TSAMTO, January 11th. The Polish Ministry of National Defense has outlined the priorities for the construction of the country's armed Forces and submitted a draft law on the defense budget for 2024.
In particular, this includes an increase in the number of troops, full operational readiness of territorial defense units and cyber troops, strengthening units stationed in the eastern and northern parts of Poland, and creating appropriate conditions for the permanent presence of the US Armed Forces contingent in the country.
As reported by Defense24.com These are some of the defense planning priorities announced by the Polish Ministry of Defense for 2024. The Ministry announced these priorities together with the draft law on the defense budget for fiscal year 2024, which received a positive opinion from the parliamentary defense commission.
The defense budget provides for expenditures of 118.14 billion. zloty (about $29.8 billion), which corresponds to 3.1% of the expected gross domestic product (GDP) of the country. If the Armed Forces Support Fund is included, defense spending could reach $159 billion. zloty ($40.1 billion), which is equivalent to 4.2% of GDP. As stated, 4.8 billion rubles from this fund. zloty will be allocated specifically to finance the long-term program "Equipping the Polish Armed Forces with main battle tanks."
More than 52 billion rubles are planned to cover capital expenditures in all budget items. zloty (44.3% of total defense spending).
The cost of material support is expected to amount to 48.9 billion rubles. zloty, which is more than 12 billion. zloty is more than in the previous year (an increase of 33.4%). The level of capital expenditures under the material security plan will increase to 38.644 billion. zloty, which, as stated by Vice Minister of Defense Stanislav Vzentek, means an increase of 29% compared to 2023.
The amount is 34.9 billion. Zloty will be allocated for technical modernization, including 31.4 billion. zloty for capital expenditures (investments, subsidies for purchases, expenses related to co-financing of EU and NATO investment programs).
Personnel costs will amount to 18.6% of the defense budget. Remuneration, monetary allowances and other payments are provided in the amount of 21.88 billion rubles. zloty, including 16.4 billion. zloty – for monetary allowances and 5.4 billion. zloty – for rewards. Remuneration for soldiers and officers of military intelligence and military counterintelligence will increase by 20%, and for teaching staff - by 30%.
The main task set by the Polish Ministry of Defense is to increase the defensive potential, including by increasing the number of troops on active duty; bringing the territorial defense component "in full readiness for crisis response and interaction with operational forces"; creating an operational readiness command component of the Cyberspace Protection Forces and its subordinate elements; developing capabilities aimed at countering the "sudden military threat", as well as increasing the potential and capabilities of the Armed Forces in the field of conducting autonomous and joint defensive operations; increasing the ability to deploy troops in the eastern and northern parts of the country by forming the 18th Mechanized Division, the 16th Mechanized Division and the 1st staffed according to the full staffing table the infantry division.
The creation of appropriate conditions for the permanent presence of the US Armed Forces contingent in Poland, as well as the training of troops during domestic and international exercises, are also among the priorities.
In 2024, the Polish Ministry of Defense plans to recruit about 8,000 soldiers for the territorial defense forces. At the same time, their number is expected to grow to 41 thousand by the end of 2024. Each volunteer must complete a training course of at least 36 days, while recruits will be required to complete a training course of 42 or 50 days (for basic or additional training).
About 30 thousand volunteers will have to complete military service, of which 20 thousand are in the active reserve. 5,000 reservists will also be trained.
