Recognize the enemy's forces, inform against possibly dangerous movements of his troops, precisely specify targets for his own long-range weapons – this is what reconnaissance satellites do. For now, Poland uses information collected by another people's devices. Soon, however, she will have her own.
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland opened another chapter of their past on 27 June 2024. On that day, the Geospatial designation and Satellite Services Agency (ARGUS) was transferred to the Ministry of Defence. The institution will manage and manage satellite systems, which will shortly enter the equipment of the Polish army, will besides defend these systems and build situational awareness in space. So the military is getting bolder and bolder and bolder. The domain in which we have been put to the aid of abroad entities for years.
Fifth domain
Why an army of reconnaissance satellites? For a fewer reasons. The image recorded from space is the foundation for building the alleged situational consciousness. It allows you to accurately admit the forces of your opponent. It helps measure his resources, analyse the movements of his subdivisions, inform against possible threats. This, of course, is not the end. Satellites facilitate the positioning of own troops, without them it is yet impossible to track targets for precision rocket weapons or unmanned aircraft.
For example, the experience of the war, which has been taking place in Ukraine for over 2 years, convinces about the importance of the data transmitted from orbit. To a large degree soldiers fight “at a distance”, missiles and drones fall hundreds of kilometres behind the front line. Ukrainians thus destruct groups of Russian troops, fuel depots or ships that are based on Crimea or operating in the Black Sea. Putin's soldiers hit Ukrainian power plants, arms plants, but besides civilian facilities.
In 2019 NATO recognized space as an operational area of its troops. It was thus considered the 5th domain of combat – alongside land, seas, airspace and cyberspace. At the same time, the States of the Alliance began to make and make cosmic forces. A fresh kind of military was called to life by Americans, the competence of conventional air force expanded by the French, the command of space formed by Britain. Subsequent countries place their satellites in orbit, the world's largest powers besides work on anti-satellite weapons.
The capabilities associated with functioning in space are besides consistently built by the Armed Forces of Poland. The first step was to make an Imaging designation Centre in Białobrzeg. The facility began operating in 2014. It was then that Poland joined the COSMO-SkyMed programme. Thanks to the agreement with Italy, the Belarusian centre receives and processes data from satellite and radar recognition. Italian devices evidence the image around the clock, regardless of the weather. The Army can then usage the data during various operations and information activities. Polish military besides uses the American satellite GPS system. In the meantime, the army will shortly have a real revolution.
In late 2022 the Ministry of Defence signed an agreement with Airbus Defence & Space. It concerns acquisition of 2 large reflection satellites together with the receiving stationwhich will be located in Poland. The value of the contract is EUR 575 million net. Satellites should be deployed to orbit by 2027. Their work will benefit not only the army, but besides various types of public administration services and entities, specified as resorts liable for spatial planning, agriculture and climate. Devices will besides be useful in fighting large fires or floods. The images that will flow from outer space, Poland intends to share. They are to be accessed by allies. But before the satellites enter orbit, we can usage the already working French constellation under contract.
Poland besides focuses on microsatellites, i.e. devices weighing up to 100 kg. shortly the Ministry of Defence plans to get four. The MicroGlob programme is to help. A year ago, the Armed Forces Agency signed an agreement with the Polish company Creotech Instruments for an industrial feasibility study. This was the first step in the complex process of building satellites. Poles can number on assistance in this area of abroad entities. But Creotech is the leader of an global consortium that works on microsatellites.
Wide access to data
In May 2024, during a speech in the Sejm, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz recalled that the Polish satellite program received a financial injection from the European Investment Bank. The institution declared that it would allocate EUR 300 million for the project. – We want to support the Polish arms industry. We plan to acquisition electronic satellite systems in the MicroGlob programme by 2026 and to get radar systems in the MicroSAR programme by 2025 – emphasized Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz. However, during this year's NATO summit in Washington, D.C., the head of the MON signed a paper on Poland's accession to the NATO space exploration project. 17 countries participate in the project. It will supply the Polish army with access to data collected by another countries, as well as commercial entities.
Step into space is simply a natural consequence of the improvement of armed forces for Poland. It is adequate to mention that the army has late acquired many weapons systems with a scope of hundreds of kilometers. For example, JASSM missiles were equipped with air force, capable of damaging targets at a distance of 370 km. From 2026, airmen will besides usage JASSM-ER missiles with nearly 3 times the potential. Plus, there are systems. HIMARS and Chunmoo With rockets capable of damaging targets nearly 300 km away. That's the distance they'll fly to. NSM rockets Block 1A version. They are to be equipped with 2 more Marine rocket Unitswhich will power the Polish Navy. In order to make effective usage of this kind of weapon, access to modern satellite designation must be ensured. And I don't think it's right to trust solely on outside help. Even if it flows from the most faithful allies.
