Polish Armed Forces Imaginative and prescient for the Future. Normal Mika: I’m able to face the brand new challenges [INTERVIEW]

The US and NATO forces presence in Poland is the third ingredient conditioning the modernization course of. Not solely are we referring to the weather that we have had right here for years, such because the Multinational Corps North-East primarily based in Szczecin, inside which we collaborate carefully with Germany and Denmark, Multinational North-East Division in Elbląg, and the US Armoured Brigade Fight Workforce, deployed within the Bolesławiec-Świętoszów-Żagań-Skwierzyna space, the improved Ahead Presence battalion fight group, but in addition different elements current in Toruń, Poznań, or Powidz. All the above components pressure us to lift the degrees of interoperability and the capabilities to work with the allies. I need to stress the truth that all branches of the Armed Forces subordinated to me participate on this, beginning with the Navy, Air Drive, Army, and Particular Operations Forces to complete with.

Lastly, we can not neglect that the full-scale battle at our border has additionally lower our Jap provide chains. Subsequently, we must be much more decided to quickly and efficiently conduct the modernization, to spice up the capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces. I need to add that all through my navy profession of 4 a long time I had no probability to implement so a broad defensive capabilities enhancement programme – stepping past modernization, over a interval so brief.

The earlier initiatives had been unfold throughout a for much longer timeline and so they additionally had a smaller scale. The challenges are grand, however I’m an optimist right here. In our geographical location and state of affairs, on the subject of safety, we’ve no alternate options – we will solely head in direction of a serious reinforcement of the Armed Forces. Let me add that the experiences that we’ve gathered throughout the commissioning of the Abrams MBTs, or the institution of the 18th Division, have been promising.

Final yr the Voluntary Normal Navy Service programme was launched. The programme is to create a basis for rising the variety of troops within the Polish Armed Forces and likewise to get well what’s within the reserves. A heated skilled debate is occurring, asking whether or not an answer as such could be efficient sufficient. Recommendations have been made, that we have to make one additional step, restoring obligatory navy service. What are the primary conclusions?

The conclusions reached after the Voluntary Normal Navy Service was launched are very attention-grabbing. Let me start with the truth that the choice to hitch the navy is an indication of patriotism, devotion, and keenness. Many younger individuals do exhibit these traits, and likewise ardour that, fairly not too long ago, couldn’t have been put into use. After I was working because the commander of the Command Assist Brigade of the North-East Corps, in one of many first professionalized models we may have been accepting 5 to 10 troops directly.

Today, that recruitment is way larger, particularly within the East of Poland, the place we recruit 50 and even 100 troopers in a single go. And that occurs in a state of affairs by which we, till not too long ago, weren’t planning to implement an instrument as such, a minimum of at such a scale. The conclusions drawn from the Voluntary Normal Navy Service are being repeatedly gathered and analyzed. As that type of service is new, some facets will most likely require additional refining.

I need to add that I’m conscious of the truth that the navy recruitment course of is a serious problem, and in essence, there isn’t any sliver bullet on the subject of attracting the youth to hitch the navy. The allies, together with the US Army, or the Bundeswehr, face the same set of challenges. Our expertise reveals that the variety of volunteers amongst younger individuals is dependent upon a number of components, together with season and the training cycle. Naturally, extra individuals are desirous to serve after the educational or college yr ends, and so they face the prospect of coming into one other stage of their lives.

And what concerning the dynamics of the curiosity in navy service? How these are formed?

I can say that usually, the curiosity in navy service in Poland has been rising. Not simply amongst younger individuals, but in addition amongst ladies, who develop into particularly devoted. Navy Preparation Units are among the many types of pre-service preparation which can be turning into more and more common. That is helpful, from our standpoint.

Because the Normal Command we face a serious problem associated to how we will recruit, hold, and ideal our cadre. Voluntary Normal Navy Service shall solely be the primary stepping stone, when going towards professionalized service, after which perfecting one’s profession at additional profession phases. Let me add that younger individuals right this moment have an ideal set of prospects forward when starting navy service. These prospects embrace coaching overseas – within the US, or Korea; using very fashionable tools, and using English, from the very begin of the service. We need to make our cadre good. It could be finest to try this in sync with self-education. The probabilities right here, which I need to emphasize, are very broad.

One other problem stems from maintaining the skilled troopers in – a lot of them resign. Just lately Minister Błaszczak introduced a brand new monetary bonus for troopers who’ve been serving for a minimum of 15 years. What’s the genesis of the phenomenon of the troopers resigning? What will be executed to rectify that?

This matter is way broader than remuneration alone, however a set of sure mechanisms must be created anyway. Social advantages, resembling medical care, lodging, or education for the kids additionally play a legitimate function right here. We do see how the People strategy that matter at Camp Kościuszko, the ahead US Army V Corps command in Poznan. We must be pushed to implement comparable options within the Polish navy.

The uniform picture and navy service-associated status stay extremely vital. One other ingredient right here is available in a type of improvement choices, and the power to amass specialist information. As an illustration, the medical doctors working inside navy healthcare can interact in specialist coaching, and thus heighten the extent of their ability. Let me add, that the navy healthcare system would endure growth, each because of the elevated variety of troops, in addition to the expertise coming from Ukraine. And that have reveals that medical support has a key worth for troopers.

After all, the self-development additionally applies to another specialist ability units, together with mechanics, paratroopers, and even divers. Moreover, because the Supreme Commander stated, the soldier at all times must be paid effectively and outfitted effectively. We face some points, on the subject of the attractiveness of salaries, as an example within the case of the pilots – they’re valued extremely within the civil aviation market. However the pilots who stay in service do exhibit a whole lot of ardour and dedication. The additional bonuses, increasingly more of them, are crucial, in fact, however they’re simply the icing on the cake, they must be part of a broader system.

Let me return to the Voluntary Normal Navy Service. Many opinions counsel that recruiting so many candidates would imply that some individuals who shouldn’t be within the navy, really be part of the armed forces. Skilled troopers typically complain concerning the diminished recruitment standards. How would you touch upon that?

Certainly, there are some instances like that – however they don’t seem to be frequent. Nevertheless, the adjustments within the recruitment standards shall be considered as a step in direction of a rational use of the potential that we’ve at our disposal, as a state, and as a society. Additionally they outcome on the bottom of the larger saturation of the Armed Forces with fashionable tools. Quite a lot of positions inside the Armed Forces requires quite a lot of predispositions. Not everyone has to get a outcome that might be on par with the Olympians, nonetheless, there are some positions the place the norms can’t be diminished. We additionally encourage the troopers to interact in sports activities, and martial arts – this makes it attainable to enhance bodily health when the troopers are in service already, even when their PT outcomes are common at first. That requires a whole lot of laborious work, however is feasible, and provides one an immense sense of satisfaction.

Then again, the developments within the subject of drugs make it attainable to confess troopers to service, who wrestle with illnesses that have been thought of incurable 2-3 a long time in the past, rendering them unfit. A separate matter is said to accepting troopers wrestle with sure limitations however nonetheless need and are capable of proceed the service, the veterans, or those that went by means of accidents. It is extremely vital to make use of their potential, wherever attainable.

On the similar time, we’re absolutely conscious of the truth that the demographic decline could be, and is, the best problem right here. Fewer, and fewer youngsters are born, and thus, naturally, we may have fewer and fewer viable candidates. Paradoxically, creating new models within the East of Poland right this moment, we don’t really feel that to an ideal extent, given the area’s demography, and employment market constructions. However the subject in query will probably be rising. In the long term, it could be helpful for extra youngsters to be born, however that is a matter of social adjustments.

I’d additionally prefer to ask concerning the Division constructions, additionally inside the context of creating new tactical parts, such because the Marshall Józef Piłsudski 1st Division of Legions Infantry (1. Dywizja Legionów Piechoty). Ought to the person Army Divisions be homogeneous? The dearth of equipment- and structural- coherence would translate into issues within the division of logistics.

On one hand, it could be fascinating for the Divisions to be homogeneous. The artwork of battle says, nonetheless, that capabilities must be tailor-made to the environment, and we have to take that into the account. Sustaining correct ranges of interoperability is an important of issues right here. We’ve gathered expertise in establishing interoperability already, and likewise on the subject of commanding capabilities throughout completely different parts. This has been one of many key duties that we needed to deal with, ever since we grew to become a NATO member state again in 1999. And now, we’re at a wholly completely different stage, and we’re additionally growing that potential repeatedly.

We’re additionally scrutinizing the fashions adopted by the main navy forces of the West, US Army included. We even have gathered expertise in establishing the 18th Mechanized Division. From the very begin, it was being fashioned as per the brand new requirements.

We’re inserting our bets on excessive saturation with fashionable expertise, over a brief interval, as the probabilities allow. The brand new platforms require us to determine a correct logistics again finish, and a correct stockpile. We additionally must adapt to that, if we need to accomplish the target of fast reinforcement of fight capabilities. Many issues are nonetheless on the starting stage, with no key choices made. There are nonetheless works underway, one may say, “on the design desks”. I can guarantee you, nonetheless, that we are going to be retaining the interoperability, and compatibility of the constructions, even when these are a bit diversified because of the terrain circumstances on location, or because of the particular nature of the tools at hand.

The battle has additionally examined quite a few myths tied to the fashionable battlespace, additionally on the subject of heavy tools. You’ve gotten been making a number of public statements, claiming that the theses concerning the finish of the principle battle tank stay unfaithful. Can we communicate of a renaissance of the Armoured Forces?

Sure, as I stated, the rules governing the battle stay unchanged, even in a state of affairs when the battle atmosphere does change. Each the observations tied to the battle in Ukraine, and our peacekeeping deployment experiences, which have been taking place in numerous circumstances, present clearly that the land forces are finally the guarantor of bringing peace and safety into the given space.

The joint operations are being carried out by all Service Branches of the navy, and by all elements inside these branches. We must be repeatedly rising the effectiveness of interoperability between them, and make use of the brand new technological capabilities to realize a bonus over the enemy. That doesn’t change the truth that the terrain will not be secure until our troops set their boots on the bottom within the given space.

In the meantime, the Armoured Forces, working hand-in-hand with the mechanized infantry, and exhibiting a whole lot of firepower, mobility, and excessive ranges of safety assured by the principle battle tanks, are indispensable in taking up the initiative, stopping the enemy offensive, and stopping dropping any floor to the adversaries. The remaining branches of the Armed Forces haven’t any capabilities as such at hand.

I’ve heard individuals saying the demise of the tank a number of occasions, all through my 4-decades lengthy profession. At all times, it was an faulty assertion. And the identical applies to what we’re coping with now, which has been confirmed by the experiences gathered in Ukraine, and the function performed by the Armoured Forces there now. This doesn’t relieve us of the need to deliver the interoperability of the armoured models, and different branches of the navy to perfection; we additionally want to hunt the choice to extend the resilience of these models in direction of quite a lot of threats, and people which can be current on the battlefield in a extra broad method, together with ATGMs, UAVs, and loitering munitions.

On the subject of the capabilities of the mechanized infantry, plainly the battle in Ukraine has damaged a sure taboo. Up till the latest interval, the Polish defence technique acknowledged that in essence, all autos belonging to the mechanized, and motorized infantry models, additionally must retain amphibious functionality. Extra, and extra indicators present {that a} new strategy is being adopted.

In my view, the capabilities shall range, because the constructions do. If we conduct operations in areas with quite a few water obstacles, amphibious capabilities needs to be accessible, no doubts emerge right here. That additionally is dependent upon the precise nature of the performed fight operations. If the given tactical ingredient employs shock engagements, with a big burden positioned on mobility, then that is additionally a severe argument for the amphibious capabilities of land platforms.

Then again, in numerous terrain, when mass portions of apparatus are employed, and we stock out counterattacks or want the next diploma of safety for the troopers, this may increasingly come at a value of amphibious functionality. We want each amphibious platforms, and heavy autos lacking that functionality. We additionally must keep in mind that we need to quickly reinforce the potential of the navy. And that refers back to the Mechanized Forces, amongst different elements.

Platforms operated by them right this moment, specifically the BWP-1 IFV, must be changed as quickly as attainable. When it was born, it was an progressive design. Nevertheless, right this moment it doesn’t present the person with the important thing safety capabilities, and the firepower, which has been confirmed by the expertise gathered in Ukraine. The mechanized models want to achieve the aptitude to place fashionable IFVs to make use of, offering a correct stage of safety, in order that they will successfully function on the fashionable, and future battlefield – in accordance with their design objective.

As we’re protecting the subject of the IFV, the Polish business is finalizing the method of making the amphibious Borsuk IFV. It’s already being examined by the troopers. What are your ideas on this design?

I’m an optimist right here. I do consider within the capabilities of the Polish defence business. After we have been commissioning the primary Krab howitzer, many phrases of critique have been rising. At present we’re getting studies exhibiting clearly, that Krab howitzer is doing a massively good job. Different tools does effectively too: Grot rifles, Piorun MANPADS, of FlyEye UAVs.

When participating in dialog with the business, I at all times press to finalize the work as rapidly as attainable and ship tools in massive tons. After all, any piece of apparatus must endure testing. The issues of the infancy interval must be rectified. However it is a pure ingredient of the event course of. The conclusions drawn from the Borsuk IFV check programme stay optimistic. As I stated, there isn’t any doubt Poland wants fashionable infantry preventing autos, rapidly, and in mass portions.

Poland has been supplied to purchase a heavy IFV – the AS-21 Redback.

It’s a automobile with main potential, nonetheless, it requires some refinement. The commissioning of a heavy IFV in some models would increase our safety ranges for our forces. The time at which the capabilities will be attained additionally stays related to us. The present autos don’t provide enough capabilities.

I ought to add, that we will not be utilizing a single tools kind. Extra selection within the stock offers us with a capability to make use of it extra flexibly, and likewise offers us mutual complementarity, in conditions when completely different units of capabilities are wanted. This additionally interprets right into a diminished load imposed on the logistical chains, within the occasion by which a producing increase is critical, or when spare components are wanted. An entire unification will not be at all times the way in which to go. Right here, examples from the Air Drive could also be introduced up, as when one plane kind is grounded, this has an influence on the entire service department.

Lastly, concluding the interview, let me return to the Armoured Forces – there, two kinds of tools are being launched – the K2, and the Abrams primary battle tanks. The Abrams primary battle tank coaching is already underway. What do the Polish tankers must say, what are their first opinions?

We’ve been receiving the primary suggestions from the customers, coming from skilled NCOs, who have been the primary ones educated to make use of these primary battle tanks. This is essential, because the members of that group often have had expertise with a number of kinds of primary battle tanks throughout their service. They know the commerce of the tank crew very effectively, and so they know what the weather are, that they might must be efficient on the battlefield. That is particularly vital, as these troopers could be accountable for coaching the tank crews sooner or later.

On the subject of Abrams, one of many skilled NCOs instructed me that the tank is sort of good for him. It is extremely resilient – not simply in opposition to enemy threats, however it’s simple to deal with, it’s soldier-proof. Inside that regard, the Abrams is decisively superior when in comparison with the Leopard 2. Regardless that Leopard 2 has been a serious leap, from the T-72. Each Abrams, in addition to Leopard, aren’t sophisticated on the subject of overhauls. One can get the engine out in a number of dozens of minutes. In T-72 this takes 24 hours, or much more. That is very related, contemplating the sphere use circumstances. The opinions expressed by the troopers are unequivocal: The Abrams MBT is a leap ahead, in regards to the Leopard on the subject of firepower, resilience, situational consciousness, or sustainment suitability.

In the meantime, the K2 is a really superior primary battle tank. The troopers who fly to Korea, to take part in coaching programs declare the K2 is the principle battle tank of the longer term. After all, any tools is pretty much as good, because the troopers who use it. Thus, we have to improve our coaching repeatedly, and take a look at laborious to make use of the completely different, diversified options of the tools that we use and fee. The tools is essential, and there is increasingly more fashionable tools at hand, however the soldier is an important right here.

Thanks for this dialog.