Poland receives the first Abrams tanks from the United States

Poland has received the first batch of hundreds of Abrams tanks it has ordered from the United States, becoming the first European or NATO country – other than the United States itself – to operate the vehicles. It was also announced this week that Poland will host a new service center for Abrams tanks.

“This is a historic day for the Polish Army,” said Defense Minister Mariusz Paszek, unveiling the newly arrived 14 Abrams.

“[Given] What is happening in Ukraine, we are focused on strengthening the Polish army. This is what we have achieved with our American partners… These tanks will enhance our deterrent power.”

In July 2021, Poland announced the purchase of 250 of the latest M1A2 Abrams tanks for $4.7 billion in a deal the government has made clear is intended to be a deterrent to Russian aggression.

One year later—following Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine—Poland agreed to an additional purchase of 116 used Abrams tanks and accompanying equipment in a $1.4 billion contract. This came after Warsaw donated more than 240 Soviet-designed T-72 tanks to Kiev.

Yesterday, the first Abrams tanks from the latest deal arrived by ship at the port of Świnoujście on Poland’s northern Baltic Sea coast, having left Charleston, South Carolina, Polsat News reports.

The 14 vehicles, previously used by the US Marine Corps, are sufficient to form one company. Poland expects to deliver another 28 tanks of this type by the end of this year, which would be enough for a battalion, Pasczak told TVP yesterday. Another 42 will be delivered in 2024.

Last August, the so-called “Abrams Academy” was opened in Poland in cooperation with the United States, and Polish personnel have already been trained to use the vehicles.

On Monday of this week, it was also announced that an Abrams tank service and maintenance center would be set up in Poznan, the city that is home to the US Army’s first permanent base on NATO’s eastern flank.

The center will be used not only by Poland, but also by the United States itself and other future European operators of Abrams, such as Romania, the military news service Defense24 reports.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted Poland’s government – which was already expanding and modernizing the armed forces – to further accelerate military spending, which rose to 3% of GDP last year and 4% this year – the highest relative level in NATO.

In addition to massive purchases from the United States — including Patriot air defense systems, HIMARS missile launchers and F-35 fighter jets — Poland has also signed deals to purchase hundreds of tanks, howitzers and combat aircraft from South Korea, the first of which has been delivered. in December last year.

This morning, Błaszczak reiterated an earlier vow that, “Within two years, Poland will have the most powerful land army in Europe.”

Main image source: MON_GOV_PL / Twitter