Land Forces
Abrams MBTs Received at the Poland's Land Forces Training Centre
Photo. Polish MoD
Mariusz Błaszczak, head of the Polish MoD, announced via Twitter that the first M1A2 SEPv2 MBTs have already been delivered to the Land Forces Training Centre. The MBTs have been borrowed from the US Army. Soon, they would be used to train the Polish soldiers.
US Army Europe is to lend 28 M1A2 SEPv2 MBTs to Poland, allowing the Polish troops to get acquainted with the design and thus get ready to commission the M1A2 SEPv3 MBTs soon, in the Polish Army. As the procurement of another 116 Abrams has been confirmed, it would be required to train as many crews as possible, to rapidly introduce the new design that would replace the T-72M/M1/M1R MBTs that are withdrawn from the active service. 18th Mechanized Division would be the first unit to participate in the training.
The training would also involve the units of the US Army Europe, while the training would utilize MBTs temporarily supplied by the Americans. Div. Gen. Maciej Jabłoński, plenipotentiary for the Abrams MBT procurement, and Land Forces Inspector announced the establishment of the so-called "Abrams Academy" when signing the FMS contract. The training would be taking place in Biedrusko, at a unit located several kilometers north of Poznan. The training would be both practical, and theoretical, involving the M1A2 SEPv2 MBTs, aimed at getting the crews and maintainers proficient in operating the Abrams MBT.
Pierwsze z 28 czołgów Abrams dotarły do Centrum Szkolenia Wojsk Lądowych. Wkrótce żołnierze Żelaznej Dywizji rozpoczną szkolenie. W tym roku czekamy jeszcze na system Patriot oraz Bayraktar - drony uderzeniowe, które bardzo dobrze sprawdziły w wojnie na Ukrainie. pic.twitter.com/6SYm75lWQW
— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) July 19, 2022
Poland has procured 250 M1A2 SEPv3 MBTs, the delivery of which is expected to happen between 2025 and 2026. It is plausible that these deliveries would be accelerated, with the MBTs arriving in late 2024. Apart from the Abrams MBTs, support vehicles as follows have also been acquired: 26 M88A2 Hercules ARVs, and 17 M1074 Joint Assault Bridges. The procured package also includes ammunition, spares, logistics support, and simulators. The contract value has been defined as USD 4.74 bn. (net).
The very same release issued by the MoD stated that it is expected that the Patriot air defence systems and Bayraktar TB2 UAVs would be delivered this year.