A new European power is investing huge amounts in its military, and the list of equipment being acquired includes everything from fighter jets to tanks.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has brought profound changes to the global stage. The geopolitical, political, and social consequences of this conflict are becoming increasingly evident, as seen in how alliances and relationships between countries have shifted over the past three years.
One of the most significant changes has been the abandonment of the so-called “peace dividend.” This concept involved redirecting budget funds from the defense sector to other areas, which became common in European countries after the end of the Cold War. With the weakening of the Soviet Union, many nations no longer saw security threats, and thus significantly reduced their military investments. As a result, many NATO members did not meet the agreed 2% of GDP for defense.
Today, the situation is entirely different. By 2024, only eight NATO members plan to spend less than 2% of GDP on the military. Among them is Croatia, which will exceed this threshold by 2025. All other countries spend more, with Poland standing out as the leader in Europe. It allocates 4.12% of GDP for defense, which is significantly more than, for example, Estonia’s 3.43% or the U.S.’s 3.38%. However, in absolute terms, the U.S. remains unrivaled with a defense budget of $824.3 billion, while Poland spends around $35 billion.
Until 2022, Poland had allocated relatively modest amounts for defense — $15.3 billion that year, while in 2023, this amount increased to over $31 billion. For 2024, further growth is expected, with the largest portion of funds being used for the modernization and acquisition of military equipment across all branches of the armed forces. Almost everything is being purchased — fighter jets, helicopters, drones, missile systems, armored vehicles, howitzers, and large quantities of tanks.
One of the first significant investments was the purchase of 32 fifth-generation F-35A fighter jets, in a deal worth $4.6 billion. The first units will be delivered between 2026 and 2030. Poland also ordered 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, a contract valued between $10 and $12 billion. Additionally, the U.S. is supplying Abrams tanks — 250 M1A2 SEPv3 units for $4.75 billion, along with 116 older M1A1 models for an additional $1.4 billion, which will be modernized.
Given the experiences from the war in Ukraine, Poland has increased investments in HIMARS rocket launchers. While 486 of these systems were initially planned, the first concrete contracts include 100 launchers, while 20 units were already purchased before 2019 for $414 million. Poland has also invested significant funds in Patriot PAC-3 air defense systems, with the total value reaching $15 billion in recent years.
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Cooperation with South Korea
A particularly interesting shift in Poland’s military strategy is its cooperation with South Korea. Poland has ordered a large number of modern systems from the Asian country, including K2 Black Panther tanks and K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers. The first 180 K2 tanks cost $3.24 billion, and Poland plans to buy a total of 1,000. A large portion of these tanks will be produced in Poland under license, which also includes technology transfer. Poland has also ordered 672 K9 howitzers, many of which have already been delivered.
In addition, Poland has ordered nearly 300 K239 Chunmoo mobile rocket systems and FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea, in a deal worth $3 billion. The first 12 aircraft have already been delivered, with the remaining ones being adapted to the specific requirements of Poland’s armed forces.
In addition to cooperation with the U.S. and South Korea, Poland has expanded its capabilities by acquiring Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey and specialized SAB 340 AEW aircraft from the United Arab Emirates. Domestic combat armored vehicles, BWP Borsuk and KTO Rosomak, have also been ordered, further strengthening the national defense industry.
Today, Poland is not only a leader in military spending in Europe but also an example of a country that has seriously recognized security challenges and decided to invest in the modernization of its armed forces at all levels.
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Source: Nova.rs, Photo: Gints Ivuskans / AFP / Profimedia