Poland’s defense modernization has seen a dramatic acceleration since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, marked by a multimillion-dollar spending spree on new military equipment, including Airborne Early Warning aircraft, helicopters, howitzers, light combat aircraft, multi-launch rocket systems, and tanks. As Warsaw aims to move away from Soviet-era platforms, additional contracts are expected to follow.
In March, Paweł Bejda, Secretary of State at Poland’s Ministry of National Defence, informed lawmakers that over 150 military contracts are set to be signed within the current year, with a flurry of orders potentially finalized during the International Defense Industry Exhibition (MSPO) to support these ambitions.
Prior editions of Poland’s annual defense exhibition, hosted in Kielce—approximately 315 kilometers (195.7 miles) from Lviv, Ukraine—often faced complications due to hesitations over major acquisitions, political instability, and unpredictable funding. However, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has significantly shifted this landscape, resulting in a major increase in defense spending. According to NATO estimates, Poland is projected to allocate 4.1% of its GDP to defense in 2024, surpassing all other nations in the alliance for the second consecutive year, with plans to raise that figure to 5% in 2025.
Top military officials have not underestimated the threat posed by Russia. Polish Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wieslaw Kukula emphasized in July that the armed forces must be ready for a “full-scale conflict,” as reported by Reuters.
Political leaders echoed this sentiment. “We must arm ourselves and secure our nation in such a way that the potential of the Polish army is so formidable that no one will ever dare to invade us,” stated Polish President Andrzej Duda during an address on Poland’s Armed Forces Day earlier this month. “This is the most crucial security task currently confronting those in power.”
While a range of military vehicles will be showcased at the MSPO, the emphasis is likely to be on Poland’s push for air dominance, highlighted by the acquisition of 32 new fighter jets.
The competition for procurement is between Boeing’s F-15EX and the Eurofighter Typhoon, although Warsaw has also indicated it may opt for additional Lockheed Martin F-35A jets, building on a $4.6 billion order for 32 aircraft signed with Washington in 2020. Notably, the US manufacturer unveiled Poland’s first F-35 jet in a ceremony at its Fort Worth, Texas, production facility recently, with deliveries expected to continue until 2030.
Maj. Gen. Cezary Wisniewski, deputy commander of the Polish armed forces, shared with Breaking Defense last year that his team dispatched to Italy discussed Eurofighter capabilities and “marketing numbers” with the manufacturer, but he also stressed that a contract award decision would require additional time as a new government was still preparing to take office.
