Co-operation between the Military University of Technology (WAT), the Ministry of National Defence’s Department of Transformation, and the RAPORT-wto team resulted in the conference Advanced Technologies for Weapons Systems, opened by Minister of National Defence Bogdan Klich on the exhibition’s first day. The conference was chaired by Wojciech Łuczak.

Minister Bogdan Klich opens the conference / Photo: Mirosław Ślusarczyk

The head of the MND noted that the filled room of the MSPO conference centre testified to wide interest in the conference topics. He said that in December 2008 the MND would approve a programme for the development of the armed forces, a debate on which is starting now, in September, within the ministry. Klich announced a second Strategic Defence Review (SDR; the first one, ignored by the PiS/Samoobrona government, was the responsibility of MND deputy head Andrzej Karkoszka). Klich stated publicly that the first and as yet only SDR had become an important photograph of the armed forces at the start of the 21st century. Straight after MSPO 2008, work will start on a second SDR - the responsibility of Gen. Marek Ojrzanowski, head of the MND’s Department of Transformation.

Klich said that despite an urgent need to consolidate the arms industry, WZM in Siemianowice Śląskie would remain in the MND’s hands until the continuity of production of Rosomak armoured personnel carriers was assured. He has high hopes for improved co-operation between the military and Poland’s arms industry thanks to the formation of a new unit at the MND - a department for co-operation with industry replacing the Armed Forces Procurement Department, which is being closed down, and the Armament Policy Department, which is undergoing reorganization. The new department, according to the minister, will work closely with the also new Armaments Agency, leading to a synergy effect in military technology.

Head of the MND – Bogdan Klich, vice-president of the Altair Air Agency which publishes RAPORT-wto – Wojciech Łuczak, head of the minister of national defence’s office – Col. Artur Kołosowski / Photo: Mirosław Ślusarczyk

Gen. Marek Ojrzanowski outlined the vision for the Polish Armed Forces up to 2030, adopted on 4 June 2008. The most interesting elements of this forecast are that specialist units will be able to conduct offensive and defensive informational operations in the anticipated IT battles of the future, and that the military will be provided with various kinds of non-lethal weapons.

The head of the WAT, Gen. Prof. Zygmunt Mierczyk, presented the work of his university’s experts related to future programmes of technical modernization and transformation of the armed forces, grouping the issues into seven categories: information and network technologies, sensors and observation, precision weapons and other arms, battlefield platforms, protection and survival in the battlefield, advanced materials, human potential. Mierczyk appealed to military decision-makers to accurately define the new combat and operational capabilities required by the armed forces, to allow the R&D sector and the defence industry to better design new weaponry systems. The very general, i.e. inadequately specified, present requirements towards various technical solutions sometimes result in erroneous choices of weaponry systems, not to mention that they make the Armed Forces look as if they don’t really know what they want.

The room at the exhibition’s conference centre was packed / Photo: Mirosław Ślusarczyk

Edward Nowak, president of the Bumar Group, presented the main points of his company’s strategy, repeating that his focus was on new programmes and new technologies obtained through co-operation as well as programme and capital links with the major players on the European armaments market. He believes Bumar should be the main supplier of weapons not only to our armed forces, but also to Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Ukraine. Wojciech Patoła, president of ZM Bumar Łabędy, presented the different roads leading to the start of production of an advanced tank for the 21st century at his company. He doesn’t believe that we can count on a power transmission system, weaponry and shield for such a modern combat vehicle being designed in Poland. He thinks that working together with leading European consortia, and adapting their designs to Polish requirements, would allow industry to start production of an advanced tank within 5-6 years.

Tomasz Nita, president of Fabryka Broni Radom, outlined the work on developing a Polish family of advanced small arms, including launching production in 2014-2016.

The second part of the conference will take place on 18 September 2008 at the WAT in Warsaw.