“The Abrams tanks for trainings of Polish Army soldiers are already in Poland. We will be ready when the first of the 250 tanks we have ordered arrive to the soldiers. Poland will have a modern, powerful force to deter an aggressor in a threatening situation,” Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak wrote on Twitter.

On 5 April, at the headquarters of the 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade, the head of the Ministry of Defence signed a contract for the purchase of 250 Abrams tanks for the Polish Army. The contract provides for the purchase of the tanks together with associated equipment, including 26 technical protection vehicles and 17 accompanying bridges, as well as a training and logistics package and a stockpile of ammunition. It has a value of approximately $4.75 billion. Delivery of the tanks is scheduled for 2025-26.

The Minister of Defence announced at the time that the US military would deliver 28 tanks to Poland later this year for training purposes. This announcement is now being implemented.

On 15 July, Deputy Prime Minister Blaszczak reported that a deal had been agreed with the US administration allowing Poland to buy 116 used Abrams tanks from the US army.

The first deliveries of used Abrams should begin early next year. The machines will make up for the shortfall created after our country handed over more than 240 modified T-72 tanks to the Ukrainian army.

Adrian Andrzejewski