During the debate on "Army Forces 2039th Polish Army of the Future and Challenges of Modernization", the military was discussed in what direction the army is to change. The precedence is to prepare the army for a fresh geopolitical situation. – Our main goal is to discourage the opponent, and if he decides to attack, as shortly as possible to defeat him – said General Wiesław Kukuła, head of SGWP.
– presently we are implementing the largest transformation in history, which in its holistic presumption includes changes in all aspects of the functioning of the Polish Army. Its aim is to build armed forces ready, strong and deadly. This is very important, due to the fact that today, together with another forces of the North Atlantic Alliance, we are implementing a policy of deterrence and defence," he stressed at the beginning of the Defence24Days conference General Wiesław Kukuła, Head of the General Staff of the Polish Army. 1 of its elements was the debate "Army Force 2039", in which in addition to the Gen. Kukuły took part: head of the National safety Bureau General Guns dir. Dariusz Łukowski, General Commander of the Armed Forces Gen. Marek Sokołowski, Operational Commander of the Armed Forces Gen. Maciej Klish and Head of the Armed Forces Agency Gen. Dariusz Kuptel. Panelists discussed the direction in which the Polish military is to change and what challenges they are to prepare for the coming years.
Army transformation is simply a task for years
– I late received this question: since our budget this year is even higher than Israel's budget, why do our armed forces not look like the Israeli armed forces? The key lies in the past – said General Wiesław Kukuła, asked about the cost of arms. He stressed that a large part of the expanding military spending serves to make up for much lower levels of backing in fresh years. “We are facing an increase in spending, but we besides request patience, due to the fact that we will gotta wait for the effects of expanding our defence capabilities.” he added.
The General pointed out that 1 of the most crucial challenges for the transformation of the armed forces is to run 2 parallel processes: maintaining the current military readiness and the transformation of the armed forces. He besides stressed the difference between modernization and transformation. – We operate in an environment where there is simply a culture of modernization, not transformation. Over the years, the armed forces have said: organize, purchase, forget. And run for more shopping. The transformation process does not look like that, he concluded.
The military needs specialists.
When presenting the challenges amia must face in the transformation process, panelists besides pointed to demographic issues. This is not only an ageing population and a declining number of young people, but besides very low unemployment. – We have unemployment of 2%. The armed forces must so compete more and more on the marketplace – said the head of the National safety Office, Gen. Łukowski. It is about highly qualified specialists who will be essential to support increasingly advanced equipment and systems. This is another component which the debate participants believe must be included in the planning of financial contributions to the military. As they pointed out, the acquisition of even the most modern equipment is only the beginning – not only strengthening the army, but besides spending. Infrastructure, logistics, training – these elements were listed as crucial to the transformation process. And they stressed that changes are already being implemented. Soon, for example, Polish pilots F-35 and F-16 will be able to fly for long training to the USA together with their families – so far, the training program required a long-term separation with their loved ones.
New command system
One component of the transformation of the armed forces according to the participants of the debate is to rebuild the command system. "For 3 years we have been working on a fresh model, due to the fact that the current model was designed for the war on terrorism and is completely inadequate to the needs of the changing world. present we request to separate 2 processes in the armed forces and arm them with separate command – said Gen. Kukuła. The first is to be the command of the combined operations keeping the forces ready. "The second should be the leadership of transformation, which we powerfully recommend," added the Chief of General Staff of the HR. In peacetime, its task would be to implement innovation, and in wartime, to train and build structures complementary to losses. The advantage of the fresh strategy is that there is no request to transform between peace and war.
Panelists besides raised the request for strengthening the medical component. – We are beginning to talk about creating a medical command in our structures. We don't have medical troops right now. – said Gen. Lukowski. He stressed that the previously implemented model of doctors being recruited from the civilian marketplace would not work. That's why the amendments to the Homeland defence Act presume the restoration Military Medical Academy in Łódź. Strengthening the function of military medics is an example of implementing changes in the Polish armed forces based on experiences from the war in Ukraine, which participants of the debate frequently mentioned.
“Ukraine has shown that the adaptation of the armed forces is taking place on an ongoing basis. The Ukrainian armed forces changed command structures and units respective times during the conflict. The situation forced specified action. We, too, must have the ability to adapt, due to the fact that the technological advancement forming the battlefield present is fast – concluded Gen. Łukowski.
