Poland is abandoning its long‑standing defensive doctrine and preparing to conduct preemptive strikes far beyond its borders. The new operational concept, outlined in the latest Armed Forces Development Program until 2039, assumes the ability to destroy enemy command centers, logistics hubs and missile launchers long before they can be used against Poland.
For years, Polish military exercises followed a predictable pattern: dig trenches, hold the line, repel attacks, and finally counterattack with reserves. That logic is now exhausted. As General Wiesław Kukuła, Chief of the General Staff, stated during the presentation of the program, classical layered defense is necessary but no longer sufficient.
– The contemporary enemy builds anti‑access/area denial (A2/AD) systems that must be broken through, not just repelled. Poland must move from a model of blocking attacks to a model of punishing the opponent, inflicting losses far beyond its own territory – explained Gen. Kukuła.
New capabilities for deep precision strikes
The key gap identified by the military is the lack of long‑range missile systems with a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers. Currently, Poland operates 75 WR‑40 Langusta multiple rocket launchers with Feniks‑Z rockets reaching 42 km, 20 M142 HIMARS launchers with GMLRS (80 km) and ATACMS (up to 300 km), and 290 Korean Chunmoo modules designated Homar‑K with rockets reaching 160 km and KTSSM Block I (290 km).
– The most lacking are systems with a range over 1,000 kilometers – Gen. Kukuła stressed. The only weapon in the Polish arsenal with such capability so far is the JASSM‑ER air‑launched cruise missile (approx. 1,000 km), purchased for F‑16 and future F‑35 aircraft. A contract for over 820 missiles was signed in 2024, but deliveries are delayed due to the US production bottleneck.
A breakthrough came on July 6, when Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa signed an agreement with American firm Anduril to produce Barracuda‑500M cruise missiles (range about 930 km) in Bydgoszcz. This gives Poland not only several thousand modern missiles but also domestic production capacity.
Potential partner: Ukraine
While Europe is developing its own long‑range missile programs, they will realistically be available only in a decade. The United States is struggling to meet demand, and Tomahawk missiles (range 1,600 km) – which Germany recently secured permission to buy – remain a distant prospect for Poland, though President Trump’s loosening of licensing rules could change that.
– For purely military reasons, the most natural partner for Poland in building long‑range strike capability is Ukraine – the article notes. Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine has achieved independent production of ballistic missiles with a range over 2,000 km, a technology no other European country possesses. Ukraine’s programs include Grom‑2, Wilcha, and the newest Sapsan/Grim‑2 demonstrator with a range of 2,000‑2,500 km. Cooperation could give Poland access to battle‑tested technology and production lines.
– Together we could create the first long‑range strike system in Central Europe, independent of the US and capable of real deterrence – the article concludes. The new doctrine, still not formally adopted, is already shaping procurement decisions and operational planning, signaling a fundamental shift in Poland’s approach to national security.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. zoommon / plut. Piotr Szafarski
