The exhibition of armaments and military equipment of Polish Armed Forces has become an indispensable element of the International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO.

It is a great opportunity to demonstrate the changing face of our Armed Forces, its new equipment and increasing capabilities enabling Polish soldiers to operate in the most challenging operational environment. This year the exhibition consists of two parts: the military camp which is going to demonstrate the real life support for our troops participating in the EU led operation in Chad and the exhibition of the modern military equipment. This year it is the first time when the Inspectorate for Armed Forces Support is responsible for the organization of the exhibition. The main effort has been done by soldiers of the 1^st Logistic Brigade and the 10^th Logistic Brigade, which are Inspectorate’s subordinated formations.

The Inspectorate for Armed Forces Support located in Bydgoszcz was established in 2006 and achieved its full operational capability on 1^st of January 2008. The mission of the Inspectorate is to provide the logistic support for operational troops both in place and in abroad operations.

The EUFOR operation in Chad is a new challenge for Polish Armed Forces, and especially for logisticians. It is the first time when the logistic support for the Polish contingent deployed abroad is almost fully provided by our national logistic system. Another challenges are: extremely difficult terrain and climatic conditions, the distance to the area of operation and the lack of transport infrastructure within the theatre. In April Polish engineers and logisticians started to set up a military camp in the region of Iriba. Now their mission has been completed and the camp is ready for the deployment of operational troops.

The main aim of the this year exhibition of Polish Armed Forces is to demonstrate the real life support provided for our troops operating in Chad. The demonstration of the military camp will consist of all key elements necessary to provide the logistic support in the abroad mission. Within the camp there will be four sectors:

• the billeting area including pneumatic air conditioned living tents,
• the material supply area (the filed kitchen, water supply, POL supply),
• the maintenance area (workshops, depots),
• the medical support area.

Within the camp there will be also gathered logistic vehicles and reloading equipment. Documentary and photographs taken by the Combat Camera Team will bring visitors closer to the reality of Eastern Chad. The demonstration is going to be set up the 1^st Logistic Brigade, which provided the logistic company operating in Chad.

The second part of this year exhibition of Polish Armed Forces is devoted to the modern weapons and other systems Land Forces, Air Forces and Military Police are equipped with. Among others the following types of armament and military equipment will be demonstrated:

• combat platforms (i.e. APC Rosomak),
• combat engineering vehicles and equipment,
• air defence radars, artillery and missile systems,
• Military Police patrol vehicles and equipment.

Text by: Lt Col Andrzej Lis, Inspectorate for Armed Forces Support