Detection and informing systems, forward bases, logistics nodes, reinforcements or anti-drone systems are elements of the Tarcza East programme presented on Monday by the management of the MON and the General Staff. The programme is to be implemented by 2028 and costs around PLN 10 billion.
The National Defence and deterrence Plan "Tarcza East" was announced last week by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. As the head of government pointed out, it is primarily about building various types of military infrastructure, which, on the 1 hand, is expected to increase the capabilities of the Polish Army – e.g. by improving logistics or reconnaissance systems, and, on the another hand, to make the possible aggressor more hard – by building various kinds of dams and fortifications, as well as creating dense forests and marshes limiting mobility.
Details of the programme were presented on Friday at the conference in the General Staff of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the head of MON Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the deputy chief of MON Cezary Tomczyk and the chief of the General Staff of the Polish Academy of Sciences Gen. Wiesław Kukuła. Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that it was the largest program of this kind since 1945. He hoped that the programme would meet with the support and cooperation of the full political scene and various institutions, especially local communities in the regions where the Tarcza East will rise.
End of border trade
The Minister pointed out that for many years people surviving close the Polish-Belarusian and Polish-Russian border lived from economical exchange, but now it has become impossible. He stressed that now companies and residents of the surrounding areas will live “out of border security”.
The head of the MON added that the “Tarcza East” programme, in addition to the MON, will affect the Ministry of State Acts, the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, as well as another entities and local government communities. Tomczyk pointed out that the representatives of these institutions would cooperate within the interministerial squad to coordinate the work.
MON is to have a leading function in this team; the Ministry of abroad Affairs will be liable for civilian protection and matters straight related to border security. The MAP will coordinate arms companies active in the project, while the MKiŚ will coordinate environmental issues. On the another hand, the Ministry of Infrastructure is to be liable for the maintenance of roads and another transport infrastructure in the region covered by the work.
– We have about 700 kilometres [700 km] of border to secure, including 400 kilometres [400 km] with Belarus (...). We want this task to be implemented immediately, it will start this year (...) we want this task to be completed by 2028, the estimated cost is about PLN 10 billion said Tomczyk.
He pointed out that the amount presented covers only material costs. – This is simply a immense investment on a national scale, but besides on a NATO scale He stressed.
– We want these funds to come from the state budget, of course, but besides mostly from European funds, due to the fact that securing the military border between the east and northern borders is besides safeguarding the full EU and NATO border said Tomczyk. He besides announced that in the coming weeks the ministry would present a draft law on investments of peculiar importance for security. As he explained, the aim is to simplify the rules related to the implementation of various investments – e.g. building buildings in military units – in a much shorter time than at present. The politician pointed out that under the current regulations there are situations where the implementation of a small, simple investment for the army of respective tens of 1000 zlotys can take 4 years.
Like the Baltic countries
The head of SGWP General Wiesław Kukuła pointed out that the full task would be directed from the General Staff and 1 of his deputies would be liable for this. – We have just chosen command from this level, given the highly crucial request to synchronise what we are doing, with allied defence plans and with our national defence plans. – he noted.
Gen. Kukuła besides indicated what the key elements of the “Hard East” would be. Firstly, as he said, it is about the alleged anti-surprise capabilities, which are all kinds of tools that enable the military to detect and track threats as shortly as possible. This includes the construction of various types of listening stations, which will be part of a wider designation system, collecting data, including satellite and radar data or data collected by reconnaissance drones.
Another component of the ability of "anti-surpractice" is the creation of outstretched logistics bases – "at least eight" – and logistics nodes, which, in the event of a threat, will be able to benefit rapidly from being transferred from another military regions. In addition, plans include the construction of a strategy of hiding and bunkers, designed for troops and civilians, as well as places where it will be safe to store ready to usage ammunition or combat equipment. An crucial aspect is besides the anti-drone systems, which prevent enemy unmanned workers from flying over Poland.
Another component is, as the Chief of General Staff said, to make optimal conditions for military mobility. Gen. Kukuła stressed that in the event of aggression, the alleged manoeuvring defense, requiring the fast movement of troops, not the static defence of the designated fortification lines, is crucial. For this we need, among others, prepared road crossings through water obstacles or adaptation of circumstantial sections of the road to the burden of military movements.
On the another hand, he stressed Gen. Kukuła – the aim is besides to limit the capabilities of opposing troops. These include anti-tank ditches or concrete fortifications, which are to be built along the border at designated locations, as well as, for example, deepening meliorative ditches, making them hard for the opponent, or, for example, preparing roads and bridges, so that if necessary, they can be easy destroyed and thus prevent attackers from moving further.
Another aspect is the adaptation of natural conditions, specified as forests and swamps, which are not missing from the Polish east border, and which can be an effective barrier against armed aggressors. Gen. Kukuła pointed out that the aim was to channel the possible movements of attackers so that they would hit places where the military could inflict as much harm as possible.
Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that the construction of the Tartar East is simply a separate project, although closely coordinated, from the work on strengthening the border with Belarus in the face of migration pressure. The main work for these tasks, as he recalled, is the Ministry of abroad Affairs and Border Guard. Minister Tomczyk added that the task would be combined with a akin programme implemented jointly by the Baltic States – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – at borders with Russia and Belarus.
The head office of the MON was asked, among others, about issues related to the financing of the full programmes. Kosiniak-Kamysz replied that, in addition to the Polish measures "Tarcza East" – like the Baltic State programme – it should besides receive European funds, as it is simply a programme protecting a large section of the EU's external border. He added that, in his opinion, unused funds from KPO should besides be allocated to the implementation of the programme – or to support the defence industry.
Source: PAP
RoM
