East Front News #20: Aegis Ashore Opened in Poland, Deliveries and Contracts of Polish Artillery, Snap Elections in Germany

EU Releases Results of Weapons Financing Competition

The European Commission has announced the winning projects in the first competition for co-financing joint weapons procurement from the EU budget. However, Poland’s proposed Man-Portable Air Defence System (Piorun) is not among them. A reserve list of projects has also been prepared. The European Commission revealed that five projects qualified for the first phase of the program aimed at strengthening the European defence industry through joint procurement (European Defence Industry Reinforcement Through Common Procurement Act, EDIRPA). Each project has received €60 million in funding, totaling €300 million. Those include two Air Defence project, namely Mistral (a joint purchase of French Mistral VSHORAD missiles) and Jaime (a joint purchase of German IRIS-T SLM system).

Among the five projects approved by the European Commission, the procurement of Poland’s Piorun portable anti-aircraft missile systems was not included, despite a joint proposal with Lithuania, Latvia, and Norway competing against the Mistral program. Among the five projects approved by the European Commission, the procurement of Poland’s Piorun portable anti-aircraft missile systems was not included, despite a joint proposal with Lithuania, Latvia, and Norway competing against the Mistral program. The European Commission stated that aside from selected projects, other „interesting proposals” were placed on a „reserve list”, meaning they could receive future funding. For instance, member states involved in these proposals could seek financial support through the reallocation of unused EU funds or other mechanisms. Defence24.pl has requested clarification from the European Commission on whether the Piorun program is on the reserve list.

Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, Visits Warsaw

On November 13, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte arrived in the Polish capital to meet with political leaders: President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. This marked Rutte’s first visit to Poland in his capacity as Dutch Prime Minister and coincided with the opening of a new U.S. missile defence base in Redzikowo. Rutte praised Poland’s defence efforts, noting that the country sets an example within NATO. He stated that with its military modernization, increased defence spending, and ongoing support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression, Poland is becoming a European leader in security.

Polish officials emphasized their commitment to strengthening national security and the alliance’s eastern flank, notably through projects like the „East Shield.” They also expressed a continued desire to develop transatlantic cooperation, acknowledging that it guarantees Poland’s security and further support for Ukraine. Prime Minister Tusk highlighted that all European partners should adhere to the principle of „nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” President Duda mentioned Poland’s willingness to transfer its MiG-29 aircraft, provided NATO ensures the security of Polish airspace. The Defence Minister called for the downing of Russian missiles over Poland to be an alliance-wide initiative, rather than an effort by a single country. He added that Rutte maintains a friendly stance toward Warsaw and likely shares this perspective.

Support for Polish Artillery

On Friday, 9th of Novbember, a contract was signed for the delivery of several dozen support vehicles for WR-40 Langusta battalion-level fire modules. The contract, valued at 1.3 billion PLN, will see deliveries continue until 2028. The contract covers the delivery of several dozen command vehicles (WD), command and staff vehicles (WDSz), artillery munition carrier vehicles (AWA), and artillery repair and maintenance vehicles (AWRU) for Squadron-level Fire Modules (DMO) equipped with WR-40 Langusta multiple rocket launchers. All vehicles will be outfitted with elements of the integrated Topaz fire control system.

The contract also covers upgrades to previously delivered WR-40 Langusta units. The fire control systems in these launchers will be modernized by updating communications systems, computers, and software to bring the Topaz system to the latest standard and ensure compatibility with new command and command-staff vehicles. The contract includes a logistics and training package as well. Notably, the architecture of the Langusta DMO elements allows the same support vehicles to potentially support Homar-A (HIMARS-based) and Homar-K (Chunmoo-based) rocket launchers in the future.

Accelerated Elections in Germany

On November 6, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Finance Minister and FDP Chairman Christian Lindner, causing the ruling coalition to collapse and necessitating early elections. A vote of confidence for the SPD-Green minority government is scheduled for December 18, but it is expected to fail. The Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will set the final election date, with February 23—one day before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—being a likely choice. These elections are particularly significant for the future of Kyiv and NATO’s eastern flank. Extremist and populist parties are gaining support and could achieve around 30% of the vote according to polls: 17-20% for the right-wing Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland, AfD) and 8-10% for the leftist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht, BSW). Both parties are characterized by two destabilizing stances for NATO: skepticism toward the United States and strong pro-Russia sentiment.

The CDU/CSU currently leads in the polls (32%) but will likely need to form a coalition to govern the Federal Republic of Germany. The outcome of these elections could significantly impact Berlin’s international policies, not only regarding Ukraine but also in relation to its allies. This makes these elections highly significant from the perspective of NATO member states« security, especially along the alliance’s eastern flank.

The Missile Defence Base Opened in Redzikowo

The inauguration of the missile defence base in Redzikowo underscores the enduring commitment of both nations« governments to regional and global security, showcasing a collaborative effort sustained over two decades. Operational integration of this base into NATO, finalized in July, represents a significant advancement in defending the Alliance’s eastern flank, especially relevant given heightened regional tensions. The Redzikowo installation, under the U.S. Navy responsibility, is now a critical component of NATO’s layered missile defence system, bolstering Poland’s security alongside similar Aegis Ashore system in Romania, as well as the Aegis systems deployed on U.S. naval vessels. Leaders from both countries emphasized the base as a symbol of their shared dedication to mutual defence. This facility, equipped with SM-3 Block IIA or Block IB interceptor missiles capable of intercepting ballistic missiles outside the Earth atmosphere, was celebrated as a milestone in military cooperation, rooted in a long-term alliance that has persisted despite shifting political landscapes.

At the ceremony, Polish and U.S. officials underscored the base’s role in defending not only Poland and Europe but also U.S. forces stationed in the region. The installation was highlighted as a crucial asset in the broader strategy of deterrence and defence, reflecting the commitment of both nations to counter increasingly complex security challenges. Moreover, the base exemplifies tangible proof of alliance solidarity, evolving from early agreements in 2008 through various administrative shifts, changes in defence strategy, and global security demands. The American and Polish representatives expressed confidence that this base, along with other joint defence initiatives, will continue to serve as a stabilizing force and a testament to the strength of the transatlantic partnership.

More Deliveries of Weapons ordered from South Korea

The General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces has announced that another shipment of equipment from South Korea has arrived in Poland. As the Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Bejda highlighted, the transport included 12 howitzers, nine tanks and eight Chunmoo launcher modules. The deliveries of K2 MBTs and K9 SPHs have been taking place since 2022, while the first Chunmoo launchers, upgraded into Homar-K version, were delivered in 2023. According to estimates, by the end of the year Polish Armed Forces should receive over 130 K9A1s, 84 K2s and over 50 Chunmoo launchers at minimum. In total, the execution agreements that are in place assume the delivery of 180 K2s by 2025 and 212 K9A1s by 2026, while 218 Chunmoo should be delivered by 2027.

Brazil Shows Interest in the Piorun MANPADS and Borsuk IFV

The Brazilian head of the Army Projects Office (Escritório de Projetos do Exército) recently visited Poland’s Mesko defence plant and met with representatives of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ). According to the portal infodefensa.com, Brazil is particularly interested in the Piorun man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) and the Borsuk infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). The official purpose of the visit was to „explore opportunities for cooperation between the Brazilian Army and the Polish defense industry.”

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East Front News is a weekly newsletter and article on Defence24.com summarizing the past week’s most important events concerning security and the situation in the Central and Eastern Europe region. It includes original opinions and comments, along with key news items significant from a Polish perspective.

Aleksander Olech, PhD & Jakub Palowski, Deputy Ed. in Chief