Polish experts call for systemic defense reforms amid record spending surge

Polish defense experts and policy institutions are pressing for deep structural reforms to accompany the country's historic surge in military spending. Defense expenditure is projected to reach 200.1 billion PLN, or 4.81 percent of GDP, by 2026. While Poland is rapidly procuring advanced hardware—such as Abrams and K2 tanks, F-35 fighter jets, and HIMARS rocket systems—analysts warn that funding alone will not guarantee operational readiness. Think tanks including Rozwój Plus and the Defence Institute argue that the armed forces require systemic modernization in command structures, mobilization protocols, personnel management, and defense procurement to convert record budgets into genuine combat effectiveness and strategic deterrence.

Sources: Defence24, Portal obronny, Rzeczpospolita, TVP info