The acquisition of 200 000 Kevlar helmets, 100 000 vests, more than 50,000 optoelectronic accessories and more than 1 million uniforms – this is the telegraphic shorthand of nearly 2 years of operation "Szpej". In many areas, the equipment shortages have been overtaken, but as the head of the defence department points out, the operation will never end.
– Smart command puts not the best equipment in the first place, but the people who operate this equipment. The ones who wear the uniform. Those who proudly wear white and red on their shoulders, said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish at the beginning of the conference "Speiwisko 2.0". The gathering was organized to sum up the current course Operation Szczej. It is an initiative of the General Staff of the Polish Army to optimize the individual equipment of soldiers, modernise them and supplement the shortcomings resulting from the 20-year period of insufficient investments. “We are pursuing a process that will never end, due to the fact that it will become a permanent component of our organizational culture,” said General Wiesław Kukuła, head of SGWP. – Culture based on the fundamental presumption that the soldier is the most crucial – added the general.
The most crucial effect of Operation "Szpej", without which it was impossible to imagine a change in the quality of the equipment of soldiers and the level of saturation of troops with modern products, is to increase expenditure on purchases of equipment. In 2023, about PLN 900 million was recorded in the MON's expenditure plan for the acquisition of individual equipment. More than PLN 1.6 billion has already been allocated for the same intent in 2024, in this year more than PLN 1.7 billion. This allowed fresh contracts to be signed with suppliers and utilized the alleged option right in previously signed contracts. In little than 2 years, the military has acquired 200 000 Kevlar helmets, 100,000 vests, over 50,000 optoelectronic fittings and over 1 million uniforms (e.g. uniforms, shoes, backpacks, gloves). “I am assessing 65% of the safety of the needs of Operation Szpej,” said Gen. Kukuła. – The best situation concerns helmets and carbine Grot. The most we gotta do erstwhile it comes to equipment with bulletproof and tactical vests. Here we statistically have 65% of the filling of needs – the general said.
No more saving equipment
The head of the SGWP in his speech said he remembered the disappointment of many people erstwhile after the operation was launched its effects were not immediately visible. He recalled that the objectives of the three-year operation, which was by the end of 2026, were to accomplish 90% saturation of needs in the main categories of equipment. "In many areas this consequence has already been achieved today," said Gen. Kukuła. What was the biggest obstacle to this everywhere? The General mentioned above all the production capacity of suppliers. An example was given by a holographic sight. The head of the SGWP recalled that at last year's “Speiwick” he heard declarations from the Polish defence manufacture that he was able to rapidly supply the military with a adequate number of specified sights. We inactive don't have an offer. I would like those who make these declarations to return to this. So that we do not gotta usage the sights purchased abroad," said Gen. Kukuła.
The second, already interior problem, is the mentality of "chomising" good, modern equipment in warehouses. I appeal to all commanders. erstwhile you go to your military units, enter weapons warehouses and watch erstwhile those beautifully exhibited on the shelves of tens, and sometimes hundreds of night visionaries, thermovisionists were given to soldiers for training," said Gen. Kukuła. I don't want to see in Horizon operations No 1 who goes with the “clean” Grot on night patrol! This bears witness to us, not to our soldiers," added the general.
‘Stalks’ for lamest
– There is simply a regulation that is very close to me and in medical rescue it is number one: to aid the victim, you must be safe yourself," said Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish today. “The same applies to soldiers,” added the head of the MON. Therefore, the precedence of the first phase of Operation "Speak" was to increase the soldier's chances of endurance in the field.
From the beginning, steel helmets became a symbol of the operation. Declaration on withdrawal of specified equipment from the military it was already at a conference inaugurating the SGWP programme. Since then they have been completely replaced by modern, lighter and more convenient Kevlar structures. But that is not the end. The SGWP sees the costs of applying this solution. For technological reasons, Kevlar helmet manufacturers give a 10-year warranty on their products. specified a short life span of specified a simple component of military equipment means the request to constantly exchange warehouse supplies, including wartime supplies. Therefore, experts from SGWP are looking for solutions with advantages of steel helmets (long service life) and Kevlar helmets (good ballistic protection properties and low weight).
The second component of equipment that straight affects the safety of the soldier is simply a bulletproof vest. The presumption of the Operation "Szpej" was to update the debt tables, and to put it plainly, to increase the number of military specialities to which specified equipment is attributed. The parameters of ballistic protection of purchased vests were besides raised to K4 level – in terms of protection against anti-tank missiles – and O3 in terms of anti-fracture protection. As was awarded present at the conference, the saturation targets have not yet been reached in this area. But the plan for 2026 assumes that 138% of the needs should be secured with further purchases. This means that not only all soldiers who should usage vests on a regular basis will have them in their equipment, but there will be a surplus that will scope the needs of reserve training and retention facilities.
Soon a fresh field uniform
Another symbol of Operation “Szpej” has a chance to become a fresh model of field uniform. The request to change the existing pattern, including its camouflage cover, has been mentioned for many years. All indications indicate that the steel helmets will shortly follow the uniforms utilized today. “Our institutes are working on a fresh model of uniform in modern camouflage,” said Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish. “I have already seen it, we will be presenting it to everyone soon,” said the head of the MON. “The work has been carried out for many months, at different times of the year, to check which types of camouflage are best behaved under what conditions,” added Cezary Tomczyk, Secretary of State in the MON. “I think that what we will present in a fewer months will be a good change for many after 30 years of panter M camouflage,” added the Deputy Minister.
What's next in The Sope?
– The year 2026 ahead, which will focus on optoelectronic and alleged equipment. Green list – declared Cezary Tomczyk. Green List It's a squad idea. Paweł Mateńczuk “Naval”, erstwhile GROM soldier, presently lawyer for the National Defence Minister for military service conditions. From the United States, the thought is to make a list of military-recommended individual equipment, which soldiers will be able to get from their resources to supplement or replace staff equipment. – Soldiers get about PLN 3.5 1000 all year to equip themselves with additional equipment. We want it to be certified – said Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish.
The Head of the SGWP besides identified 2 crucial areas of government that request to be modified. “We have ahead of us the deregulation of the legal strategy in the area of the acquisition of spiking and decentralisation of the supply system,” said Gen. Kukuła. “It is about making the strategy more soldier-friendly, so that they are not restrained in the selection of equipment. We will complete the main activities in this area at the end of next year – the head of the SGWP declared.
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