Maintaining the momentum of the transformation of the armed forces, expanding expenditure on defence, protecting borders, expanding the army's numbers, training, including the introduction of divisional exercises, the formation of drone and medical troops – these are the most crucial tasks that await the army in the close future. Priorities for 2025 were discussed during the briefing of the MON and Armed Forces.
– The foundation of our safety are soldiers of the Polish Army and our armed forces, always ready to defend borders – said president Andrzej Duda during the beginning speech annual clearance of the management staff of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Poland. This event took place at the office of the Territorial Defence Army in Zegrzu. The gathering summarized the tasks carried out last year and presented the priorities of the MON and troops for 2025.
Record budget
The president pointed out that Russia has been conducting a full-scale criminal aggression against Ukraine for almost 3 years. This war has a critical impact on the stableness of our full region. “There are surely inactive quite a few safety risks ahead of us,” Duda admitted. In this context, he stressed the request to strengthen cooperation with our main ally, the United States. – We must have strong alliances, but at the same time strive for our own safety, most crucial that we as far as they could do their own defensive tasks – convinced the head of the armed forces.
At the same time, the president expressed his satisfaction with the expanding spending on defence. "I hope that this year's budget plan of 4.7% of our GDP will be effectively and efficiently implemented to improve national security," said Duda. He besides argued that up to 3% of GDP should be increased. Defence expenditure by another NATO countries.
The commander of the armed forces argued that the briefing was an chance for him to thank all soldiers for their service to the safety of Poland and Poles. He pointed out the peculiar function of the uniforms active in the operation "Safe Floors" and those who carry and proceed to supply assistance to the floods Operation Fenix. “In all these tasks, the Polish soldier showed his professionalism, dedication and commitment,” said Duda.
Photos: MON
In turn, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, spoke of the most crucial defence achievements last year stressed that Poland presently has the highest defence budget in history. In 2024 it amounted to about PLN 115.5 billion and was made in 99.91 percent. In addition, nearly PLN 30 billion was spent under the Armed Forces Support Fund, which is close to 72 percent of planned expenditure for this purpose. As indicated by the head of the MON, this is the highest percent across NATO.
Border defence
The Deputy Prime Minister besides pointed out that the army's size was increased: it now serves about 206 1000 professional soldiers, voluntary essential military service, territorial military service and active reserve, which is about 14,000 more than a year ago. The number of professional soldiers increased by about 10 1000 at that time and is over 144,000 – We are now the 3rd army in NATO in terms of numbers after the USA and Turkey – Kosiniak-Kamish reminded. fresh units are besides being formed: 2 brigades were formed in the territorial defence troops – 15 Lubuska BOT and 17 Opoleska BOT. What – as the head of the Ministry of Defence indicated – closed the OT brigade formation task in each province.
– We make capabilities based on fresh technologies, including the space domain, and the creation of Artificial Intelligence Implementation Center – said Kosiniak-Kamish. He besides talked about forming fresh military components, including drone troopswhich are the future of Polish amia and medical troops. In this context, the head of the MON mentioned the decision to recreate the Military Medical Academy in Łódź. The creation of this component is planned for the period 2025–2028.
– Since the neo-imperial urges of the Russian Federation represent the biggest threat to Poland, Europe and the world, the challenge of this is to defend our borders – stressed the Deputy Prime Minister in mention to to the “Tarcza East” project. The infrastructure created under this programme will be liable for the future Border Defence Component formed by WOT. "We have enlarged it from 2 to 4 brigades, and the full readiness is to scope it in 2028," he said. Border protection is besides provided by Operation Safe Podlasie, for which the 18th Mechanised Division was liable first, and The 12th Mechanized Division took over from January.
The defence minister besides made assumptions about military training. “Operational skills are needed for the army to function smoothly, that is, training soldiers,” explained Kosiniak-Kamysz. Last year, on average 55,000 operational troops were trained a day, almost 10,000 more than in 2023. An crucial part of staff training is military education, so the admission limits to military academy have been increased. In 2024 they amounted to 2683 seats and were higher by nearly 400 seats compared to the erstwhile year.
The head of the MON besides spoke about last year's purchases for the armed forces. From 14 December 2023 until the end of 2024, the Armed Forces Agency signed 99 contracts for the transportation of military equipment (for over PLN 146 billion), including 50 contracts with home producers. The most crucial – according to the Minister – contracts for 96 helicopters, among others AH-64E Apache, command strategy IBCS, 96 cannonhaubic self-propelled crabs, 80 KTO Rosomak-L, guided JASSM-ER missiles and purchases of individual equipment for soldiers as part of“Speak” peration. He besides recalled the start of the first programme to increase ammunition production capacity in Poland. Its implementation became possible by Parliament's passing of the bill to guarantee the financing of activities aimed at expanding the production capacity of ammunition. The Act allows to transfer an additional PLN 3 billion to Manufacture of ammunition In our country.
Priorities for 2025
What are the plans and priorities of the ministry for the next year? “As for defence spending, we will break the evidence again,” said Kosiniak-Kamish. The budget plan aims to allocate 4.7% of GDP, i.e. PLN 123 billion and PLN 64.4 billion under the SZ Support Fund. In total, it is almost PLN 187 billion. As a result, defence spending will be around 60% higher than in 2023. "There is talk of expanding these expenditures in subsequent years, 5% of GDP should be a mark for all the allied countries," the minister called for.
The army's numbers are inactive to be increased. At the end of the year, the army should have about 230 000 soldiers, including over 150 000 professional soldiers. The limit of persons planned to be admitted to DZSW is almost 40,000. “We improve the recruitment process for military service and for military academy,” said the head of the MON.
As he stressed, we besides want to keep the pace of technological transformation of the army. Among the most crucial purchases planned for this year, the Minister listed: The fresh Badger Infantry Car, submarine, another K2 tanks, modernization of F-16 aircraft, logistics safety under the Vistula programme or Lobster rocket launchers. The head of the Ministry of Defence announced that it would be the year of the Polish Navy. – This year we want to sign a contract to get submarines in the ‘Orca’ programme, but it is besides crucial to keep the equipment that is at the disposal of the navy – the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
Kosiniak-Kamish besides announced the introduction of yearly divisional exercises aimed at checking the quality of equipment, military interaction and operation. This year’s “Iron Defender” maneuvers will train 18th Mechanized Division. On the another hand, he mentioned priorities in operational activities, the maintenance of actions supporting the Border defender (Operation “Safe Podlasie”) and the strengthening of our activity in the Baltic Sea within the framework of Baltic Wart mission.
The Deputy Prime Minister besides talked about legislative activity, including the prepared fresh national safety strategy, the work on the plan of the fresh strategy of directing and command of the SZ, the draft amendment of the Law on Defence of Homeland and the Veterans' Compensation Act.
There will besides be efforts to practice cooperation with the non-military system. It will proceed Operation Fenix. – Building a strong army and enhancing defence capabilities is our common task for 2025 – the Deputy Prime Minister concluded.
He besides presented key tasks for this year General Wiesław Kukuła, Head of the General Staff of the Polish Army. According to the officer, these will be: transformation of the army, improvement of military readiness and implementation of fresh equipment. The main part of the briefing was classified.
