East Front News #38: New IFVs for Poland, Will EU Finance Polish Submarines, Poland Enhances Cooperation with France

Will EU Provide Loans for Polish Submarines?

SAFE (Security Action for Europe), that is, the Instrument for Increasing Europe’s Security, is set to amount to 150 billion euros in low-interest EU loans with a repayment period of nearly half a century. Could the Polish portion of SAFE finally finance the purchase of the Orka submarines?

According to Radio RMF FM, Deputy Finance Minister Paweł Karbownik announced that on Thursday a special team was formed, which is already working on preparing the loan applications. This team comprises representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Defence, and the Armament Agency. Poland will be eligible to apply for 20 billion euros from this 150-billion-euro pool, which is roughly 85 billion PLN.

Poland purchases Borsuk Infantry Fighting Vehicles

On Thursday, March 27, after 11:00, the first delivery contract for the Borsuk Infantry Fighting Vehicles was signed at the Military Center for Civic Education in Warsaw for an amount of 6.5 billion PLN (1,55 EUR million). By 2029, the Polish Armed Forces are set to receive 111 units of the BWP Borsuk. The vehicles will be delivered in the basic variant of the infantry fighting vehicle, with a three-person crew and a troop compartment that can accommodate six soldiers. They will be equipped with the unmanned turret system ZSSW-30, developed by the HSW and WB Group consortium. This variant of the armament module is already used in the latest variant of the Rosomak IFV. The Borsuks will also be capable of overcoming water obstacles as the vehicles are amphibious which was the baseline requirement of the Polish Army. Borsuk has been developed since 2014 by a consortium led by HSW (Huta Stalowa Wola), a subsidiary of PGZ (Polish Armament Group). More orders for IFV and specialised version are expected in future.

Polish-Turkish consultations on munitions

Will the Polish defense industry establish a strategic cooperation with the Turkish state arms manufacturer MKE? Talks on this matter were held in Warsaw. Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Bejda met with the CEO of Makine ve Kimya Endustrisi (MKE), Ilhami Keles. According to the Polish government’s website, during the meeting a proposal was presented by the Turkish state arms manufacturer concerning a „complete transfer of the technology for producing 155 mm ammunition, which would enable independent, domestic production of all components in the facilities of PGZ S.A.”

Polish Mobile Bridges for Abrams tanks

The Research and Development Center for Mechanical Devices, OBRUM, has announced the completion of the certification process for the PM-20 bridge span. According to OBRUM’s statement, the PM-20 bridge span has successfully passed certification for an increased load capacity of up to 85/113 MLC. This is highly significant news, as it means that PM-20 bridge spans can now be used to create crossings for even the heaviest armored vehicles in the arsenal of the Polish Armed Forces such as M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 with up-armoured kits as well as the Allied Leopard 2A8 and Challenger 2 tanks.

An explosion in Czech ammunition factory

On March 24, 2025, an explosion occurred at the Poličské strojírny plant in the Czech Republic, injuring one person. The plant, operated by the STV Group, produces large-caliber ammunition and repairs military equipment. The Czech police reported that the probable cause of the incident was a technical failure in one of the production halls. The cause of the explosion is still being investigated by Czech experts, but a potential trace could lead to linking the situation to the activities of the Russian Federation and its services - the plant produces missiles exported to the Ukrainian side. The incident of March 24 is not an isolated event in recent times, as a similar situation occurred at the beginning of January this year at the Rheinmetall plant in Spain, where an explosion injured 6 workers.

For the Czech Republic, this is not the first such event, as in 2014 Moscow destroyed an ammunition depot in Vrbětice, killing two people. Prague’s response was to expel Russian diplomats. In addition, those responsible for the 2014 explosions were also responsible for the poisoning of Sergei Skripal in the UK.

Rutte's Visit to Warsaw

On March 26, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Warsaw. During his stay, he gave a speech at the Warsaw School of Economics and met with Polish authorities, including President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. The visit was marked by praise for Poland and support for the entire Alliance. The Dutch leader emphasized that transatlantic cooperation is the cornerstone of security in these turbulent times caused by the Kremlin’s aggressive policies. Rutte stated that European NATO members must enhance their capabilities to take greater responsibility for their own security, highlighting Poland as an example, as it allocates nearly 5% of its GDP to defence. He expressed scepticism about the concept of an independent European army, arguing that member states should maintain their national sovereignty.

A key aspect of his speech was his assertion that the Alliance will not seek to normalize relations with the Russian Federation. He warned that Russia’s shift toward a wartime economy poses a threat to peace in Europe. Mark Rutte emphasized that Poland serves as a model for NATO allies in terms of defence investments and initiatives such as the „East Shield” and „Baltic Guard.” He noted that other Alliance members are following Warsaw’s lead, with a 20% increase in defence spending in Canada and some European allies. The Secretary General also took a firm stance on defending NATO member states, declaring:”If anyone thinks they can attack Poland or any other NATO ally without consequences, they will face the full strength of our Alliance.”

Official: A New France–Poland Treaty to Be Signed

Poland and France have announced their intention to sign a new bilateral treaty by the end of June. This will be the first high-level agreement of this kind between France and a non-neighbouring country, marking a significant milestone in the deepening of strategic ties between Warsaw and Paris.

The treaty will establish a framework for enhanced cooperation in key areas such as defence, nuclear energy, scientific collaboration, language, and culture. It reflects a shared commitment to strengthening European cohesion and resilience in the face of current geopolitical challenges.

Recent months have seen intensified diplomatic engagement between Poland and France, with a series of high-level meetings underscoring the growing alignment between the two countries. This upcoming treaty is expected to serve as a foundation for long-term partnership and a stronger European voice in global affairs.

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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, Michał Górski