Warpower:Poland



The WARPOWER series of sites take a unique, 'by-the-numbers', quick-reference approach to the current (2023) military capabilities of Poland. Poland sits at the heart of Eastern Europe and forms the first-line of defense against aggression originating from Russia-Belarus. With an ongoing war to its East, this NATO member is in the process of heavy modernization, moving on from Soviet Cold War entries to more modern Western offerings from the United States, South Korea, and elsewhere. A burgeoning military-industrial base is also of note.

Service Branches


The fighting forces of Poland are collectively managed under the Polish Armed Forces banner and encompasses five major branches of service: the Polish Air Force (PAF), the Polish Land Forces (Army), the Polish Navy, Polish Special Forces, and Polish Territorial Defence. The defense force was founded in 1918 with its most modern incarnaton being established in January 1990.

Material Suppliers


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Primary and Secondary military suppliers, be they direct or indirect, past and present.

At-a-Glance



Global Rank
19
Vietnamese national flag
VTM
20
Polish national flag
POL
21
Spanish national flag
SPN
Regional Rank
2
Ukrainian national flag
UKR
3
Polish national flag
POL
4
Romania national flag
ROM
Equipment
Modern | Cold War
Key Qualities

Western-centric Modernization
NATO Alliance
Force Expansion
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Total Units: 427


Polish air power, led by the Polish Air Force (PAF), is a branch of service in flux, moving to modernize with an active war raging at its back door in Ukraine. There are remnants of the Cold War period marked by several notable Soviet-era pieces including MiG-29 fighters and Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters. Modernization is being had by the introduction of Western types such as the F-35 strike platform, the AH-64 attack helo, and the AW149 multi-mission helo. Polish air power includes a dedicated aviation branch as well as army and naval aviation arms.
Type Balance
Fixed-Wing
Rotorcraft
NOTES: The PAF has 32 F-35A strike fighters on order from the United States as well as 48 additioanl FA-50GF/PL light strike platforms from South Korea. Three ex-USAF C-130H models are also on order. Army aviation has 96 AH-64 attack helos set for full procurement with 8 already leased for training purposes. Thirty-two AW149 multi-mission helos are on order from Italy.


AIRFRAME AGE COLOR KEY:
GREEN = New Procurement; BLUE = Modern, Viable; YELLOW = Aging, Requires Attention; RED = Obsolete / Near-Obsolete


36
F-16C
Multirole
AIR FORCE
18
Su-22M4/M3K
Fighter-Bomber
AIR FORCE
13
MiG-29A
Multirole
AIR FORCE
2
FA-50GF/PL
Light Strike
AIR FORCE
16
W-3
Medium Utility.
AIR FORCE
16
Mi-2
Liaison/Utility
AIR FORCE
11
Mi-8/-17
Transport/Gunship
AIR FORCE
23
M28
Utility
AIR FORCE
16
CN295
Tactical
AIR FORCE
5
C-130E
Tactical
AIR FORCE
2
C-130H
Tactical
AIR FORCE
2
G550
VIP
AIR FORCE
2
BBJ2
VIP
AIR FORCE
1
Boeing 737
VIP
AIR FORCE
24
SW-4
Helo Training
AIR FORCE
22
PZL-130
Basic Training
AIR FORCE
16
M-346
Advanced Training
AIR FORCE
12
F-16D
Combat Training
AIR FORCE
6
Cabri G2
Helo Training
AIR FORCE
6
MiG-29UB
Combat Training
AIR FORCE
3
R44
Helo Training
AIR FORCE
44
Mi-2
Light Utility
ARMY
38
W-3
Medium-Lift
ARMY
27
Mi-8/-17
Transport/Gunship
ARMY
18
Mi-24
Gunship/Transport
ARMY
8
AH-64E
Attack Helo
ARMY
4
S-70i
Multi-Mission
ARMY
2
Mi-2
Helo Training
ARMY
8
An-28
Maritime Patrol
NAVY
8
W-3
Search and Rescue
NAVY
6
Mi-14
ASW
NAVY
5
An-28
Utility
NAVY
4
SH-2G
ASW
NAVY
3
Mi-2
Utility
NAVY

Total Units: 100


The modern Polish drone fleet is modest by Western standard but set to grow considerably in the coming years. The centerpiece is the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 attack drone which has been proven across several high-profile conflicts to date. Poland also manages a burgeoning local drone industry which has produced the viable FlyEye ISR type as well as the Warmate loitering attack drone. The ScanEagle originates from America while the Orbiter is of Israeli design.
NOTES: Estimates below have been made for specific entries when official totals are not made available. Eighteen Turkish Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs remain on order. Four-hundred WB Electronics FT-5 Los, 100 Wizjer, and 40 Orlik drones have also been committed to.


AIRFRAME AGE COLOR KEY:
GREEN = New Procurement; BLUE = Modern, Viable; YELLOW = Aging, Requires Attention; RED = Obsolete / Near-Obsolete


6
TB2
UCAV
AIR FORCE
44
Orbiter
Recon
ARMY
20
FlyEye
Recon
ARMY
20
Warmate
Attack
ARMY
10
ScanEagle
Recon
ARMY

Total Units: 15,495


The modernizing Polish Army is gradually moving away from its Cold War-era alliance by adopting more local and Western battlefield solutions. These include upgraded German Leopard 2, American Abrams, and South Korean Black Panther Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) as well as an all-new tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle in the indigenous Borsuk. While Cold War remnants remain in some number, these are set to expire are more modern solutions are brough online. The American HIMARS and South Korean Chunooo are both MLRS imports bringing about more tactical flexibility as well as an all-modern approach to waging a modern land war.
Type Balance
Tracked
Wheeled


NOTES: 820 South Korean Black Panther (K2PL) MBTs will be manufactured in Poland. M1A1 FEP to be upgraded to SEPv3 standard. 250 M1A2 SEPv3 expected between 2025 and 2026. Leopard stock upgrading to Leopard 2PL standard. 460 South Korean K9 Thunder SPGs to be manufactured in Poland.


HULL AGE COLOR KEY:
GREEN = New Procurement; BLUE = Modern, Viable; YELLOW = Aging, Requires Attention; RED = Obsolete / Near-Obsolete


28
K2
Main Battle Tank
28
M1A2 SEPv2
Main Battle Tank
14
M1A1 FEP
Main Battle Tank
105
Leopard 2A5
Main Battle Tank
83
Leopard 2A4
Main Battle Tank
45
Leopard 2PL
Main Battle Tank
113
PT-91MA1
Main Battle Tank
32
PT-91
Main Battle Tank
27
PT-91MA
Main Battle Tank
110
T-72A/M
Main Battle Tank
1,252
BWP-1
IFV
22
BWP-1D
Recon
16
BWP-1S
Recon
359
Rosomak
8x8 IFV
87
Rosomak-S
8x8 IFV
31
Rosomak-M3
8x8 IFV
4
Rosomak-M2
8x8 IFV
4
Rosomak-NJ
8x8 IFV
2
Rosomak-WSRiD
Recon
115
BRDM-2
4x4 Scout
60
BRDM-29-6i
4x4 Scout
54
BRDM-2-96ik
4x4 Scout
50
BRDM-2M-96
4x4 Scout
37
BRDM-2-97
4x4 Scout
12
BRDM-2RS
4x4 Scout
1
BRDM-2-98
4x4 Scout
41
MT-LB-L
Driver Training
6
MT-LB-R
Electronic Warfare
6
MT-LB-Z
Electronic Warfare
2
Krel
Electronic Warfare
3
Borsuk
IFV
60
Wirus
4x4 Recon
1,203
Command
Various
257
MEDEVAC
Various
300
Cougar
MRAP
96
Tumak-2
LUV
60
Tumak-3
LUV
1
M1043A2
LUV
90
Skorpion-3
LUV
227
2S1M/T
122mm SPH
108
DANA-T
152mm SPH
3
DANA-M
152mm SPH
93
M120SMK
120mm Mortar
80
Krab
155mm SPH
48
K9A1
155mm SPH
75
WR-40
122mm MLRS
75
BM-21
122mm MLRS
29
RM-70/85
122mm MLRS
7
HIMARS
MLRS
3
K239
239mm MLRS
27
9P133
ATGM Carrier
18
Tumak-5
ATGM Carrier
163
Air Defense
Missile
436
Air Defense
Ballistic
620
Engineering
Various
8,667
Logistics
Various

Polish military manpower by-the-numbers.


The modern Polish Warfighter is equipped with both proven Cold War-era and modern small arms to meet most any battlefield requirement. Semi-automatics dominate the pistol category and include the German P99 and the local FB VIS 100. The PM-84 continues as a standardized submachine gun solution and the Mossberg 500 pump-action shotgun delivers considerable lethality at close ranges. Soviet-era solutions like the AKM are still in play though giving way to more modern, localized products such as the FB Mini-Beryl assault carbine, FB Beryl assault rifle, and MSBS Grot modular assault rifle - all in 5.56mm. A collection of long guns make up the sniper category which still includes the Soviet SVD but also takes on the services of the Finnish Sako TRG and localized Bor in 7.62mm and 0.50cal WKW Wilk offerings. As with any modern fighting force, the Army features various machine guns covering light, general purpose, and heavy categories. Hand grenades, recoilless rifles, and grenade launchers are all in play as well.
NOTES: Values below used (with permission) from the military stats aggregator site www.GlobalFirepower.com, detailing the current strengths and weaknesses of modern military forces by-the-numbers.



Total Population
38,093,101
(100%)

Available Manpower
18,665,619
(49.0%)

Total Military Personnel (est.)
152,500
(0.4%)

Active Personnel
120,000
(0.3%)

Reserve Personnel
0
(0.0%)

Active Paramilitary
32,500
(0.1%)

Air Force Personnel
37,000
(0.1%)

Navy Personnel
12,500
(0.0%)

Army Personnel
65,000
(0.2%)

Total Units: 28


The Polish Navy showcases a mix of modern and Cold War-relic hulls. This includes a single example of the Soviet-era diesel-electric Kilo-class attack submarine. The modest surface fleet encompasses a pair of ex-USN frigates (Oliver Hazard Perry-class) and locally-built corvette warships. Beyond this is a stock of indigenous hulls making up a sizeable missile boat and mine warfare fleet.
HULL AGE COLOR KEY:
GREEN = New Procurement; BLUE = Modern, Viable; YELLOW = Aging, Requires Attention; RED = Obsolete / Near-Obsolete


1
Orzel
Attack Sub
2
Gen.K.Pulaski
Frigate
1
Kaszub
Corvette
1
Slazak
Corvette
3
Orkan
Missile Boat
3
Kormoran
Mine Hunter
12
Gardno
Mine Sweeper
4
Mamry
Mine Sweeper
1
Goplo
Mine Sweeper

Ranks of the various military services of the nation of Poland.


Ranks are listed below, lowest ('OR', Enlisted) to highest ('OF', Officer). Translations / comparable ranks are provided.


Polish Army Ranks (arranged Lowest-to-Highest)
Szeregowy
Private
OR-1
Starszy Szeregowy
Private 1st Class
OR-2
Kapral
Corporal
OR-3
Starszy Kapral
Lance Corporal
OR-4
Plutonowy
Platoon Leader
OR-4
Sierzant
Sergeant
OR-5
Starszy Sierzant
Staff Sergeant
OR-6
Milodszy Chorazy
Warrant Officer
OR-7
Chorazy
Officer
OR-8
Starszy Chorazy
Senior Officer
OR-9
Strzy Ch.Sztabowy
Sr.Staff Officer
OR-9
Podchorazy
Student Officer
OF(D)
Podporucznik
2nd Lieutenant
OF-1
Porucznik
1st Lieutenant
OF-1
Kapitan
Captain
OF-2
Major
Major
OF-3
Podpulkownik
Lieutenant Colonel
OF-4
Pulkownik
Colonel
OF-5
General Brygady
Brigadier General
OF-6
General Dywizji
Major General
OF-7
General Broni
Lieutenant General
OF-8
General
General
OF-9
Marszalek Polski
Field Marshal
OF-10


Polish Navy Ranks (arranged Lowest-to-Highest)


Polish Air Force Ranks (arranged Lowest-to-Highest)
Szeregowy

OR-1
Starszy Szeregowy

OR-2
Kapral
Corporal
OR-3
Starszy Kapral
Senior Corporal
OR-4
Plutonowy
Group Leader
OR-4
Sierzant
Sergeant
OR-5
Starszy Sierzant
Staff Sergeant
OR-6
Mlodszy Chorazy
Warrant Officer
OR-7
Chorazy
Officer
OR-8
Starszy Chorazy
Senior Officer
OR-9
Starszy Ch.Sztabowy
Sr.Staff Officer
OR-9
Podchorazy
Student Officer
OF(D)
Podporucznik
2nd Lieutenant
OF-1
Porucznik
1st Lieutenant
OF-1
Kapitan
Captain
OF-2
Major
Major
OF-3
Podpulkownik
LT Colonel
OF-4
Pulkownik
Colonel
OF-5
General Brygady
Brigadier General
OF-6
General Dywizji
Major General
OF-7
General Broni
LT General
OF-8
General
General
OF-9
Marszalek Polski
Marshal of Poland
OF-10
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