Gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak, a former commander of the Polish Army, warned that the country's defense sector is heavily dependent on foreign suppliers, which he said could jeopardize its readiness in wartime scenarios.
In an interview with state news agency PAP, Skrzypczak argued that Poland should have the capability to produce or import several million rounds of ammunition, cautioning that reliance on imports could be a critical vulnerability.
"If there's a war, no one from America or Asia will be able to supply us with ammunition," he said. "The army needs several million pieces of standard-caliber artillery ammunition. Additionally, we need tens of millions of pieces of smaller caliber ammunition."
For now, Poland does not have such capabilities, but it can build them, according to Skrzypczak.
The general appealed: "We must quickly replenish our stockpiles, and that must be our focus. Let's not wait, because we will be forced to make very expensive purchases abroad. And if there is a war, we won't be able to get ammunition from anyone, because everyone will need it."
This concern comes amid ongoing discussions about the construction of an artillery ammunition factory in Poland as part of the government's National Ammunition Reserve program, launched last year. The program aims to establish a factory capable of producing 155 mm caliber ammunition.
However, the initiative, involving the government's Industrial Development Agency and three private entities with no prior experience in this field, now faces uncertainty, according to reports.
Skrzypczak also pointed out the broader issues in establishing a robust ammunition production infrastructure in Poland. Not just one, but a complex of factories are needed, he said, explaining that sensitive materials such as ammunition require production across various sites for safety reasons, which include ameliorating risk of explosion. These sites must be in designated security zones and comply with environmental and production licensing requirements.
Highlighting a significant gap in Poland's defense technology, Skrzypczak lamented the long-term neglect of technological sovereignty, which has left Poland dependent on European ammunition suppliers. Essential components such as nitrocellulose are currently imported, he said, underscoring the need for a comprehensive development strategy for the Polish arms industry.
"We need a plan that breaks down into sectors—armor, ammunition, aviation, naval—and gathers all the personal, scientific and production potential within various companies," Skrzypczak suggested.
He stressed that the success of such factories also hinged on having highly skilled and experienced personnel capable of mastering the complex technologies required for ammunition production.
Skrzypczak headed Poland's army from 2006 to 2009. He has since held advisory and administrative posts.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP