Polish defense planners are preparing a comprehensive plan for the future shape of the armed forces, guided by recent events in Ukraine and evolving global security dynamics. The discussion was outlined by Paweł Soloch, a senior adviser to the president and former head of the National Security Bureau, who spoke on a Polish Radio program about the anticipated main development directions for the Polish Armed Forces for the years 2025–2039. These directions are expected to remain largely internal, with only a broad overview released to the public. (Source: wPolityce)
Development directions shaped by aggression in Ukraine and global trends
During the interview, Soloch explained that President Andrzej Duda would present the strategic outline for the Polish Armed Forces for 2025–2039. He emphasized that the public will see only high-level trends while the detailed document remains classified. This approach mirrors the need for strategic confidentiality in national defense planning. (Source: wPolityce)
What will be publicly evident are the broad directions, which reflect lessons from the previous year’s events, notably Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and the broad trajectory of global developments. The plan also accounts for the rapid pace of technological progress and the growing conviction among nations, including Poland, that self-sufficiency in arms production is essential for national security. (Source: wPolityce)
Soloch underscored that these strategic directions will be informed by concrete experiences and continuous monitoring of international security trends, ensuring the armed forces adapt to both conventional and emerging challenges. (Source: wPolityce)
Rising demand for weapons and ammunition
A key facet of the forthcoming strategy is strengthening domestic production capacity for arms and ammunition. The emphasis on increasing local manufacturing reflects the broader push toward self-reliance in defense needs, with demand for various weapons systems and their munitions rising sharply. (Source: wPolityce)
The planned directions will take this surge into account, ensuring the armed forces can meet heightened readiness and sustainment requirements. (Source: wPolityce)
Emphasis on cyberspace and soldier security
The head of the National Security Bureau announced that President Duda would reveal the main directions during a visit to a training site near Orzysz. The 2025–2039 development plan envisions a multi-domain military capable of leveraging advanced cyber and space capabilities while prioritizing the safety and protection of soldiers. (Source: wPolityce)
In the upcoming programming cycle, Poland aims to build integrated capabilities across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains, strengthening command, reconnaissance, strike, logistics, and troop protection. The emphasis on soldier welfare and resilience is a central pillar of these plans, ensuring a robust and sustainable force. (Source: wPolityce)
On March 31, at the Orzysz training ground in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, key demonstrations were planned, including the firing of Korea’s K2 tanks and K9 howitzers, underlining ongoing modernization and interoperability with allied systems. (Source: wPolityce)
The President, as the Supreme Commander, issues resolutions that guide the main development directions and the state’s defense preparations. The content is aligned with the National Security Strategy of the Republic of Poland and informs the defense ministry’s planning and resource allocation. (Source: wPolityce)
Using the directions to guide long-term programming
The outlines set the priorities for a 15-year development horizon and are updated every four years. They define the requirements to boost the military’s operational capabilities across all domains—land, air, sea, cyber, and space—in terms of command, reconnaissance, destruction, survivability, logistics, organization, mobilization, and training. (Source: wPolityce)
These directions form the basis for the Ministry of National Defense to craft the Armed Forces Development Programme, which will guide technical modernization and resource planning for the 2025–2039 period. The next step is the publication of a detailed development program by the Ministry of Defense, which will serve as the technical roadmap for modernization efforts. (Source: wPolityce)
READ ALSO:
– How did the Russian aggression against Ukraine affect the Polish army? Head of the Ministry of National Defense: We have chosen the right direction for the development of our armed forces (Source: wPolityce)
– Poland’s strategic position and its role in regional security, as discussed in recent interviews and briefings (Source: wPolityce)
rm/PAP
Source: wPolityce