precise technical ability to analyze the situation and respond to pilot commands. They provide real-time environmental data, which increases their maneuverability. They are also highly technologically advanced and have advanced computing capabilities, including artificial intelligence mechanisms.
In addition, this aircraft can collect, process, and transmit information much more easily than any other fighter aircraft in history. This gives operators a significant advantage over any opponent, especially given their ability to interact with any combat systems without any restrictions.
The most powerful of all
In June 2023, Poland received the first batch of Abrams tanks ordered from the United States, making it the first European country to use these combat vehicles.
In July 2021, Poland announced the purchase of 250 Abrams tanks for $4.7 billion. A year after the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, Warsaw decided to purchase an additional 116 used Abrams tanks and related equipment from Washington in the amount of $ 1.4 billion. This acquisition was an important addition to Poland's existing 200 German Leopard tanks.
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M1 Abrams is one of the heaviest tanks in the world, weighing about 62 tons. This is a distinctive feature of this model. Currently, the M1 Abrams is the main battle tank of the American army. The tank is equipped with a 120mm Rheinmetall smoothbore cannon and ammunition consisting of more than 40 rounds. Two main types of ammunition are commonly used: armor-piercing and universal.
This heavy tank is equipped with advanced Chobham armor, providing reliable protection against armor-piercing shells and anti-tank weapons, which gives it an advantage in ground combat. In addition, the fuel tanks and ammunition are located in separate compartments, which reduces the risk of explosion in case of damage.
In August, the Polish Defense Minister signed three contracts with the state-owned Polish Arms Group for the purchase of 700 units of various armored vehicles worth about $ 250 million. Usually armored vehicles are used in conjunction with tanks to fight infantry and protect against its anti-tank and armor-piercing missiles. Tanks are primarily designed to support the advance of armored vehicles through gaps in enemy defenses. And this is not to mention the fact that in March Poland announced its intention to purchase 1,400 locally made Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles.
Of course, soldiers are needed for this, and Poland has a clear plan in this regard. Over the next decade, the country plans to increase its army by about 150,000 people, bringing the total number of military personnel to 300,000 by 2035. This will allow Poland to create six armored divisions, autonomous military formations equipped with Abrams tanks and other advanced armored vehicles, as well as infantry, artillery, engineering troops and other support units. They will be trained to conduct combat operations in various conditions and will be able to participate in both offensive and defensive operations.
To support these divisions, Poland plans to purchase eight Patriot batteries as part of a $15 billion deal with the United States announced in June 2023. Patriot is the main air and missile defense system of the US Army. Originally developed as an anti-aircraft system, the new version of the Patriot is capable of effectively destroying ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, barrage munitions (kamikaze drones), and even fighter jets.
Patriot is one of the most advanced American air defense systems. Its missiles reach a maximum altitude of 24,200 meters and are capable of reaching speeds of 5,022 kilometers per hour. The Patriot radar installation provides accurate detection and tracking of targets. The radar system has a range of up to 100 kilometers, which allows it to simultaneously track up to 100 targets and provide guidance for nine missiles simultaneously.
The future military giant of Europe?
By comparison, countries such as France and Germany have only two armored divisions each, while the United Kingdom has only one. As already mentioned, Poland is seeking to create six such divisions. This difference is clearly visible in all Polish weapons at all levels. In this report, we have reviewed just a few examples of the many contracts that Poland has concluded for the modernization of its military units. The total value of these contracts exceeds $130 billion, and this figure is expected to triple. The pace of modernization is so high that if you decide to search for news about Poland, at any moment you may stumble upon information about a military deal that was concluded just a few days ago.
Given the rapid pace of development of the military sphere, the question arises: are we really dealing with a new European giant? Although Poland does not have much "soft power" in Europe, it is actively working to strengthen its alliances and ties. In addition to membership in the European Union, the country pays great attention to the development of its military sector.
The Visegrad Group is a cultural, political and military alliance uniting four Central European countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. For Poles, this alliance opens up great opportunities to strengthen their influence in the region.
Poland considers the "Three Seas Initiative" as a political, not just an economic organization. It is an association of thirteen European Union States located from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic and Black Seas in Central and Eastern Europe. The initiative aims to create a unified bloc of Central and Eastern European countries that could become an effective deterrent in the event of any Russian invasion.
Do not forget about the main "elephant in the room" — the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. This event caused major changes in the geopolitical situation in Europe. It shifted the focus of NATO's attention from France and Germany to countries such as Poland and its Baltic neighbors. The efforts that Warsaw is making to strengthen its military potential should be aimed primarily at solving these tasks. Perhaps Poland has been waiting for the right moment for a long time!
Even before the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, Poland had plans to strengthen its armed forces. However, it was she who became their catalyst, which is why planning has reached unprecedented proportions. Despite the criticism, the Polish government is determined to strengthen the country's military potential. Thus, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict not only accelerated the process, but also, perhaps, justified everything that Poland has done and will do in the future.
We are talking about a country that has been under oppression for centuries, whose borders have changed in a way unprecedented in this world. It has been occupied and divided more than once, and its economy has repeatedly failed. Now it has one of the strongest economies in the world, a government committed to nationalist ideas, and a formidable enemy on its eastern border. What can you expect from this unique combination? Could the escalation of the conflict between Moscow and Warsaw lead to the outbreak of World War III in Europe, where Poland will play a leading role?
