The Polish Army has received 29 M1A1 Abrams battle tanks from the US at the port of Świnoujście in Western Pomerania. The army also received 79 Oshkosh mine-resistant ambush protected all-terrain vehicles. A total of 116 M1A1s were ordered by Warsaw last year to complement the force’s upcoming 250 M1A2 tanks. Signed back in 2023, the 1.3-billion euro ($1.4 billion) deal was signed to strengthen Poland’s defenses amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. Deliveries began in June last year, and are expected to be completed by late 2024. Designed for modern armored warfare, the Abrams tanks are suited for armored vehicle platoon missions, boasting an effective fire range of more than four kilometers (2.5 miles).
Poland has been open about increasing its defense spending to deter any would-be aggressors in light of the war in Ukraine. Last year, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki shared that the upcoming budget for the force will amount to four percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), a significant increase from the previous year’s three percent. The budget will exceed NATO’s spending target of two percent of GDP for its members. Poland has also begun purchasing capabilities from other countries, including 180 K2 Black Panther tanks from South Korea.
