A state of ambition

摘要

Poland's accession to NATO in 1999, and the accompanying need to meet the standards and capabilities required of member states, has been the catalyst for a complete technical modernisation of the Polish armed forces. Before then, the bulk of equipment used by the army originated from the USSR, did not fulfil many requirements as far as interoperability was concerned, and in certain cases did not even meet the demands of the contemporary battlefield. Moreover, the participation of the Polish military in international missions, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, indicated a need to improve the forces' mobility, and possess equipment that could be used in conditions of asymmetric warfare.