Following the annexation of the Crimean peninsula to the Russian Federation and the clashes in the Donbass it would seem that the past tensions of the Cold War are returning to current. For geopolitical reasons, Poland, which in the east borders Ukraine, the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, Belarus and Lithuania, plays a key strategic role for NATO.
From 2000, Warsaw has equipped itself with a valid armored component, in order to cope effectively with possible ground attacks by Moscow.
The 11ᵃ Armored Cavalry Division, divided into three brigades of which 2 armored (the 10ᵃ Armored Brigade stationed at Swietoszow, in Lower Silesia, the 34ᵃ Armored at Zagan and the 17ᵃ Mechanized Brigade at Miedzyrzecz) lines around 14.000 men. It is a better armed unit of the Polish Army, a real bulwark in the event of a conflict. The 10ᵃ is structured on two battalions of LEOPARD 2A4 wagons while the 34ᵃ, also on two wagon battalions, is equipped with the LEOPARD 2A5. Each battalion has 58 wagons, divided the four squadrons by three platoons with 4 MBT each.
Currently, Warsaw has started an update program for the 142 LEOPARD 2A4, in order to bring them to the LEOPARD 2PL standard, that is closer to the A7 version, with the adoption of a modular AMAP (Advanced Modular Armor Protection) ballistic protection, which it uses nano-ceramic materials and new titanium and steel alloys. With this protection the mass of the wagon rises to 60 tons while the main armament will remain the same as the A4 and A5 versions. Focused on the Rheinmetall Rh-120 L / 44 smoothbore gun, but with a modified muzzle brake in order to use the new DM11, DM53 and DM63 high pressure antiblind ammunition.
(photo: US Army)
