Before World War II, the Polish government invested primarily in the industry, which was to ensure the armament of the army (COP), but ultimately the Germans took it over and worked for them. Unnecessary investments in the Navy, as it turned out, was also made. Now we are going through a different path and a majority of funds is directed to the purchase of foreign weapons, and smaller amounts are in the production of weapons in Poland.
Experts emphasize, however, that despite huge outlays, it is still not enough to quickly catch up for many years of arrears in the modernization of the army – writes the CIS portal. What's more, there are voices that Poland may not be able to spend all planned funds.
In the first half of 2025, the Ministry of National Defense, through the Armaments Agency, signed contracts for the purchase of equipment and armament worth PLN 21.9 billion. This is the highest level of investment in the history of the Polish army, and is only part of this year's defense budget, which amounts to PLN 186.6 billion. These expenses correspond to 4.7 percent. GDP, and the government does not rule out that they will soon reach up to 5 percent. GDP – we read.
Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Bejda revealed this data in response to the parliamentary interpellation by Mariusz Błaszczak, a former head of the Ministry of National Defense, who asked about expenses for the modernization of the army in Polish industry in the first half of the year. From almost PLN 22 billion, almost PLN 7 billion went to the companies of the Polish Armaments Group, and Polish companies from outside PGZ received contracts worth PLN 776 million.
The largest agreement with PGZ, amounting to PLN 6.5 billion, concerned a new Borsuk combat vehicle. In turn, foreign entities received orders worth over PLN 14 billion, including a contract for support for operation and training to the Wisła set, valued at around $ 2 billion. net.
Reinforcement expenses. Foreign and Polish beneficiaries
The Armament Agency has also signed international contracts for further purchases of Patriot systems and the supply of precision ammunition, probably from South Korea and Norway. There were also contracts for the modernization of Abrams tanks and other contracts, the details of which remain closed and can be disclosed only after the Sejm approval or at the request of the parliamentary.
The most funds went to foreign arms companies. In the first half of 2025, apart from the actions of the Armament Agency, about PLN 150 million for a foreign contractor was spent under one contract, however The details of this transaction have not been disclosed. Moreover, under 10 contracts concluded by contractors from outside the Armaments Agency, PLN 176 million was transferred to PGZ, and 97 contracts with Polish plants from outside PGZ amounted to a total amount of approx. PLN 413 million.
In the middle of the year, the government and the Supreme Audit Office presented reports to the Sejm regarding the implementation of the budget for the previous year. In 2024, PLN 118 billion was allocated to defense, of which PLN 42 billion was spent as part of central material plans, including Technical modernization plan and a plan to purchase material funds. This accounted for 99.8 percent. implementation of the plan.
Budget changes and expenses for the functioning of the army
In “Part 29 – National Defense” almost PLN 118 billion was planned, but during the year the budget was increased by PLN 67 million from the budget reserve and by PLN 8.5 million from shifts between voivodships, and at the same time reduced by PLN 2 billion due to shifts in “Part 55 – state assets”. The latter amount probably concerned co -financing of ammunition production outside the Ministry of National Defense. In addition, in “section 752 National Defense” PLN 620 million was spent.
In 2024, no expenses were noted that could expire and return to the state budget. The implementation of the plan amounted to almost 100 percent, and unused funds reached only about PLN 104 million, mainly due to unobtrusive or returned funds and financial locks.
For tasks covered by central material plans, PLN 7.4 billion was spent. In the group of property expenditure Most was allocated for the purchase of equipment and weapons – a total of PLN 28.1 billion. From these funds, PLN 0.5 billion was transferred to the Government Road Development Fund, and PLN 15.6 billion to the Armed Forces Support Fund.
Expenses on The current functioning of military units in 2024 amounted to PLN 45 billionof which PLN 15.4 billion was allocated to the salaries of professional soldiers. Among the expenses for natural persons, which amounted to PLN 15 billionthe largest part were retirement and disability benefits-10.8 PLN billionpaid monthly 158.3 thousand people. Other expenses included salaries of soldiers other than professional, vacation gratifications and scholarships.
Are the funds sufficient?
According to most politicians, such high reinforcement expenses are currently necessary and the society accepts them widely. However, some experts believe that even such large funds are not enough to catch up quickly many years of modernization neglect in the Polish army.
The Chief of General Staff of General Wiesław Kukuła in an interview with Polish Radio 24 pointed out that Poland may not be able to spend all means on defense this yearbecause one of the main problems is no immediate availability of equipment. The general emphasized that the defense industry should develop in parallel with the armed forces, but currently these processes are divergent, which results in the mismatch of production to the pace of army transformation.
Still Modern air and missile defense systems are missingcombat vehicles, unmanned, anti -done and personal equipment of soldiers. Part of this equipment could be produced in the country, however The arms plants are waiting for orders and appropriate co -financing to increase their production capabilities.
The Ministry of National Defense declares openly to cooperation with private companies that can quickly increase production if they have a guarantee of contracts. One example is a group of Niewiadów. However, investments in reinforcement already cause financial restrictions in other sectors of the economy. Poles accept high defense expenses, but also expect the functioning of healthcare or administration.
Budget challenges
If the balance between investments in security and other social needs is not preserved, it may be more difficult to convince citizens that security requires sacrifices. This problem applies not only to Poland, but also by other Western European countries. One thing is certain – the funds intended for reinforcements must be spent in a well -thought -out and flexible manner – indicated in the CIS article.
Poland, as a still developing country, faces the challenge of investing not only in armament, but also in infrastructure, roads, bridges and other key needs. This can be seen in the structure of expenses for the army, some of which were redirected to the roads.
In connection with the reinforcements, but also the escalation of social expenses, the Polish budget is not getting ready and requires a high pace of indebtedness. We are favored by strengthening the zloty, so the government has no problems with debt emissions. Budget deficit after the first half of the year However, it amounted to as much as PLN 120 billion, i.e. 41.5 percent. annual plan. Total income reached PLN 264 billion, and expenses nearly PLN 384 billion. Pursuant to the Budget Act, the state's revenues were scheduled for PLN 632.85 billion on 2025, expenses on PLN 921.62 billion, and the deficit at PLN 288.77 billion.
According to banking forecasts, the ratio of public debt to GDP would increase from approx. 58 percent. in 2025 to 63 percent in 2026 and 67 percent in 2027, i.e. above the reference threshold from Maastricht at 60 percent. On the plane of fiscal rules, Poland is covered by the excessive deficit procedure, but at the same time has the opportunity to use the so -called national output clause. This mechanism allows you to move away from the adjustment path by the amount of actual increase in defense expenditure to the limit of 1.5 percent. GDP.
