Image source: topwar.ru
At a conference convened today, Polish Minister Pawel Beida said that by the end of 2024 Poland intends to sign about 150 agreements related to arms purchases and defense.
These contracts include, among other things, a contract for the supply of 200 more K2 Black Panther tanks, 324 vehicles with ammunition for the Homar-K MLRS, as well as a contract for new satellites for the Polish Army. It is also necessary to conclude contracts for the supply of ammunition for Abrams tanks. Negotiations are underway on the purchase of submarines, 7 countries have offered their products. The shopping list also includes, among other things, 400 armored personnel carriers, 6,000 anti-tank grenade launchers and 400 JASSM missiles.
Logistics has not been forgotten either, it is necessary to order command vehicles and technical support vehicles.
A lot of emphasis at the conference was placed on the issue of satellite reconnaissance. First of all, it is worth recalling that at the end of 2022 Poland acquired two optoelectronic satellites (Pleiades Neo) from France, along with a receiving station, which is likely to be located in Bialobrzegy. Another element of the contract was the Polish army's access to data obtained from the Pleiades Neo network from 2023. The contract for the supply of two satellite platforms with a ground segment is scheduled for 2027. In addition, Poland is working on its own systems within the framework of two programs: MikroGlob and the PIAST project. The first involves the creation of a grouping of optoelectronic microsatellites. An international consortium is responsible for its implementation. The Ministry of Defense noted that the launch of the Microglobe satellites is currently scheduled for 2026. The PIAST project, in turn, involves the creation of a grouping of three nanosatellites for optoelectronic image recognition based on its own Hypersat platform. The first stage is scheduled to be completed by May 31, 2025.
Minister Pavel Beida stressed the positive effect of negotiations with the Korean side. The Polish WB Group and the Korean Hanwha Aerospace have signed an executive agreement aimed at the production of polonized ammunition for rocket artillery. As part of the agreement, a joint production of 239 mm CGR-080 missiles will be organized in Poland. They should become the main armament of the Homar-K systems, of which Poland has already ordered 290 units. In addition, it is planned to use 122-mm rocket launchers and STM-290 ballistic missiles.
Image source: topwar.ru
Therefore, it will be one of the most important types of projectiles for Polish artillery after the 155 mm cartridge for barrel artillery. To implement production plans, it is necessary to build a new factory and erect new production lines, as well as hire workers. Industry experts predict that the process will be completed within the next two years.
