There will be changes in the signs of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland – a historical symbol will appear on the war proponent of the Navy, while on F-35 aircraft, which means machines with low detection, will be painted grey chessboard, not so far in white and red. The changes proposed by the government were supported yesterday by Members from the Committee on National Defence.
Members from the Sejm's National Defence Commission discussed Wednesday the amendment of the Armed Forces Act of the Republic of Poland. The proposed changes are intended to concern the naval combat promoter and the chessboard, which is painted on aircraft of the air force. But what's important, modified chessboard (in low visibility version) will only appear on 5th generation machines, i.e. F-35 fighters that will enter the equipment of the Polish Army.
“The bill is of an orderly character,” said Deputy Minister of Defence Cezary Tomczyk, who presented the amendments to the Members. – It is about the introduction of a historical mark on the naval combat proponent and the introduction of state markings in grey scales utilizing low visibility (ed.) painting on F-35 aircraft. On the 1 hand, it is the manufacturer's requirement, and on the another hand the request of today's battlefield – explained the politician. The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence pointed out that the mention was made to aircraft "possibly of the highest class contracted by the erstwhile government". – Any, even the smallest deviation from the standpoint of visibility can endanger that fighter. And its top advantage in the field of combat is precisely that it uses reduced detection technologies," Deputy Minister Tomczyk added.
Members of the Air Force Inspectorate convinced about the request to change the colors of the chessboard on 5th generation fighters. Brig. Gen. Wojciech Pikuła, Head of the Board of the Air Forces – Deputy Inspector of the Air Force, pointed out that "even a insignificant deviation, a tiny component on the hull of an aircraft may origin its visual detection" by the opponent, and would facilitate the "determination of the nationality of the pilots and equipment". Deputy Minister Tomczyk added that only “one state” of those who ordered F-35 fighters kept on these machines the colours utilized by their army.
Mr Jarosław Zieliński (PiS) asked if there were studies confirming that the fresh chessboard would indeed be little visible. – Yes, it surely has confirmation in facts and research, but they are mostly secret, so I cannot present them. In short, I can say that this is simply a substance of radar reflection, among others – provided Deputy Minister Cezary Tomczyk. But the gene. The pitcher added that the chessboard in colors akin to that of the full aircraft is harder to detect both radar and visual.
Members of the Defence Committee wanted to know if another conventional military marking solutions would return in the coming years. – Is there work in the ministry to recreate another historical symbols of the armed forces? – asked Andrzej Szewiński (KO), deputy president of the committee. Michał Wiater, Deputy manager of the Department of Education, Culture and Heritage of the MON, recalled that old symbols are restored at the level of individuals, especially in the case of those who inherit traditions, e.g. ulanins, seamstresses or the corps of General Anders.
– Since we are talking about the identity of historical marks, have you considered the anticipation of changing the colors of checkers' fields, as in the second Poland? Before the war, the chess fields were red-white and white-red. And will the historical asymmetricity of identifying marks on the advanced wings of aircraft have continuity? It was a global phenomenon. Would it not be good to preserve something that was so Polish? – Mr Marek Jakubiak (Republicans) asked.
Michał Wiater of the Ministry of Defence pointed out that the pre-war solution mentioned by Mr Jakubiak "had a applicable aspect". – In the second half of the 1930s, the chessboard was placed on the advanced plane lobes primarily due to the fact that the attacker had difficulty aiming at the hull. due to the fact that as the general said earlier, hull markings are an excellent mark for opponents," he emphasized. "This solution was not due to heraldica, but to hinder aiming," said Michał Wiater.
Returning to the asymmetric board is impossible – as the ministry experts argued – not only due to another plan of modern aircraft (including F-35), but besides due to the immense costs. – In the case of the latest machines, they can only be painted at the manufacturer, we cannot do it ourselves. It would be a very large and very costly undertaking – they said.
Less emotion was raised by the question of changing the proponent Navy. What's he gonna look like? ‘The proposed amendments (...) let the placing of sash from ribbons of orders, including primarily the Virtuti Military War Order, hereinafter referred to as “VM War Order”, on banners. The introduction of the anticipation of placing a sash from the VM Order ribbon on the banners will complete the process of cultivating the historical traditions of troops by modern military units and will let the continuity of the operation of this order (the order is broadcast only during the war). The task envisages a change (...) aimed at restoring the historical model of the naval proponent according to the model set by the 1937 Presidential Decree, which was utilized in the Polish Navy during planet War II, and after the war between 1959 and 1993. It should be stressed that the proponent refers to sea signs commonly utilized in the early 17th century, worn on the stern and symbolizing the ship's readiness to fight. The restoration of the historical model of the proponent is due to initiatives put forward by the General Command of Armed Forces Types and the marine environment, and will be of large importance for the cultivation of boastful weapons traditions, emphasizing the mention to historical patterns. It will besides be an expression of ties between modern sailors and their predecessors, who defended the independency of the Homeland," the bill explains.
Yesterday's debate at the gathering of the National Defence Committee does not finish work on amending the Act on the Signs of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland. Now the paper must be voted on by the Sejm, then it will go to work in the legislature and yet to the President's signature.