By Merrick “Mac” Carey
October 21, 2024 – The first of the Polish Army’s 250 new M-1 Abrams V3 tanks, the most modern version, will soon be delivered to that stalwart East European ally. Those combat vehicles will focus the Polish Defense Ministry’s attention on getting a maintenance and sustainment capability in place quickly. They will need to avoid having inoperable tanks while they are urgently needed to deter potential Russian aggression.
As the largest front-line NATO member on the eastern front facing Russia, Poland continues an impressive defense modernization effort which will lead to a defense budget of 4.7% of GDP next year. That is the largest GDP percentage in the Atlantic alliance, including America. Poland is buying top of the line jet fighters, helicopters, air defense and armor in a relentless and expensive military buildup. There will be real challenges assimilating all this high-tech gear. Poland’s government, military and industrial leaders will need to move fast.
The rapid acquisition of the most modern defense equipment creates new requirements for Poland’s defense planning, including doctrine, organization, training, and sustainment. Industrial partnerships between US and Polish companies will be a key feature for maintenance and co-production in Poland. When a nation like Poland commits to such a massive investment in American equipment and technology, they rightly deserve a significant share of the work for their domestic industrial base, and workforce. American business leaders in Poland find Polish defense suppliers and subcontractors mostly first-rate. Boeing is already initiating a supplier’s conference for its helicopters in Poland.
The delivery of modern Abrams main battle tanks to Poland, already underway, makes this one of the first cooperative industrial issues between the two nations. Poland will need to repair and even upgrade main battle tanks. And not just Polish tanks. American, Romanian, and other potential European-based tanks will need to be serviced there. The US Army already has hundreds of armored vehicles in the region. Additional Abrams tanks on their way to Ukraine, like those recently donated by Australia, could be upgraded or repaired in the Poznan regional sustainment center.
The US Abrams producer General Dynamics Land Systems has partnered with Poland’s defense holding company PGZ (Polska Grupo Zbrojeniowa) to create this Abrams Regional Sustainment Center (RSC) in Poznan. Older Abrams tanks bought by Poland are already being repaired there. The US Army can also use the RSC for its tanks based in Poland. Other NATO members purchasing Abrams will be able to use this facility for maintenance. It is imperative for Polish military, civilian and business leaders to move quickly to expand the RSC’s sustainment capabilities.
The RSC will also handle co-production of new Abrams. Poland has a stated requirement for 800 additional tanks. As soon as Poland and other NATO members purchase additional Abrams tanks, the RSC can also be the site for co-production by PGZ and Polish industrial partners. Tank kits produced in the US can be assembled in Poznan.
Ukraine will also depend on Abrams tanks and armored vehicles over the long term. Even if a peace deal gets cut between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine’s security will still require a new wave of military expenditures and especially armored vehicles ready to head off any Russian incursions. As with Poland, Ukraine’s armored vehicles must be ready to “fight tonight.” Hauling all this equipment back to America, or even to western Europe, for repair and upgrades, will be a less than ideal plan.
Poland is well on the way toward an advanced, interoperable force to deter Russia for the long haul. The RSC will keep NATO’s forces ready.
This article was originally published on the Lexington Institute: Poland Will Be The New NATO Abrams Tank Center For Sustainment And Co-Production | Lexington Institute