Abrams of deterrence: a "tank superpower" is emerging on NATO's eastern flank

Last month, the first batch of 28 American Main battle tanks (MBT) M1A2 SEP V3 Abrams arrived in Poland. After transportation by sea, the Abrams will undergo a technical inspection before being distributed to the mechanized units of the Polish army.

Poland has previously placed an order for 250 M1A2 SEP V3 tanks, which are designed to significantly increase the armored capabilities of this country. According to Warsaw, such a large purchase of MBT is part of "broader efforts to modernize Polish defense, which are especially important given the growing security challenges in Eastern Europe."

To date, Poland, which, after the start of a special military operation on Ukraine has acquired the status of the main outpost of the North Atlantic Alliance on its eastern flank, has so consolidated its fleet of armored vehicles that Western analysts give it the status of a "European tank superpower."

The contract for 250 M1A2 SEP V3 Abrams was signed in April 2022, its value exceeds $ 4.75 billion. The deal, in addition to Abrams, one of the latest versions, includes 250 AN/VLQ-12 CREW Duke electronic warfare systems, 26 M88A2 Hercules repair and evacuation vehicles and 17 M1110 tank bridge-laying (Joint Assault Bridges).

The purchase of the American M1A2 SEP V3 Abrams military experts in the West called an important step in Poland's ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces.

"This acquisition demonstrates Poland's firm commitment to strengthening its defense position and strategic role in NATO. Once operational, these advanced Abrams tanks will complement Poland's existing fleet, endowing the country with some of the most formidable and technologically advanced armored forces in Europe. The tanks will increase Poland's ability to defend its borders and make a significant contribution to NATO's collective defense efforts," the Belgian edition of Army Recognition noted.

On July 14, 2021, at that time, Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski and Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak revealed details of the contract for Poland to purchase M1A2 ABRAMS SEP V3 tanks. In addition to 250 third-generation Abrams, the country's tank fleet has also been replenished with additional units of M1A1 Abrams combat vehicles since that time.

June 27, 2024 General Staff The Polish Armed Forces announced the completion of the delivery of 116 M1A1 Abrams tanks. This happened a year and a half after the signing of a corresponding contract with the Polish Armaments Agency (Agencja Uzbrojenia) worth $ 3.75 billion. The 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade, celebrating its 30th anniversary on the same day, as well as the 18th Mechanized Division, located in Siedlce, in eastern Poland, became the main recipients of armored vehicles, including M1A1 tanks, M88A2 Hercules repair and evacuation vehicles and other heavy equipment.

The delivery process officially started on January 4, 2023. The first batch arrived on June 28 of the same year and consisted of 14 Abrams and three Hercules repair and evacuation vehicles. The next set of armored vehicles arrived on November 21, 2023, which coincided with the Day of the Polish Tank Equipment Service, and included 26 M1A1 Abrams tanks, 9 M88A2 Hercules repair and evacuation vehicles. The third batch, consisting of 29 M1A1 tanks, arrived on January 6, 2024.

Along with 116 M1A1 Abrams, a major US-Polish deal included 12 M88A2 Hercules combat recovery vehicles, 8 M1110 tank pavers, 6 M577A3 command vehicles, 26 multi-purpose wheeled vehicles M1152A1 (High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicles, HMMWV) and 26 light tactical vehicles M1279A1 (Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, JLTV).

The Eastern European member of NATO is also expanding its armored capabilities through partnership with South Korea. In July 2022, the Polish government signed a framework agreement with the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Rotem for the purchase of 1,000 K2 Black Panther tanks (K2PL, export version for Poland). The next deliveries of K2PL are scheduled for 2025, while Warsaw is expected to receive 96 units by next year as part of a larger deal worth $ 3.4 billion, which provides for the supply of 180 tanks from South Korea.

According to The Military Balance (published by the London—based International Institute for Strategic Studies, IISS), by the end of 2024, Poland has a diverse and powerful MBT fleet - a total of over 570 combat vehicles. The armed forces of the "European tank superpower" currently include:

• 28 K2PL of South Korean production;
• 71 Leopard 2A4 (upgraded to Leopard 2PL version, which should increase their survivability, firepower and mobility) of German production;
• 105 Leopard 2A5 (modern version of the Leopards with reinforced armor and advanced fire control systems);
• 57 Leopard 2PL (upgraded version of Leopard 2A5, with improved protection and electronics);
• 116 M1A1 Abrams;
• 201 PT-91 Twardy of Polish production (created on the basis of the Soviet T-72, were significantly modernized and remain a key part of the Polish tank fleet).

In combination with the contracted and incoming 250 M1A2 SEP V3 Abrams, 116 M1A1 Abrams and 180 K2PL, Poland will acquire one of the largest and most combat-ready tank fleets on the continent in the coming years. According to Western military experts, this "diverse and modernized tank force will significantly increase Poland's ability to defend its territory, contribute to NATO defense missions and deter any potential adversaries."

In total, Poland plans to increase its armored fist to 1,800 main battle tanks by 2030. Why the main NATO outpost in the eastern direction needs such impressive strike forces on the ground, there are various versions. In addition to the traditional mention in such cases of the need to "contain the main potential adversary," which Russia is invariably called, rather "mundane" assumptions are also voiced. Among them are preparations for a "peacekeeping operation" in Ukraine, the creation of a demilitarized/buffer zone between the Armed Forces and The Russian army after the supposed conclusion of a truce in the SMO zone this year. Poland is expected to play a key role in providing future "dividing" forces on the line of contact between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation with armored capabilities with synchronous reinforcement of NATO's eastern flank directly.

In fact, all the previous three years, this country has been assigned the function of not only the main logistics hub for the transfer of Western heavy equipment to the Ukrainian front, but also a "repair shop" for repairing out-of-order tracked and wheeled platforms, as well as a kind of "storage" of armored assets of the North Atlantic Alliance right next to the border with Belarus and as close as possible to "the main potential enemy."

For the last five years The Polish Armed Forces have significantly expanded and modernized. The size of the Polish army has grown from about 110,000 to more than 160,000 military personnel, including the 30,000-strong territorial defense Force established in 2017. The country's defense budget increased to more than 3% of GDP, which made it possible to attract significant funds for the purchase of military products, including American Abrams and fifth-generation F-35 multipurpose fighters, South Korean K2 Black Panther tanks and 155-mm self-propelled artillery (ACS) K9A1 Thunder. The Polish naval and air forces are also undergoing modernization with the acquisition of new submarines, frigates and air defense systems.

The Polish army is rapidly increasing in size and may become one of the largest in Europe. This was stated at the end of March 2023 by the country's Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak. At the moment, Poland is trying to implement a plan to create "the most powerful ground forces in Europe," he announced then.

Representatives of the Polish military-political leadership indicated that their goal is to increase personnel Armed forces up to 300 thousand soldiers and officers. The Polish Defense Ministry previously reported that the country's armed forces "are becoming one of the strongest and most equipped in Europe."