When territorial defence troops were created 8 years ago, they were expected to be primarily a real support for linear units against hybrid threats. The images of “green men” taking over the Crimea influenced imagination and forced remedial action. Now, based on the conclusions and experiences of the war in Ukraine and the geopolitical situation in the region, on the basis of the 4 OT brigades, a Border defender Protection Component is formed to support the Border defender and in the event of an attack on Poland is the first to halt the enemy. I believe that 1 of the key capabilities that the COP should have should be anti-aircraft capabilities, and the perfect weapon for this formation would be classical artillery-racite Pilica sets.
I remember perfectly well the comments made by both respectable generals and civilian experts about the territorial defence troops created at the time. Since I do not want to analyse individual votes, let me put them in general, 1 doubt, 1 question – how much will the fresh formation be part of the Polish Armed Forces?
And at this point, I will admit that the question I posed was besides confusing to me. The WOT was not to be subject to the General Staff of the Polish Army, but to the Minister of National Defence, as it were, to stay next to the types of troops operating in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland – land troops, air forces, naval forces and peculiar troops. I wondered what it would look like in practice. How this will affect the process of training, equipping and extracting, until finally, as during the war, joint actions will look like.
Time has shown that, contrary to the opinions of any “experts” of the WOT, they did not become “arms in the army” and the territorials proved to be real support for operational units, e.g. during the fight against Migration crisis, COVID-19 pandemic and Eliminating the effects of large water"Always ready, always close."
Now before WOT a major change in operational paradigms. Based on 4 east OT brigades – 1 Podlaska, 4 Warmia-Mazurska, 19 Nadbużańska and 20 Przemysl – is formed Border defence Component, which is to support not only the Border defender in the protection of the state's border, but in the event of an assault on our country, it is the first to defy the enemy. The COP tool for this intent is intended primarily to be Eastern Shieldwhose formation will be the operator.
Although the Ministry of National Defence does not full uncover the completion of the Shield and its full capabilities, outside the engineering firewalls (including minefields), it is known to have the capacity to fight enemy drones as well.
Illustration picture. The missile-artillery strategy Pilica for the fall fire 25 exercises at the post in the mouth. photograph by DGRSZ
As I say these will be mainly electronic solutions, I would propose that our army consider a somewhat more offensive solution which, in my opinion, will importantly increase the operational-tactical capabilities of the WOT subdivisions. In particular, the equipment of the OT brigade – not only the east ones active in the COP, but all from all over the country, in missile-artillery anti-aircraft kits Pilica. No. No. Pilica+, with CAMM rockets, but classical Pilice (supported by Bystra radars).
Bearing in head that territorial defence troops have structures in practically all district, equipping them with Pilica sets would in a short time importantly increase the ability of our safety strategy to combat drones and ammunition circulating effectors, which are inexpensive to usage and, as the experience of the Ukrainians shows, deadly in this.
To those who spin their noses that I want to make territorials (i.e. light infantry) anti-aircraft fighters, I'll just point out that Pilica is not just a weapon on aircraft. Although our experience in Iraq shows that the Hibnerites (i.e. ZU-23 sets on Stara's box) are excellent for protecting the bases and checkpoints, and the Russians in their combat tactics, called the "tank carousel", usage anti-aircraft artillery kits ZU-23 to support tanks.
The war in Ukraine clearly shows that in order to effectively face the threats of the modern battlefield, 1 must not only immediately adapt to the conditions imposed by the opponent, but besides grow the scope of its own capabilities. And WOT's equipment, or formation of about 50,000 soldiers, in support and anti-aircraft weapons, will force a possible aggressor to re-evaluate its capabilities and capabilities.
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