Defence Policy
Polish and Czech Defence Ministers: Ammunition Cooperation, F-35s, and Exchange of Experiences
Photo. Jakub Borowski, Defence24.pl
The exchange of experience in preparing infrastructure for F-35s, operating Polish F-16s and Czech C-390s, the prospects of deepening defence cooperation, including ammunition production, and the Eastern Shield project were topics discussed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová.
The Czech Defense Minister’s visit program included a stop at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask, where Poland’s F-35s will be stationed. The Czech Republic has ordered 24 of these aircraft.
“We aim to strengthen cooperation between the Polish and Czech defence industries. We believe that joint initiatives, including ammunition production, should be implemented. I confirmed our commitment to the Czech ammunition initiative and fulfilling our obligations by the end of the year,” Kosiniak-Kamysz told journalists after his talks with the Czech Defence Minister.
He added that he also presented the status of work on fortifying Poland’s eastern border, which is also the EU and NATO border, as part of the Eastern Shield project. “The first two kilometers of this shield will be completed this week, before Independence Day. I invited Czech engineering troops to cooperate,” he said.
“Of course, we discussed the U.S. elections. Here, we share a common view that transatlantic relations have been and will remain at a very good level. At the NATO summit in Washington, we had the opportunity to agree on many things with the U.S. side, and we will continue this cooperation,” he added.
Černochová stated that the conversation included joint ammunition initiatives. “We are constantly facing ammunition shortages. When the war in Ukraine ends, we will need to build up ammunition reserves,” she said, highlighting the need to increase production capacity. “We agreed to approach private entities to see if they would be interested,” she added, noting that cooperation with private ammunition manufacturers has been successful in Croatia and Slovakia.
“I asked the PGZ Supervisory Board to urgently establish contact with Czech companies, so that the two large defence industries, Czech and Polish, could collaborate. We will be the driving force behind this cooperation,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Another topic discussed was the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. The Czech Defence Minister expressed the Czech army’s willingness to share information with Poland regarding two Embraer C-390 Millennium transport planes, the first of which is expected to be delivered next year.
The Polish Minister of Defense also thanked the Czech Mi-17 helicopter crews stationed in Powidz for their assistance in combatting the effects of flooding in southwestern Poland. A total of 34 soldiers from these crews and ground support were awarded the Polish Armed Forces Medals.