On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the Government Legislation Center published a law project authored by the Ministry of State Assets to ensure financing for efforts aimed at increasing ammunition production capacity. The project was submitted to the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers on October 31 of this year.
Photo: Polish Armaments Group
According to the project, the Ministry of State Assets plans to allocate approximately 3 billion PLN to the Capital Investment Fund to recapitalize companies responsible for ammunition production. The funds are expected to come from the Ministry of National Defense budget (2 billion PLN) and treasury securities from the Governmental Agency for Strategic Reserves (1 billion PLN).
The justification for the project cited the ongoing full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war.
“The ongoing armed conflict on Ukrainian territory, the nature of operational activities, and the volume of equipment needed to conduct effective defensive operations have shown that the current capabilities of the Polish defense industry may be insufficient if this conflict escalates and potentially spreads to Polish territory or to other states directly bordering Poland. These capabilities may be inadequate even considering the combined efforts of several countries simultaneously. The defensive operations carried out on Ukrainian territory demonstrate that the volume of combat resources, including ammunition, consumed daily is so substantial that a single country, with its current standard production cycle, cannot meet the supply demands necessary for independent territorial defense.”
“Data provided by the Ukrainian side and available in OSINT databases indicates that at the peak of the conflict, the aggressor — the armed forces of the Russian Federation — was firing up to 60,000 artillery shells per day. At the same time, the Ukrainians were able to respond with 10,000 artillery shells daily. Such a significant disparity allows the attacking forces to more easily achieve tactical objectives, ultimately leading to success at a strategic level. Meanwhile, the defending side should aim to achieve fire superiority in order to repel the aggressor’s attacks and target its logistical support and command points. The conflict in Ukraine clearly demonstrates that long-range artillery is a primary means of destroying enemy personnel, and when combined with reconnaissance and fire control using drones, it significantly contributes to making advances on the front lines.”
“An equally important aspect is that having a sufficient quantity of firepower during counteroffensive operations not only significantly facilitates their successful execution but also increases the chances of reducing human losses on the attacking side, which is crucial in the context of a potential enemy advantage in manpower. Our allies and partners within the North Atlantic Alliance have reached similar conclusions, undertaking efforts to increase their capabilities in the area of long-range barrel and rocket artillery, as well as consistently expanding ammunition production for these systems.”
“Taking this into account, to ensure the security of the State, maintain its territorial integrity, and address the potential need to support allied nations under threat, it is essential to take action to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland across all areas necessary for their effective operation.”
“One of the most urgent needs is the expansion and diversification of the large-caliber ammunition production base and the replenishment of its reserves, with a particular focus on enhancing the capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces.”
“In response to these needs, the proposed bill enables the creation of a financing mechanism for the Polish defense industry to establish adequate production capacity in the strategic area of ammunition.”
“The protection of the fundamental security interests of the Republic of Poland in the area of ammunition production cannot be achieved without adequate investments to establish the necessary capacity. A lack of production capability to meet the needs of the Armed Forces may result in reliance solely on foreign defense entities for support, which could prove problematic in the event of a conflict. Therefore, it is essential to find suitable and flexible solutions to secure financing for the Polish defense industry. Currently, Polish defense companies are able to produce insufficient quantities of ammunition relative to potential needs. Additionally, they lack the expertise and technology to support comprehensive production based solely on their own capabilities.”
Text of law project in Polish:
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