Poland will increase its own ammunition stockpiles

13 April, 2023 Artillery ammunition. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Poland Poland is implementing a program to increase ammunition stockpiles for the needs of its military.

The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland adopted the respective decision, Defense24 reports. The hostilities in Ukraine point to the need for significant stockpiles of ammunition, particularly for artillery. This refers to the implementation of a long-term program in Poland called the National Ammunition Reserve.

The goal of the program is to expand and diversify the national production base of large-caliber artillery ammunition and the replenishment of its own stockpiles.

Artillery ammunition. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Poland

The program should last between 2023 and 2029 and will be implemented at the expense and based on the resources of the Polish Development Fund, the Industrial Development Agency, the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves, the Ministry of National Defense, and other sources. The government wants Polish state-owned and private enterprises of the defense industry to increase the production of ammunition.

The main efforts will be aimed at increasing the production of large-caliber artillery shells, which are currently in short supply in Europe, both to replenish their own stocks and to quickly deliver them to Ukraine as military assistance.

M829A4 armor-piercing tank round. Photo credits: U.S. Department of Defense

Poland also seeks to expand the production of shells for Abrams tanks with armor-piercing cores made of depleted uranium.

The country also wants to create an enterprise that will service and repair Abrams tanks in Europe. As previously reported, Poland and Ukraine will produce tank rounds for Soviet-era combat vehicles, which are currently the main tanks of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Polish 120mm and 125mm tank rounds of the MESKO SA

The agreement defines the principles of cooperation between the Polish and Ukrainian companies in the field of 125-mm tank round production. According to the terms of the agreement, both parties decided to build new production lines in the near future.

They will allow the production of large quantities of 125-mm tank rounds intended for the needs of the Ukrainian military.