Poland is preparing for the Anakonda 23 military exercises
17 April, 2023 In Poland, preparations are underway for maneuvers as part of the Anakonda 23 military exercise Photo: Twitter Mariusz Blaszczak In the eastern and northern parts of Poland, preparations are underway for the movement of troops to participate in the active part of the Anakonda 23 military exercises. Mariusz Blaszczak, Minister of Defense of Poland, made a corresponding statement.
13,000 military personnel will take part in the exercises. These are 10,000 Poles and 3,000 representatives of allied countries, such as the USA, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Turkey, Polska Zbrojna reports. Abrams tanks, Krab and K9 self-propelled howitzers, as well as Norwegian NSM anti-ship missiles will be used during the exercises.
KRAB self-propelled howitzer at the Huta Stalowa Wola enterprise in the city of Stalowa Wola in Poland. June 2022. Photo credits: Government of Poland
The military will focus on defense and deterrence measures in the Baltic Sea region.
Maneuvers are divided into several stages. The key part will take place in mid-April. After that, the military will be sent to training grounds in Drawsko Pomorskie, Orzysz, Ustka and Nowa Deba.
Logistic build-up will take place between May 6 and 16. In addition, the military will undergo coordination on the territory of Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, as well as outside the training grounds.
M1A2 Abrams tanks of the Polish military. August 2022.
Poland. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Poland
It is emphasized that the training scenario was prepared in such a way that it should resemble the real situation as much as possible. It fits into the dynamics of current threats associated with NATO's eastern flank.
Besides, as part of Anakonda 23 military exercises, computer-based command and staff training and exercises in combination with a combat game will take place. They will be also joined by the commanders of individual components, aiming to supervise the procedures which are important for the success of the operation and to face real, strategic and operational challenges. In addition, for the first time experimental exercises will be held, where the military will use modern technologies in the field.
The details of such exercises are not specified.
Baltic fortress-2021 training in the Baltic Sea. Photo from open sources
Anakonda 23 exercise will be combined with other exercises organized by allies. This is Defender Europe '23, during which the U.S.
Army must test how quickly its forces can be redeployed to Europe. It also regards the Aurora 23 defence exercise in Sweden. The totality of these exercises will allow to improve the processes of interaction of the armed forces in a joint defense operation.
The Anakonda exercises have been organized by the command of the Armed Forces of Poland since 2006.
Their aim is to test the capabilities of the army, equipment and control systems, operational interoperability of allies and procedures.