After nearly three years of waiting, Poland has received a batch of 28 new M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks from the U.S. to strengthen its Armed Forces, marking the first shipment of a fleet of 250 units agreed upon between the two allies. The news was confirmed by Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in a brief statement, which also mentioned that the new tanks will undergo an inspection at the Poznań Military Automotive Plant before entering service.

It is worth noting that this delivery has been slightly delayed compared to the originally proposed schedule, as the Polish Army expected to incorporate them during the last months of 2024 before distributing them among various units. Specifically, the arrival of the newly delivered tanks was announced on January 18, following the docking of the Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) vessel MV Cape Texas.
It is useful to recall that the agreement for the new fleet of 250 American-made tanks was finalized by Warsaw in 2022, when the Polish government committed an investment of over $4.75 billion to modernize its armored forces. Regarding the stipulated deliveries under the agreement, it is expected that they will be completed by 2026, although it is unclear whether the mentioned delay will impact this timeline. Additionally, Poland has also ordered 26 M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles and 17 M1074 assault bridge systems as part of a broader agreement with the U.S.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that the Polish Army has been preparing future crews for these new tanks for over two years through the M1A2 Abrams SEP v2 units acquired in 2022. This purchase was intended to replace the 230 old T-72M/M1 tanks previously in service, which were transferred to Ukraine as part of a military assistance package to counter the Russian invasion. Specifically, Polish troops expect to receive a total of 116 American tanks of this variant, which will arrive in four shipments; two of which were completed in June and November 2023.
Finally, looking at the broader picture of Warsaw’s ambitious procurement program aimed at transforming its ground forces into one of the most powerful in Europe, it becomes evident that the purchase and gradual arrival of the Abrams family tanks are not the only projects underway. In this regard, the acquisition of 180 K-2 Black Panther tanks, 212 K-9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, and nearly 300 K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher systems—all of South Korean origin—stand out. Additionally, the procurement of nearly a hundred AHS Krab self-propelled howitzers, along with their corresponding armored support vehicles, must also be taken into account. This entire fleet is further complemented by the previously existing fleet of Leopard 2A4/A5 tanks already in service with the Polish Army.
Image credits: @KosiniakKamysz on X
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