In 2 years we will spend over PLN 1.5 billion on purchasing individual equipment – said Cezary Tomczyk, Deputy Minister of National Defence, during a gathering of the National Defence Committee in the General Staff of the Polish Army in Warsaw. Members listened to information on the implementation of Operation Szpej.
– The intent of the operation is to modernise individual equipment and arms of soldiers. This is simply a key programme of the Ministry of Defence under the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and 1 of the priorities of the current government," said Cezary Tomczyk, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence, at the session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Defence. Members of the Polish Army met present in the General Staff. Parliamentarians heard information on implementation program of modernization of equipment of individual Polish soldiers "Szpej". At the meeting, the Deputy Minister stressed that the ministry wanted soldiers sent to carry out tasks to know that they could number on the best equipment, not only dense but besides individual.
– Fast deliveries of modern equipment and weapons are a precedence for us. We besides place emphasis on the quality of equipment, we want to be competitive towards the best equipped armies of the world," added Tomczyk. The aim of the program, as completed by General Wiesław Kukuła, Head of the General Staff of the Polish Army, is to increase operational capabilities by expanding the chances of soldiers to last on the battlefield, expanding opposition to hard weather conditions and the ability to fight in urbanised and night areas. “We want to show that the safety of soldiers is the most crucial thing for us,” said the gene. Cuckoo.
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At the same time, the Head of SG WP assured that the operation implemented from January 2024 will accomplish its objectives in mid-2026. It will besides include reservists. We want them to have equipment specified as professional soldiers in the future," added the gene. Cuckoo.
The MON has decided to allocate additional funds to the operation. “This year, compared to the budget planned by the erstwhile government, we spent over PLN 350 million on purchasing individual equipment. In 2 years it will be over PLN 1.5 billion – said Tomczyk. According to MON and SGWP, 37 fresh individual equipment contracts were signed this year, 15 multi-annual contracts concluded in erstwhile years and 21 options were launched to increase previously submitted orders.
As the representatives of the MON and the SGWP informed, the transportation of uniforms is simply a precedence in the first phase of the programme. At the request of the Ministry of Defence, specialists from the Military investigation and Implementation Centre of the Uniform Service in Łódź conducted 11 tests on fresh elements of uniforming this year. For comparison, in 2023 there were 6 specified works. – As a result, in 2025 we plan to introduce 19 uniform items into the equipment of the Polish soldier. In 2023 they were introduced 3 – said Tomczyk. 8 elements have already been introduced, among others, a modern winter coat with a pin utilized by soldiers in the framework Military Task Force Podlasie. The collection of puff jackets and specially designed punch has besides begun.
As Colonel Witold Fedejko, Head of the Military Assistance Inspectorate's Uniform Service, stated, this year MON bought, among others, 251 1000 field uniforms, 236 1000 summertime field uniforms, 51,000 warming sweatshirts, 45,000 fresh plan field T-shirts, 20,000 winter jackets with a pin, 120 1000 fresh summertime underwear or 170 1000 shoes. The officer besides provided plans for the next year: the acquisition of over 100,000 field T-shirts, 60,000 winter jackets with a pin or 420,000 summertime underwear pieces. “In addition, for soldiers serving at the border as part of intervention purchases, we have purchased punches and puff jackets, we plan their deliveries in January, and winter gloves, which will be delivered in December and January”, said Colonel Fedejko.
Work is besides ongoing on field and practice uniforms for women soldiers. As Colonel Fedejko explained, the Support Inspectorate conducts investigation on fresh patterns of uniform elements, including women's underwear, tactical uniform and tactical trousers, male and female type, or women's hat. – Models are consulted with soldiers – provided Deputy Minister Tomczyk.
One crucial change is besides the fresh camouflage pattern for the Panther M. – It is characterized by an increase in the alleged report, i.e. an extension of the area where the camouflage pattern does not repeat, which reduces detection and thus affects the safety of soldiers – explained Colonel Fedejko.
Ballistic defense, including fresh helmets and vests, is besides crucial for soldiers. “We are moving distant from steel helmets for composite, safer and adapted to the modern battlefield,” said Cezary Tomczyk. In 2024 contracts for the transportation of nearly 80 1000 composite helmets were implemented, while by the end of this year the last 200 steel helmets will be withdrawn.
– In January of this year, we had in the army secured about 84 percent of the needs of soldiers of the service active on composite helmets, at the end of the year it will be 120 percent, from that point on the helmets will be transferred to reserve training – said Colonel Janusz Misiak, Deputy Head of the Board of Armed Forces and Training Planning – P3/P7 SGWP. He added that the goal was to accomplish by the end of 2026 more than 200 percent coverage of needs.
The soldiers will besides receive fresh bulletproof and anti-slip vests. It was assumed that all active service soldiers and reservists would receive it. At the beginning of the year, the military had 26 percent of the essential vests, by the end of the year there would be 46 percent of them, and by the end of 2026 – about 140 percent.
The military besides receives fresh weapons, including automatic carbines Grot, developed as part of the program "Moduły strategy of firearm Weapons" (MSBS) and Vis 100 pistols. – Grots will become the primary weapon of the Polish Army by the end of 2026. This year we started with 63 percent saturation of the army, at the end of 2024 it will be 95 percent, and by the end of 2026 already more than 170 percent," said Colonel Misiak.
More than 30,000 bulletproof vests, 62 1000 composite helmets, 35 1000 Grot A2 rifles and 6 1000 Vis 100 pistols were obtained from the information provided by the SGWP.
The speakers stressed that many solutions for Operation "Szpej" were developed by the Polish defence manufacture as part of the task of the individual fighting strategy "Titan", i.e. the alleged soldier of the future, including rifles, helmets or bulletproof vests. “The aim of the program is to improve the operation of soldiers in combat operations, the ability to fight the enemy, endurance and protection,” explained Colonel Karol Grudziński, head of the “Titan” Programme Branch at the Armed Forces Agency. As he stated, the “Titan” programme is implemented by a consortium of 13 Polish companies.
In parallel with the acquisition of modern equipment, work is besides underway on changes in the regulations on uniforming and disposing and the alleged equipment table. The soldier will know what's due to him. We want him to be able to order elements of uniforming home or to the unit through the app in the future," said Tomczyk.
Andrzej Grzyb, president of the Parliamentary Committee on National Defence, said he enjoyed the advance of Operation "Szpej". He besides stressed the importance of the equipment for soldiers being individualized and as ergonomic as possible. Marcin Kulasek, Deputy Minister of State Assets, pointed out that the soldier of the Polish Army must have comfort and security. “We are ready to support programmes under Operation Szpej and Titan,” he assured.
As the Deputy Chief of the MON announced, 2025 will be a breakthrough year and each soldier will then feel a immense difference in his equipment.
