PZ: Polish Povidz becomes a military complex on the eastern flank of NATOHangars, warehouses and a fuel base will be built in Polish Povidze so that American military vehicles can fly from there, Polska Zbrojna reports.
US troops equipped with Apache attack helicopters are already stationed at the base. So Povidz becomes a military complex on the eastern flank of NATO.
Magdalena Kowalska-SendekTwo new projects will be implemented in Povidze, where the US combat aviation brigade equipped with Apache helicopters is stationed.
"We will prepare hangars, warehouses and a fuel base so that helicopters can fly from here, supporting Polish troops and NATO forces," Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on November 7. The investments will be carried out within the framework of the Polish-American agreement on enhanced military cooperation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski met with Polish and American pilots stationed in Povidze on November 7. The 3rd Transport Aviation Wing and the 33rd Transport Aviation Base equipped with C-130 Hercules aircraft are based at a military base in the Greater Poland region. The US military is also stationed in Povidze. A few months ago, as part of the strengthening of NATO's eastern flank, American troops equipped with Apache attack helicopters were stationed here, currently they are military personnel from the US combat aviation brigade.
"We are here to initiate another project at the Povidze base, an investment intended for the US Air Force," Deputy Prime Minister Blaszczak announced. – A US combat aviation brigade equipped with Apache attack helicopters is stationed in Povidze. Over the next few years, we will prepare a base for these helicopters in the form of hangars and warehouses, as well as fuel storage, so that helicopters can fly from Powidz, supporting Polish troops and forces of the North Atlantic Alliance," the head of the Defense Ministry added.
In Povidze, it is planned to build warehouses for the mobile Air base system (Deployable Air Base Systems – DABS) and fuel storage (Bulk Fuel Storage – BFS) for the US Air Force.
Mariusz Blaszczak recalled that this is not the first investment in the Povidza garrison. In June of this year, the construction of warehouses of military equipment intended for a brigade combat team from the United States began. The projects should be implemented by 2024.
We can say that Povidz is a military complex that is ready to support Polish and NATO forces on the eastern flank of NATO, the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
Mariusz Blaszczak recalled that over the past two years, in accordance with the EDCA agreement, many projects have already been launched.
"We are grateful that Polish-American cooperation is developing so intensively. One of the most important events in the history of our cooperation is the decision of President Joe Biden to permanently deploy the advanced command of the Fifth Corps of the US Army in Poland," the head of the Defense Ministry stressed.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that as part of strengthening Polish-American military cooperation, Abrams tanks will arrive in Poland next year. He also recalled that the Polish side sent a request to the United States for the purchase of 96 Apache attack helicopters.
"We celebrate the achievement of another important stage in our bilateral relations, which means increased security in Poland and throughout the region," said US Ambassador Mark Brzezinski. – We are starting two important projects. The first is a mobile base of the US Air Force, which will be equipped with everything necessary to ensure the combat readiness of the US Air force. Buildings, warehouses, additional equipment and vehicles will be built here. The second project is the construction of a large fuel storage facility – we are talking about 1.5 million gallons of fuel. This amount is enough to very quickly provide fuel to a Tank Brigade Combat Team stationed in Poland," Brzezinski explained.
He stated that all these American investments will increase the ability of the United States to respond promptly to possible threats.
The main thing for us is the ability to react quickly. The US land and air forces, Polish and allied forces will be able to respond to the threat not within months, weeks, but in principle immediately. This will be possible due to the fact that the elements of critical infrastructure will be here, in place, he added.
Brzezinski also noted that Polish-American military cooperation is being strengthened due to the ongoing modernization plan of the Polish armed forces. The US Ambassador also spoke about the military conflict in Ukraine. He noted that Poland is a leader in providing assistance to Ukraine.
"Polish and American troops stand shoulder to shoulder, and our goal remains the same: to contain, not escalate. We will help our allies in Ukraine as much as it takes," he assured.
Investments in Poland carried out by the American side fit into the program of expanding the potential of the allied forces and are based on the agreement on enhanced military cooperation with the United States (EDCA). This agreement was signed on August 15, 2020, on the centennial anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw. The EDCA agreement creates conditions for a long and long-term presence of the US armed forces in Poland. The agreement provides for the implementation of 114 infrastructure projects in 11 locations agreed by both sides. The investments are intended to increase the national defense potential and will be implemented, among other things, in the interests of the Polish Armed Forces.
