New commander of the Black Division

What are your plans in your fresh position?

Of course, we will follow the direction which my predecessor, Gen. Piotr Fajkowski, pointed out. As early as September, we will have the most crucial training event of this year, so the exercises “A brave beaver.” The main exercise squad here will be the 34th Armour Cavalry Brigade of the Saigon. The training will besides be attended by the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade and the 23rd Regiment of Artillery from Bolesławca.

The main intent of the exercise will be to check the preparation and implementation of the 34 BKPanc displacement combined into the operational area of development, along with overcoming the water obstacle. We will besides check the conduct of maneuvering defenses and execution of fire tasks by day and night. Exercises will be carried out at the training ground in Hungary and Żań.

Of course, the “broad beaver” is not everything. We are besides preparing soldiers for another change of the Polish Military Quota in Latvia or for border service under Operation Safe Podlasie. In addition, the 11th Lubuska Division is active in the plan of changes in structures and organizational changes of sub-divisions of land troops. We will, of course, proceed this direction.

Is this about drone company, formed as part of a pilot program in the 17th Mechanized Brigade?

Yeah, but not only. It is presently 1 of 2 specified companies in mechanized troops to make the skills of utilizing unmanned workers in the field of combat and to test innovative constructions. In addition to the Interuncle, specified a subdivision of unmanned weapons systems besides operates in the 12th Szczecin Mechanized Division.

What are your plans for your division?

The company will be certified in the fall. If it is successfully completed and those solutions which are tested in the 17th Brigade and 12th Brigade will work, the General Staff will be able to decide to introduce these structures to the equipment of the armed forces.

Are there any changes in the Black Division's equipment in the close future?

We're inactive accepting upgraded Leopard 2PL tanks, Crab Haubice and lobster-K launchers. The full process continues and yet all Polishized tanks are to be in the arms of the 11th Division. I am delighted that, by the decisions made at the highest levels of Leoparda, they returned, among others, from Wesoła to Świętszów and Zagania, to 11th Division, where they should always be.

Brig. Gen. Sławomir Lidwa is simply a postgraduate of the University of Officers in Poznań and Adam Mickiewicz University. He besides graduated from the Postgraduate Defence Policy Studies at the Academy of War Art. He began his military career in 1998 as commander of tank platoon at the 9th Armour Cavalry Brigade in Braniewo. He then served among others in the 1st Mechanized Division, 1st Armoured Brigade. For 2 years he was commander of the Bravian brigade. And in 2024 he took up the position of Head of the Board of Armoured and Mechanized Forces – Deputy Inspector of Land Forces at the General Command of Armed Forces Types. He is simply a veteran of the mission in Iraq and Afghanistan.