Some articles or their parts may be translated by machine or artificial intelligence from Polish to English.
The world is becoming a global village – the attack in South Korea and the Polish case
The martial law declared in South Korea on 3 December 2024 by President Jun Suk Jeol and lifted after a few hours also had its repercussions on Poland. South Korea is our second most important supplier of arms to the military after the USA. The situation reminded us of the warnings of the Polish military that such long supply chains threaten to be easily interrupted in the event of any conflict in the region, and things have not been going well there for a long time. It turned out that a president from a different political option than the government, with authoritarian tendencies, can lead to internal chaos in the country.
This time everything ended well, at least as far as Polish arms contracts are concerned.
– We are monitoring the political situation in South Korea. We are in constant contact with our attaché in Seoul, as well as his Korean counterpart in Poland – informed Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense. – We received assurances on behalf of the Korean Ministry of National Defense, from Deputy Minister of Defense Il Sung, that our cooperation and implementation of arms contracts are not in any way threatened.
Three generals of the South Korean army – Defense Forces Command, Special Forces Command, Counterintelligence Command – were suspended for participating in this operation and, together with ten other officers, are prohibited from leaving the country. It is likely that General Park An Su, the head of the South Korean General Staff, who took over as commander of martial law, also lost his position.
The power of the combined brands provides greater production opportunities for the military and in the civilian sector
On 4 December 2024, Elbo announced the acquisition of a controlling stake in the Dobrowolski company based in Wschowa and joining the Rekord Group, thus starting a new stage of its operations. The company’s acquisition of resources and competences in key sectors of the economy will enable the consolidation and intensification of activities within the Rekord Group and the development of the company.
Currently, the military sector is an important area of activity for Elbo and Dobrowolski. For years, the companies have specialised in the design, construction and service of commercial vehicles, providing various truck bodies, such as tippers, boxes, vans, isotherms, BDF systems, lifting platforms and specialist bodies. Elbo also offers trailers and semi-trailers tailored to individual customer needs. The Pola logistic trailer project manufactured in Elbo and the delivery of sets for transporting tanks and tracked vehicles up to 67.5 tons carried out by Dobrowolski are excellent examples of how Polish private sector brands can cooperate to develop products dedicated to our army.
fot. Elbo i Dobrowolski – Grupa Rekord
– Thanks to the stable position of the Rekord Group and the acquisition of the Dobrowolski company, we can focus more on deliveries to the military sector, which in the current geopolitical situation is becoming one of the priority areas of activity – emphasizes Tomasz Bajsarowicz, president of Elbo and Dobrowolski. He adds that thanks to the synergy effect resulting from the strength of the combined brands, the door opens to even greater opportunities and strengthens the company’s position on the domestic and international market. – As a result of the synergy, we have also expanded our activity in the civilian sector with new types of specialist superstructures, which is a natural development of our current technological competences – explains the president.
In the era of globalization, this fact of local cooperation takes on particular significance, because by combining forces and brands, contributing to the development of the national economy, building technological independence and strengthening the role of Polish industry, which must play an important role in both the civilian and arms sectors.
NASAMS missiles intended to protect Rzeszów Airport run aground
The freighter Finlandia Seaways, sailing to Gdynia, carrying NASAMS missiles intended to protect Rzeszów Airport in Jasionka, is still in Stavanger, Norway. While leaving port on 5 December 2024, the hull of the vessel caught on the bottom of the quay. It was reported that the armament on board the ship was not damaged in any way. No crew members, including those handling the delivery of the missiles, were injured. Hanne Olafsen, spokesperson for the Operational Command of the Norwegian Armed Forces, assures that the Polish airport in Rzeszów remains safe and that the NATO units on site will remain in Jasionka for as long as needed. Of course, we must reckon with delays in the arrival of Norwegian equipment and personnel, but it will not take more than a few days. The airport in Rzeszów is currently the most protected facility in Europe. Almost half of the 10,000 American soldiers with Patriot systems are assigned to protect the airport in Rzeszów, which has become the main hub for supplying arms and assistance to Ukraine since the war in Ukraine.
Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów and the Air Force Military Academy expand cooperation in education
Pratt & Whitney, a company belonging to the RTX concern, announced on 5 December 2024 that the P&W plants in Rzeszów signed a letter of intent with the Air Force Military Academy in Dęblin on long-term training cooperation in the field of advanced F100 and F135 engines, which are the exclusive powerplant of Polish F-16 and F-35 fighter aircraft.
– Graduates of the Air Force Military Academy are the future military personnel who will be responsible for maintaining and developing the potential of the Polish Air Force – said Brig. Gen. Pilot Dr. Eng. Krzysztof Cur, Rector-Commandant of the Air Force Military Academy. – Training conducted by specialists from Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów will provide cadets with first-hand knowledge of engines used in key missions today and in the future.
Podpisanie listu intencyjnego o współpracy między Pratt & Whitney i Lotniczą Akademią Wojskową. fot. RTX
– Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów is a leading company in the aviation industry in Poland. Our activities cover the full life cycle of aircraft engines from design and development to production and service. Our cooperation with the Air Force Military Academy creates unique educational conditions in the country for current and future students of this university. Knowledge of the F100 and F135 jet engines will help cadets better understand the specifics of the propulsion systems of the Polish Air Force fighters and our partners in NATO – said Piotr Owsicki, President and CEO of Pratt & Whitney plants in Rzeszów.
Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów produces static structures of F100 engines and critical rotating parts used in the production of both new and in-service F100 engines. The plant also produces components for the F135 – the most advanced fighter engine, which will also power Polish F-35A aircraft.
In July 2024, Pratt & Whitney announced the delivery of the first of the next batch of F100 engines to Poland to increase the readiness of the F-16 fleet. In November, the company signed a letter of intent with Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 S.A. to increase the repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities of F100 engines.
The Ukrainian military wants to present the Russians with Piekło (Hell) – it is the first jet drone in Kyiv
St. Nicholas Day, celebrated on December 6, is also the holiday of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). President Zelensky has delivered a batch of new jet unmanned aerial systems Piekło (Hell) to the Ukrainian army. According to the Ukrainian president, these drones have already been successfully used against Russian targets at least five times. Piekło is the first mass-produced Ukrainian drone with a jet drive. Tactical and technical data, such as dimensions and the warhead it carries, are classified for security reasons. The Hell resembles a cruise missile in shape, with a turbofan engine placed outside the fuselage. It is known that the flight range of this drone is 700 kilometers, and the speed reaches 700 kilometers per hour. Most drones move at a speed of 250–300 kilometers per hour. Due to the speed they develop, this weapon causes a lot of trouble for Russian air defense.
Ukraińskie drony Piekło. fot. Twitter Prezydenta Ukrainy
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the Elysee Palace on Saturday, where the meeting of American President-elect Donald Trump with French President Emmanuel Macron was taking place. We will probably find out soon what will come of the talks – will there be continued military aid or persuasion to conclude a truce?
Purchase of several hundred fuel tanks for K2 tanks, K9 gun-howitzers and Homar-K launchers
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, and Paweł Bejda, Secretary of State, took part in the signing of a contract between the Armament Agency and CELTECH sp. z o.o. for the delivery of 320 tanks for the Polish Army. The value of the order is over PLN 1 billion.
First, in the years 2026–2028, 215 fuel tanks will be delivered, for which the army will pay PLN 700 million. There is also an option for another 105 tanks. The value of this contract may amount to PLN 350 million.
Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz said that a very important contract regarding logistics and logistic support for the Polish army has been signed. The agreement concerns the purchase of fuel tankers for transport, storage and refuelling of petrol, diesel oil and aviation fuel for vehicles, various types of machinery and aircraft.
– These fuel tankers will be used in units that use K2 tanks, K9 gun-howitzers, Homar-K launchers, they will be used in units of the Polish Navy, Special Forces or in units of the Support Inspectorate – said Kosiniak-Kamysz during the signing of the agreement for the supply of equipment for the Army.
A military saying goes that logistics is not everything, but everything without logistics is nothing. We have not really remembered this so far. The purchase of tanks has always aroused greater social emotions than the purchase of tanker trucks. It is good that by drawing conclusions from the war in Ukraine we are also making up for the backlog in the logistics segment.
Self-propelled 120 mm mortars reported to the army in full
The 12th Mechanized Brigade received 8 units of Rak 120 mm self-propelled mortars and 4 units of artillery command vehicles (AWD). This completed the deliveries of this equipment provided for in the agreement of 22 May 2020, concluded with the consortium consisting of: Huta Stalowa Wola S.A. and Rosomak S.A., for the purchase of 5 company fire modules (KMO), including 40 units of 120 mm self-propelled wheeled mortars and 20 units of artillery command vehicles on the chassis of the Rosomak wheeled armored personnel carrier.
This was the third contract for the delivery of KMO Rak. The first contract, signed on 28 April 2016, covered the purchase of 8 KMO Rak, and deliveries of all company fire module elements provided for in the contract were completed at the end of October 2019. Deliveries of the second contract, concluded in October 2019, covering another 2 KMO Rak, were completed at the end of October 2021.
The Polish-made Rak self-propelled mortar is the first such advanced design of this type of weapon in the world. It proved itself during the war in Ukraine, where it is receiving praise from Ukrainian soldiers.
Jelcz not only for the Chunmoo launcher – production of these cars for the army is growing
Krzysztof Jóźwiak, sales specialist at Jelcz sp. z o.o. informed that – thanks to ongoing investments and expansion – the factory can now boast systematic increases in production. Not long ago, about 350 cars left the hall per year. The current production capacity of the Jelcz-Laskowice plant, which employs almost a thousand people, amounts to about 500 vehicles of all types. Many specialists from the recently closed Volvo bus factory near Wrocław have found employment at the factory. According to the plan, next year the Jelcz-Laskowice plant is to produce 700 vehicles. In 2026–2027 this number will increase to 800, and starting from 2028 1,000 military vehicles per year are to leave the Lower Silesian factory. The army needs thousands of such vehicles.
HIMARS on the range test – they showed their fire capabilities
As part of the development of the artillery capabilities of the Polish Army, the first shooting of the HOMAR-K system was carried out at the Central Air Force Training Range in Ustka. Soldiers from the 1st Rocket Brigade, 3rd Rocket Squadron (18th Artillery Brigade) participated in the exercise, demonstrating the capabilities of this advanced weapons platform.
The army has already received 20 HIMARS systems (including two training launchers), for which we paid PLN 414 million along with various types of ammunition, including GMLRS with a range of up to 85 km and ATACMS missiles with a range of 300 km. We bought 35 of the latter. The price of one such missile is about $1.5 million. In September 2023, the Ministry of National Defense approved a contract for the acquisition of 486 M142 launchers for 27 divisions of HIMARS systems, referred to as Homar-A, probably to distinguish it from the purchase of Korean Chunmoo launchers, of which Poland intends to buy up to 290 pieces. They will be integrated with the Polish Jelcz car.
Syrian Regime Defeated by Rebels – The Country Still Boils, and a New Conflict Smolders in the Middle East
For over a week, the rebels have been waging a campaign in Syria, crushing government forces and taking over cities, including Aleppo and Hama. On Sunday, 8 December 2024, Syrian rebels announced in a televised statement the liberation of Damascus and the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad after 24 years of rule. The president and his family have fled to Russia. According to Iraqi media, more than 1,000 Syrian soldiers have requested and received permission to cross the Iraqi border.
The foreign ministers of Iran, Iraq, and Syria held a trilateral summit in Baghdad on 6 December 2024, to coordinate their responses to the security crisis in Syria. Iran reportedly planned to send missiles and drones to Syria, and both Iran and Hezbollah wanted to provide the regime with military advisers. Assad, however, did not receive help. The country is still seething. Donald Trump commented on the situation in Syria, writing on the Truth Social platform that Assad is gone. He fled his country. His protector, Russia, under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, no longer wanted to protect him. Russia has lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where some 600,000 Russian soldiers have been wounded or killed in a war that should never have begun and that could last forever. Russia and Iran are weakened – Moscow because of Ukraine and the poor state of the economy, and Tehran because of Israel and its successes in the armed struggle. Sean Savett, spokesman for the National Security Council, reported on the X platform that President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and are in constant contact with regional partners. Polish intelligence services are also in constant cooperation with NATO and the European Union, monitoring the situation. The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, Tomasz Siemoniak, emphasized that the events in Syria are an important point of analysis due to Poland’s interests in the Middle East.
