Poland has become an indispensable factor in redefining the balance of power in Europe, as its economic growth profiled it as one of the main countries on the continent with record investments in armaments, establishing itself as NATO's main pillar in the east .

The country will spend 4.12% of GDP on defense this year - double the NATO guideline of 2 percent.

In total, Poland allocated about 37 billion dollars for defense. Last year, it spent 3.92% of GDP. The Polish budget for 2025 will include another record expenditure - 43.6 billion euros, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced.

While the war in Ukraine symbolically sees Poland as a country on the front lines of defending Western values, it has also forced it to undergo a complete military redefinition, including modernization of the armed forces and increased capacity. protective.

According to the Global Firepower website, which is considered a good indicator of military potential, Poland has over 600.000 military personnel, of which 202.000 are active. There are 468 aircraft, of which 59 are combat aircraft. It also has 612 tanks and 45 ships, but no aircraft carriers.

European Security and Defense reports that the Polish armed forces now consist of 198.000 soldiers, including 130.000 professionals. The Polish army, in terms of manpower, is now certainly the largest in Europe, and the former government wanted to expand it to 300.000 soldiers.

Some experts warn that the military is too large given the limitations on adequate equipment (it ranks 22nd in terms of spending per soldier). Critics draw an analogy with 1939, when Poland had a numerically large army but low combat effectiveness.

This year alone, Poland has signed about 150 purchase contracts - fighter jets, armored vehicles, tanks, helicopters, howitzers and anti-missile defense systems from the US and South Korea.

Poland agreed with the US to buy 32 F-35A aircraft in January 2020 for $4.6 billion, and deliveries are scheduled for the period 2026 - 2030. These are the latest fifth-generation fighter jets, which are distinguished by their ability to extraordinary, such as invisibility to radars or multi-purpose capabilities for air combat.

At the end of August, Poland entered the project to procure 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters with a high value - 10 billion euros.

Poland also ordered 180 South Korean K2 tanks and 366 Abrams tanks. It is believed that thanks to this investment, all Soviet-era tanks will be retired. An important project is the Borsuk infantry fighting vehicle, which is intended to be introduced into the army. It's about domestic pride, as Borsuk is produced by a Polish company.

Poland is also buying 486 HIMARS mobile launchers at a cost of $10 billion. It is a modern multi-purpose missile system characterized by high mobility and accuracy, which enables long-range attacks.

In 2018, Poland signed the largest arms procurement contract in its history when it agreed with the United States to purchase the Patriot missile defense system for $4.75 billion.

This summer's signature is a contract to build 48 missiles for the Patriot air and missile defense systems. These M903 launchers will be manufactured at a Polish steel plant and are expected to be delivered to the Polish military between 2027 and 2029.

Poland also bought hundreds of air-to-air missiles from the US, as well as K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers. Some of them have been delivered and there will be a total of 672. It is an extremely effective and decisive South Korean product for long-range strategic strikes.

Poland is also ordering about 300 K239 Chunmoo mobile rocket launchers - a South Korean-made multi-purpose missile system capable of launching various types of high-precision missiles at distances of up to 300 kilometers.